Norethisterone

What is Norethisterone?

Norethisterone is a tablet used to help symptoms of endometriosis or heavy periods, and it can also help to delay your period. If you have a holiday or event planned but your period is due, taking Norethisterone can help you enjoy it fully.

Norethisterone is a generic medication, so it’s cheaper than the branded version. It’s a bit different to the regular contraceptive pill, because you only take it short term.

How does Norethisterone work?

Norethisterone is a type of medication called a progestin. Progestins are synthetic versions of the natural female hormone progesterone and they work in almost the same way in the body.

Progesterone is the hormone which makes the lining of your uterus thicken to prepare for pregnancy. Your period happens when progesterone drops and this lining sheds. So taking progestins can delay your period if it hasn’t started, or make it less heavy and painful if it has.

What doses of Norethisterone are there?

Generic Norethisterone usually comes in 5mg tablets when used for endometriosis, heavy or painful periods and period delay.

There’s also a low dose version of it called Noriday, which only contains 350mcg of norethisterone. Noriday is used as a contraceptive and it’s unlikely you’ll get it for endometriosis or heavy periods.

How to take Norethisterone

How you take Norethisterone will depend on what you’re using it for. It’s important to follow the instructions your prescriber gives you when taking it.

How to take Norethisterone for period delay

Take one tablet three times a day, three days before your period is supposed to start. You should take them around the same time each day. You could, for example, take one with breakfast, one with lunch, and one with dinner, or set three separate alarms on your phone if you don’t tend to eat regular meals. Once you’ve stopped taking Norethisterone, you’ll usually have your period within three days of stopping.

How to take Norethisterone for heavy or painful periods

Take one tablet three times a day for 10 days. To stop your period from causing any more issues, your clinician might tell you to take Norethisterone for a few days after your next two periods. You’ll usually take one tablet twice a day for 8 days. You will need to start taking these tablets 19 days after your last period began.

How to take Norethisterone for endometriosis

For endometriosis, take one tablet three times a day, for at least six months. This is a longer-term treatment, to stop the cells from your uterus from growing in places they’re not supposed to. Your clinician can discuss with you exactly how long to take it for. If you feel you need a higher dosage to control your symptoms, you can send us a message online.

How long does it take Norethisterone to work?

Norethisterone starts working very quickly. It reaches peak concentration in your blood within one to three hours of taking it.^[1] Remember that if you’re taking it for period delay, it will need two to three days to work. It’ll need time for the effects to show, so make sure to take it as our clinician tells you.

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Norethisterone?

There are a few different ways to take Norethisterone, so always take it at the advice of your clinician. If you forget to take a pill, take it as soon as you remember and then carry on your treatment as normal. Don’t take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.

If you take too much Norethisterone, you should seek medical attention right away. If you’re using our service, you can send us a message with any questions you have and our experts will get right back to you.