Norethisterone
A synthetic progestogen. Combined with oestrogens it is used in oral contraceptives, and as an adjunct to oestrogens it is used as part of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). It can be used alone as a progestogen-only contraceptive pill and – but only for a limited period – to delay menstruation, to treat heavy or painful periods, or to relieve premenstrual tension. Norethisterone is also used as a depot contraceptive, which is given by intramuscular injection and lasts for up to eight weeks.
It is also used to treat certain cancers. Norethisterone is available, on prescription only, as tablets, skin patches, or as a solution for injection.
Proprietary preparations: Micronor (contraceptive pill); Micronor-HRT (in hormone replacement therapy); Noriday (contraceptive pill); Noristerat (depot contraceptive); Primolut N (tablets); Utovlan (tablets); BINOVUM (combined with ethinyloestradiol); BREVINOR (combined with ethinyloestradiol); CLIMAGEST (packaged with oestradiol valerate); CLIMESSE (combined with oestradiol valerate); ELLESTE DUET (packaged with oestradiol); ELLESTE DUET CONTI (combined with oestradiol ESTRACOMBi (combined with oestradiol); EVOREL CONTI (combined with oestradiol); EVOREL-PAK (packaged with oestradiol); EVOREL SEQUI (combined with oestradiol); KLIOFEM (combined with oestradiol); KLIOVANCZ (combined with oestradiol); LOESTRIN 20 and LOESTRIN 30 (combined with ethinyloestradiol); MENOPHASE (combined with mestranol); NORIMIN (combined with ethinyloestradic); NORINYL-I (combined with mestranol); OVYSMEN (combined with levonorgestrel); SYNPHASE (combined with ethinyloestradiol);
TRINOVUM (combined with ethinyloestradiol); TRISEQUENS (combined with oestradiol).