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Women's health

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Original poster

Norethisterone

24 replies

WLAH · 21/05/2023 21:45

I have got a prescription for norethisterone as due the day I go on hols end June.

I have been reading about side effects with mood headaches break through bleeding etc. What had people experience been?

Has anyone took them the month before required in hope of moving next month period 7 days.

Also been told take 1 a day for duration and start 10 days before but instructions in box says 3 a day .. starting 3 days before hand

OP posts:
Tryingtryingandtrying · 21/05/2023 21:50

I thought about doing this, but found it messed up subsequent period too in the past. I think if I was doing that I would bump.it by 2 weeks. Any side effects I had were far preferable to a period

Tryingtryingandtrying · 21/05/2023 21:51

Interested in the 1 a day plan, if anyone has tried it

Diversion · 21/05/2023 21:57

I have taken them in the past with no major issues mostly for festivals or holidays. I think that I took 3 x a day starting about a week before my period was due. No headaches or breakthrough bleeding but I did find that my next period was heavier.

cantwaittocruise · 21/05/2023 21:57

I did exactly what you’re suggesting for my wedding. Took it the month early to shift the following period too. Worked beautifully :)

VanillaImpulse · 21/05/2023 22:01

I found I was really painfully bloated so decided to just have the period in the end!

Daisythecat15 · 21/05/2023 22:03

I've taken them, didn't get any side effects. They worked perfectly for me! And my period returned to normal after I stopped them.

WeightoftheWorld · 21/05/2023 22:04

I took them once for a holiday camping abroad in rural locations without great toilet access...! Worked fine, no side effects at all.

underneaththeash · 21/05/2023 22:07

VanillaImpulse · 21/05/2023 22:01

I found I was really painfully bloated so decided to just have the period in the end!

That goes after about 48 hours.

I often take them as I have very heavy periods. No issues apart from feeling bloated for 48 hors if I take them too late.

ChildcarePanic · 21/05/2023 22:13

Norethisterone affected my mood so badly that I had to stop taking it. There is an alternative called medroxyprogesterone that is so much better (was for me!) with less risk (according to my GP anyway!).

SirenSays · 21/05/2023 22:25

I had no negative side effects. then I forgot to take a couple and had the period from hell

Original poster
WLAH · 21/05/2023 22:47

Tryingtryingandtrying · 21/05/2023 21:51

Interested in the 1 a day plan, if anyone has tried it

Begin wonder did Dr make mistake as everything read says x3 a day

OP posts:
Thelazygardener · 21/05/2023 23:02

I took it whilst abroad to delay a period (was due on the last week) and I really didn’t get on with it. It did the job in delaying my period but I had awful headaches and it made me feel generally rubbish, it did mess my cycles up a for a good few months (short very heavy periods)….BUT I also know people who have no issues whatsoever. I have used medication called tranexamic acid in the past and will probably use that again in future if necessary, I found it a lot better for minimal side effects. Norethisterone seems to be really individual in how it affects people. Not sure why!

I had to take it again a few months ago to start IVF but as I was straight into medication after I’m not sure of the effects that time.

Original poster
WLAH · 21/05/2023 23:16

I already take tranexamic acid for heavy days

OP posts:
TheSnowyOwl · 21/05/2023 23:20

It’s always been three a day whenever I have been prescribed them. I have a box of 5mg tablets in front of me now and it says “one to be taken three times a day, starting 3 days before expected onset of period”.

To answer your question though, no side effects and you can use them to manipulate the start date of your next cycle. If you need to take them for this sort of thing though, getting a prescription of the pill might work out easier as then you effectively have six months of pills for the same outcome but only need to take one a day and can also delay or miss a period (you don’t need to use them as contraception).

Pearfacebananapoop · 22/05/2023 17:25

I took it for the opposite reason to restart my period and was horrendous.

I keep reading about it on here for this use though, don't people just keep taking their pill for the extra week any more?

Original poster
WLAH · 22/05/2023 19:03

Tryingtryingandtrying · 21/05/2023 21:51

Interested in the 1 a day plan, if anyone has tried it

I question pharmacy who contacted my own dr ( locum had said 1 a day ) and she said 3 a day

OP posts:
Original poster
WLAH · 22/05/2023 20:48

Pearfacebananapoop · 22/05/2023 17:25

I took it for the opposite reason to restart my period and was horrendous.

I keep reading about it on here for this use though, don't people just keep taking their pill for the extra week any more?

No on pill here

OP posts:
Original poster
WLAH · 02/07/2023 10:22

Just to update took 3 a day for 3 days before period due and continue 3 a day for duration of holiday. Had a headache at 4am one morn otherwise no effects. Finished on Fri night and now awaiting period

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 02/07/2023 10:28

I am currently on day 3 of taking norethisterone to delay my period as I'm on holiday. Dont seem to have any side effects so far.

dementedpixie · 02/07/2023 10:31

Pearfacebananapoop · 22/05/2023 17:25

I took it for the opposite reason to restart my period and was horrendous.

I keep reading about it on here for this use though, don't people just keep taking their pill for the extra week any more?

I'm not on the pill as dh has had a vasectomy. Dd is running 2 packs together to prevent her period and I'm using norethisterone to delay mine

eetee · 02/07/2023 10:35

Pearfacebananapoop · 22/05/2023 17:25

I took it for the opposite reason to restart my period and was horrendous.

I keep reading about it on here for this use though, don't people just keep taking their pill for the extra week any more?

I think it's safe to assume they do. It's women who are not on the pill who use norethisterone.

jodesxx · 30/08/2023 21:45

I started noreistherone on day 18 of my cycle as felt as though period was coming and wanted to delay it past this weekend. I am on day three now of taking it and just feel like crap and can't take it. If I stop now, is that going to cause any issues and will it bring my period on?

Original poster
WLAH · 31/08/2023 06:39

I took last tablet Fri late and had period by Tue

OP posts:
Helenjohanna · 09/08/2024 18:20

Diversion · 21/05/2023 21:57

I have taken them in the past with no major issues mostly for festivals or holidays. I think that I took 3 x a day starting about a week before my period was due. No headaches or breakthrough bleeding but I did find that my next period was heavier.

Hello! I'm not sure if you'll even see this. I've just started it even though it's a week early instead of the recommended three days partly to be on the safe side and partly to stop the bloating. Did your period still start three days after stopping, or did it mean that you then waited an extra week? I'm going away twice in a row and I want my period to happen in the middle. It feels very tricky!

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