Norethisterone is a man-made form of the naturally occurring female sex hormone progesterone. It comes in tablet form and is available from Superdrug Online Doctor for delaying your period. For it to work, norethisterone must be taken 3 days before your period is due and taken for up to 30 days.

As well as period delay, norethisterone can be taken to manage:

• heavy periods
• irregular periods
• painful periods
• premenstrual tension
• endometriosis
• breast cancer

Superdrug Online Doctor only offers norethisterone for period delay or as a mini pill like Noriday, and not for treating other period-related conditions.

Norethisterone works to delay your period by keeping your progesterone levels up to delay the shedding of your womb lining. Usually during your menstrual cycle, if you are not pregnant, your progesterone levels fall causing a period. By keeping your progesterone levels high, norethisterone delays this from happening.

How effective is norethisterone?

If taken correctly, at least 3 days before you are due to start your period, norethisterone can effectively delay your period.

For norethisterone to be effective, you need to take 3 pills a day for the time you want your period to be delayed. Once you stop taking norethisterone your period should return within 3 days.

Norethisterone will not stop you getting pregnant because it is not a type of contraceptive pill. You’ll need to use alternative contraception methods, like condoms, if you want to prevent pregnancy while taking norethisterone.

Norethisterone is supplied in 5mg tablets and you’ll need to take 1 tablet 3 times a day, starting 3 days before your period is due.

You’ll need to swallow each tablet whole with water and it can be taken with or without food.

How often can I take norethisterone?

Norethisterone must be taken 3 times a day to effectively delay your period. It is only intended for occasional use, so it is not recommended that you take more than 2 to 3 courses per year.

What if I miss a dose?

If you forget to take your dose of norethisterone, take it as soon as you remember. If you are close to taking your next scheduled dose, take that and skip your missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

What happens if I take norethisterone too late?

If you start norethisterone less than 3 days before your period is due, then it is unlikely to delay your period and you could experience a bleed.

You can request norethisterone from a reputable online service like Superdrug Online Doctor. Norethisterone is a prescription- only medication so you will need a doctor’s approval to obtain it.

Can I buy norethisterone online?

Yes, you can request norethisterone online from Superdrug Online Doctor, by:

1. Filling out a brief health and lifestyle questionnaire.
2. Requesting your preferred treatment and making payment.
3. One of our doctors will review your treatment request and questionnaire answers.
4. If approved, your treatment will be posted to your address or made available for collection at your local Superdrug Pharmacy.
5. If your order is not approved, one of our doctors will contact you via your account with other treatment options.

Can I buy norethisterone over the counter?

No, norethisterone is not available over the counter so you will need a prescription to get it.

Can I get norethisterone on the NHS?

Yes, norethisterone may be available on the NHS, but you will need to make an appointment with your doctor to see if it is suitable and available.

Like all medications, norethisterone can cause side effects, however, not everyone will experience them.

Some side effects of norethisterone could require immediate medical attention. You should stop taking norethisterone straight away and seek medical assistance straight away if you experience any of the following:

Some norethisterone side effects include:

• headaches
• dizziness
• irregular periods or breakthrough bleeding
• shortness of breath
• hives (itchy bumps)
• fainting
• water retention
• loss of sex drive
• depression
• acne
• mood swings
• weight gain
• feeling sick (nausea)
• hair loss
• skin reactions

Norethisterone can slightly raise the risk of developing a blood clot, also known as a thromboembolism in the legs, brain, heart, or lungs.

If you experience any of the following blood clot symptoms, you will need to seek urgent medical attention.

Symptoms of a blood clot in the lungs, include:

• a sudden sharp pain in the chest
• coughing up blood
• becoming short of breath
• heart beats more rapidly

Symptoms of a blood clot in the brain, include:

• vision problems
• an unusually long or severe headache
• collapse or fainting
• weakness or numbness in any part of the body
• difficulty speaking

Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a blood clot in the leg, include:

• a severe pain or swelling in your ankle, calf, or foot
• a purple discolouration to the skin of your leg or your skin becomes red and warm to touch

You can find a full list of potential norethisterone side effects in the patient information leaflet that’s provided with the medication.

How long do norethisterone side effects last?

How long norethisterone side effects last will depend on the side effect and how the medication interacts with your body. Most mild side effects are temporary and go away on their own as your body gets used to the medication. Although, they can last as long as you’re taking it for.

If you are concerned about any of the side effects you are experiencing or think they are going on for too long, contact your doctor for advice.

What to do if you get norethisterone side effects

If you experience any mild side effects, you can usually manage these at home, by:

• getting plenty of rest until the effect has passed
• drinking plenty of water and clear fluids to stay hydrated and manage effects such as headaches and feeling sick
• taking over-the-counter painkillers to manage pain, if necessary

If you experience any signs of a blood clot or any of the following signs of an allergic reaction, you must stop taking norethisterone tablets and call 999 or get someone to take you to A&E:

• wheezing
• difficulty breathing
• swelling of the face and tongue
• feeling faint
• swelling of the hands
• intense itchy skin rash

Norethisterone may not be suitable for everyone.

Do not take norethisterone if you:

• are allergic to norethisterone or any similar hormone medications or any of the other ingredients in the tablets
• are or think you might be pregnant
• currently have or have ever had vaginal bleeding and your doctor could not find a cause
• or any member of your family have had blood clots including deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• have had a pregnancy where you have had jaundice or an itchy rash known as pemphigoid gestationis
• have liver problems
• have ever had a heart attack or angina
• have pruritis (general itching all over the body)
• have an inherited rare blood disorder known as porphyria

Before taking norethisterone, tell your doctor if you have any of the following health conditions:

• heart problems
• kidney problems
• migraines
• epilepsy
• asthma

Other medications and norethisterone

Tell your doctor if you are taking any prescribed, over-the-counter, or herbal medications before taking norethisterone, especially if you are taking:

• epilepsy medications like phenytoin and carbamazepine
• antibiotics such as tetracyclines, rifampicin, and co-trimoxazole
• HIV medications like ritonavir and nelfinavir
• some cancer medications
• some herbal supplements like St John’s wort
• aminoglutethimide (a medication used to treat Cushing’s syndrome, seizures, breast, and prostate cancer)
• ciclosporin (a medication that suppresses the immune system)
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and diclofenac
• some medications used to treat high blood pressure

If norethisterone isn’t suitable for you, there are alternative medications available that may be more appropriate for delaying your period.

Period delay tablets

At Superdrug Online Doctor we offer Provera and Utovlan as alternatives to norethisterone.

Provera is available ‘off’ label as 10mg tablets that are taken 3 times a day to delay your period for a maximum of 30 days. Provera contains a different synthetic form of progesterone called medroxyprogesterone acetate. It works in the same way as norethisterone to delay your period by keeping your progesterone levels high to stop your womb lining from shedding.

Utovlan is a branded version of norethisterone, so it works in exactly the same way and contains the same active ingredient. Therefore, if norethisterone isn’t suitable for you, it’s likely that Utovlan won’t be either.

Combined contraceptive pills

If you are taking the combined contraceptive pill, you can delay your period by taking 2 strips back to back without a break. Some women do experience breakthrough bleeding even when they take their pills in this way.

If you are not sure how to delay your monthly bleeds with your combined pill, your doctor or pharmacist should be able to give you further advice.

Does norethisterone cause weight gain?

Yes, weight gain is a reported side effect of norethisterone, however, not everyone will experience it. This is usually caused by the increased hormone levels causing your body to retain more water, and your weight might return to normal after you have stopped taking norethisterone.

Can you drink alcohol on norethisterone?

Yes, you can drink alcohol while taking norethisterone. However, if you are sick within 2 hours of taking a norethisterone tablet, it may not be as effective.

Will norethisterone stop heavy periods?

Norethisterone can be prescribed temporarily to stop very heavy periods. However, at Superdrug Online Doctor we only prescribe norethisterone to delay your period.

Does norethisterone make you feel tired?

Yes, one of the effects norethisterone can have on the nervous system is to make you feel sleepy. If you feel tired or sleepy when taking norethisterone, you should avoid driving or operating machinery until you feel better.

When will my period start again?

Your periods should return within 3 days of stopping norethisterone. If you do not have a period after you finish a course of norethisterone tablets, you should take a pregnancy test as there is a chance you could be pregnant.