Clinical information
Common uses
- heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding
- postponing (delaying) a period
- premenstrual syndrome
- endometriosis
Common side effects
- breakthrough bleeding or spotting
- headache
- feeling sick
- breast pain and tenderness
- bloating and fluid retention
Cautions
- not for people with a history of blood clots or liver disease
- stop and get urgent help for blood-clot signs (chest pain, breathlessness, leg swelling)
- see a doctor straight away for jaundice or a first-ever migraine
- must not be taken in pregnancy
Interactions
- epilepsy medicines (phenobarbital, phenytoin, carbamazepine)
- rifampicin, rifabutin and some other anti-infectives
- St John's wort (herbal remedy)
- ritonavir and nelfinavir (HIV medicines)
- ciclosporin (its levels may rise)
- NSAIDs and vasodilators (fluid retention)
Pregnancy: do not use — contraindicated in pregnancy
Reference information, not medical advice — always follow your doctor or pharmacist. Source: EMC, medicines.org.uk, Norethisterone 5mg Tablets SmPC and PIL, product 1494 (accessed 2026-08-16)