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Introduction

Written by Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA
Medically reviewed by Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA
Updated on July 31, 2023

Norethindrone (nor ETH in drone) is a generic medication prescribed to help prevent pregnancy and for treating certain symptoms caused by a hormonal imbalance. Norethindrone belongs to a group of drugs called progestins.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved norethindrone for use in adults and some adolescents* to:

• help prevent pregnancy
• treat the absence of menstruation in females† who previously had a period and are not pregnant
• treat endometriosis
• treat irregular menstruation caused by a hormonal imbalance

These approved uses differ based on the strength of norethindrone your doctor prescribes.

* The term adolescent generally refers to children ages 12 years and older.
† Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

Side effects of norethindrone

Norethindrone may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of norethindrone and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about norethindrone’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for norethindrone listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with norethindrone are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about norethindrone’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for norethindrone listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Norethindrone oral tablet’s mild side effects include:

• irregular menstruation
• irregular bleeding, such as breakthrough bleeding or spotting
• headache
• breast tenderness
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for norethindrone” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of norethindrone are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about norethindrone’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for norethindrone listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, norethindrone’s serious side effects include:

• depression
• eye-related side effects, including vision loss
• high blood pressure
• high blood sugar
• increased risk for blood clots
• liver problems, including jaundice
• migraine
• uterine fibroids
• severe allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for norethindrone” section.

Common questions about norethindrone

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about norethindrone.

Can norethindrone cause my period to stop?

Yes, it’s possible for norethindrone to cause your period to stop. Irregular menstruation is the most common side effect reported by people taking norethindrone. This includes a period that is early or late or a period that doesn’t occur at all. It’s also possible to have spotting or breakthrough bleeding as a side effect.

Norethindrone should be taken at the same time each day to work correctly. Taking your norethindrone dose later than your usual time, or missing a dose, can cause an irregular period.

If you experience changes to your period while taking norethindrone, including if your period stops, let your doctor know. They can review your symptoms and determine the best way to manage them.

Will I experience certain side effects when I stop taking norethindrone?

Possibly. Withdrawal bleeding is a possible side effect reported when some people stop taking norethindrone. When this side effect occurs, it typically begins 3–7 days after you stop treatment. Your doctor can advise you on what to do if you experience withdrawal bleeding when stopping norethindrone.

In addition, if you stop taking norethindrone, symptoms of the condition you were taking it to treat may reappear. If you’re interested in stopping norethindrone, talk with your doctor first. They can review other possible treatments for your condition that may be preferable to you instead. Starting a new treatment when stopping norethindrone may help prevent symptoms of your condition from coming back or worsening.

How does norethindrone work? And how long does it take to start working?

To help prevent pregnancy, norethindrone works in a few different ways. This includes:

• suppressing ovulation
• thickening cervical mucus, which prevents sperm from reaching an egg
• altering the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) to make pregnancy less likely

For treating certain symptoms caused by hormonal imbalance, norethindrone works by causing your uterus to produce certain hormones. This balances your hormones, such as progesterone, by getting them back to a healthy level.

If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Uses of norethindrone

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as norethindrone for certain conditions. Approved uses for norethindrone are described below.

Use for pregnancy prevention

Doctors may prescribe norethindrone oral tablets to help prevent pregnancy. It’s used for this purpose in adults and adolescents* who have begun menstruation. It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment.

It’s important to take your norethindrone dose at the same time every day. Taking a dose late, and missing a dose, increases your risk of becoming pregnant. If you miss a dose by more than 3 hours, be sure to use backup contraception (such as a condom) during sex over the next 48 hours.

* The term adolescent generally refers to children ages 12 years and older.

Use for symptoms due to hormonal imbalance

Doctors may prescribe norethindrone oral tablets for treating certain symptoms due to a hormonal imbalance. Specifically, it may be used to:

• treat the absence of menstruation in females* who previously had a period and are not pregnant
• treat endometriosis
• treat irregular menstruation caused by a hormonal imbalance

It’s used for this purpose in adults. It’s usually prescribed as a short-term treatment.

Hormones are chemicals that send messages in your body to control major processes, including reproduction and metabolism. With a hormonal imbalance, you have too little or too much of a certain hormone. Even a small change in hormone levels can cause serious effects. Norethindrone helps balance hormone levels and treat symptoms caused by an imbalance.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

Interactions and warnings for norethindrone

Below, you’ll find information about norethindrone’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of norethindrone

Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you take norethindrone, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for norethindrone” section below.

Warnings for norethindrone

Some people should not take norethindrone, and others should take it cautiously.

Norethindrone could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether norethindrone is a safe option for you. These warnings may differ based on the strength of norethindrone you use.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for norethindrone, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Norethindrone can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to norethindrone or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe norethindrone. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to norethindrone, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of norethindrone

If you take norethindrone by mouth, you should not take more norethindrone than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much norethindrone, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and norethindrone

Information about norethindrone and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Norethindrone and pregnancy

Norethindrone should not be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before using this medication. Your doctor may suggest birth control options to use during treatment with norethindrone.

Norethindrone and breastfeeding
There are risks to taking norethindrone while breastfeeding. For instance, norethindrone may cause decreased milk production.

If you’re planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about treatment options for your condition. Together, you can discuss the risks and benefits of your treatment options and decide whether or not you should take norethindrone during this time. Your doctor may recommend other healthy ways to feed your child.

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know if you have questions about norethindrone or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• How does norethindrone compare to other birth control pills?
• Does my health history raise my risk for side effects from taking norethindrone?
• Will any medications I take interact with norethindrone?
• Does my diet affect how well norethindrone will work for my condition?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Norethindrone — norethindrone tablet. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/dac4a7ea-3a97-4cda-acab-a9a59aa04199/spl-doc
• Norethindrone acetate — norethindrone tablet. (2022). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/64cb920c-36e8-4d62-9d08-3ddf3989d313/spl-doc

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.