Norethindrone Birth Control Pill Side Effects, Dosage & Uses

What is norethindrone birth control pill?

Norethindrone is a progestin that is used as an
oral contraceptive.

What brand names are available for norethindrone birth control pill?

Brand names for norethindrone oral contraceptive include:

• Camila
• Errin
• Heather
• Jencycla
• Nor QD
• Nora-BE
• Ortho Micronor
• Incassia

Why is norethindrone birth control pill used?

• Norethindrone is used for the prevention of
  pregnancy.

What are the side effects of norethindrone birth control pill?

Common side effects of norethindrone include:

• Menstrual irregularity
• Frequent and irregular bleeding
• Headache
• Breast tenderness
• Nausea
• Dizziness

Other possible side effects of norethindrone include:

• Long bleeding episodes
• Lack of
  menstruation
• Acne
• Hirsutism
• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Edema
• Nervousness
• Pain in extremity
• Genital discharge
• Breast pain
• Menstruation delayed
• Suppressed lactation
• Vaginal bleeding
• Heavy menstruation
• Withdrawal bleeding

Possible serious side effects of norethindrone include:

• Depression
• Serious allergic reactions
• Hepatitis
• Jaundice
• Ovarian cyst
• Ectopic pregnancy

What is the dosage for norethindrone birth control pill?

• The recommended dose is one tablet daily at the same time of the day.

Which drugs or supplements interact with norethindrone birth control pill?

A number of medications can decrease the blood levels of
norethindrone by increasing its elimination in the liver. Examples of
medications that increase the elimination of estrogens include:

• carbamazepine
  (Tegretol)
• phenobarbital
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• rifampin (Rifadin)
• St. John’s wort
• bosentan (Tracleer)

Which of the following are methods for contraception?
See Answer

Is norethindrone birth control pill safe to use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

• Oral contraceptives are generally avoided
  during pregnancy. Use of norethindrone during pregnancy has been associated with
  masculinization of female infants.
• Small amounts of progestin pass into breast
  milk and are detectable in the infant. Use of
  birth control pills during
  lactation has been associated with decreased milk production. Norethindrone may
  be used by
  breastfeeding women.

What else should I know about norethindrone birth control pill?

What preparations of norethindrone birth control pill are available?

• Tablets: 0.35 mg

How should I keep norethindrone birth control pill stored?

• Norethindrone tablets should be stored at room temperature, 15 C to
  30 C (59 F to 86 F).

How does norethindrone birth control pill work?

• Norethindrone is a progestin, and progestins prevent pregnancy by inhibiting
  ovulation
  (release of the egg), making it more difficult for sperm to penetrate the
  uterine mucus that surrounds the egg, and therefore, for
  fertilization to take
  place. Progestins also change the uterine lining to prevent the fertilized egg
  from implanting in the uterus.

When was norethindrone birth control pill approved by the FDA?

• The FDA approved norethindrone in January, 1973.