Uses of Norethisterone

Norethisterone is used to treat and manage heavy menstrual bleeding or abnormal uterine bleeding (that occurs due to hormonal imbalance), painful periods, irregular periods or periods that are more frequent than normal (polymenorrhoea), premenstrual tension, endometriosis (abnormal growth of endometrial tissue of the uterus that causes pain and menstrual irregularities), metriopatheias haemorrhagia (intermenstrual bleeding) and breast tumour. It is also used to delay the menstrual cycle.

Therapeutic Category

Norethisterone: Progestogens

How Norethisterone works

Norethisterone inhibits the release of pituitary hormones that are responsible for the release of female hormones (such as oestrogen and progesterone) and thereby suppressing ovulation. This action modifies the lining of the endometrium and thus ceases bleeding in menstrual abnormalities in cancer. Norethisterone may act by pituitary inhibition or by direct action on tumour deposits.

Common side effects of Norethisterone

• Irregular bleeding, heavy menstruation
• Spotting between menstrual cycles
• Delayed or not having a menstrual cycle
• Stomach discomfort, nausea, vomiting
• Breast tenderness
• Headache and dizziness

When to consult your doctor

Consult your doctor if you experience:

• Yellowing of the skin or white area of the eyes (jaundice)
• Migraine headache for the very first time (a headache that usually restricts itself to one side of your head)
• High blood pressure
• Symptoms of severe allergic reaction such as itchy skin rash, swelling of the face or tongue, hands or feet causing wheezing, difficulty breathing or feeling faint
• Symptoms of a blood clot in the lungs include a sudden, severe, sharp pain in the chest, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeats
• Symptoms of a blood clot in the brain (stroke) include unusually severe or long headache, change in sight, difficulty speaking, collapsing, or fainting, and weakness or paralysis of any part of your body
• Symptoms of a deep-vein thrombosis such as severe pain, tenderness or swelling in your calf, ankle or foot, purplish discolouration of the skin of the leg and red or warmth skin

Health Tips for Norethisterone

• Take Norethisterone exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Do not change the dosage or stop taking it without consulting them first
• Drinking plenty of water can also help prevent potential side effects, such as dry mouth and increased thirst
• While taking Norethisterone, it is best to avoid smoking and restrict alcohol consumption
• Tell your doctor if you are taking, have taken, or might take any other medicine, including prescription, non-prescription or any herbal medicine
• Norethisterone is not recommended for use in pregnant women
• Norethisterone should be used with caution in breast feeding women