Noriday

Noriday is a progesterone-only oral contraceptive, also known as a mini pill. Noriday contains Norethisterone 350mcg  which is a man-made hormone that is nearly identical to progesterone, a natural hormone in your body. Noriday is only available as a prescription-only medicine. Noriday does not contain oestrogen. Noriday is less often prescribed and is replaced by the newer desogestrel progesterone-only pill.

Progesterone stops you from getting pregnant in three ways.

1. Preventing an egg from being released from the ovaries.
2. Making the fluid in your cervix thicker, minimising the penetration of sperm.
3. Preventing the lining of your womb from thickening enough to allow an egg to grow in it.

Progesterone-only contraceptives provide one of the most reliable methods of contraception if used correctly, 99% effective. Other benefits include making your periods regular, lighter, and less painful, and it may help with pre-menstrual symptoms such as flushing and mood changes.

Can you get Noriday over the counter?

No, you cannot get Noriday over the counter. Noriday is a prescription-only medication that can be purchased from The Family Chemist privately or by visiting your doctor.

Take Noriday every day for 35 days. Noriday comes in strips of 35 pills, each marked with a day of the week. Take your pill at the same time every day. Ensure you are never more than three hours late with a pill otherwise, the contraceptive protection may be lost. Start by taking a pill marked with the correct day of the week. Follow the direction of the arrows on the strip. Take one pill each day until you have finished all 35 pills. Swallow each pill whole, with water if necessary. Do not chew the pill. Then start your next strip. Start your next strip of Noriday the next day after finishing the previous pack, again taking a pill marked with the day of the week. Always start the new strip on time. You will be taking pills through your periods, and there must be no break between packs. It is common not to get your period when taking Noriday. This isn’t a cause for concern. As long as you take Norgeston correctly, you will always start each new strip on the same day of the week.

Starting Noriday

As a new user or starting the Pill again after a break

If you start taking Noriday on the 1^st to 5^th day of your menstrual cycle, you will be protected from pregnancy straight away. If you start the pill after the 5^th day of your cycle, you will need additional contraception like condoms until you have taken the pill for seven days.

It is best to take your first Noriday pill on the first day of your next period. Another method of contraception will not be required.

Changing to Noriday from another contraceptive Pill

• If you are currently on a combined oral contraceptive, vaginal ring or patch: If you have correctly and consistently used the previous combined Pill, start taking Noriday the day after your last active pill (discarding the placebo pills or disregarding the pill-free interval). If a vaginal ring or transdermal patch has been used correctly and consistently before the switch, start using Noriday on the day of removing the last vaginal ring or transdermal patch of a cycle pack, thereby omitting the hormone-free interval of this product. Another method of contraception will not be required.
• Changing from another progestogen-only pill (POP or ‘mini Pill’): you can start taking Noriday anytime without losing contraceptive protection.
• Changing from a progestogen-only parenteral method (implant, injection): additional non–hormonal contraceptive protection (e.g. a condom) is not required if you start exactly when the next implant or injection is due.

Contraception after having a baby.

You can use Noriday after having a baby whether you are breast-feeding or not. You can start taking the pill from day 21 after childbirth. This protects you as soon as you have taken the first pill. If you start later than this, you may not be protected until you have taken the pill for another seven days. If you have had a miscarriage or abortion, you can start taking the pill straightaway and will be protected immediately.

A missed pill
If you are less than 3 hours late with a pill, take it immediately. Keep taking your pills at the usual time. This may mean taking two pills in one day. Don’t worry – your contraceptive protection should not be reduced.

If you are more than 3 hours late with a pill or have missed more than one pill, your contraceptive protection may be reduced. Continue to take your next pills at your usual time. Use extra contraception for the next seven days, such as condoms. If you have missed any of the pills in a strip and had intercourse the week before missing the tablets, you may become pregnant. The more consecutive tablets you have missed, the higher the risk that the contraceptive efficacy is decreased.

Many patients take Noriday free of side effects however, like all medicines, some people may experience some side effects. The severity can vary from person to person.

Side effects such as bleeding between periods or feeling nausea are more common in the first three months. However, they should soon disappear. If the side effects become intolerable, worsen, or continue beyond three months, you should contact your doctor or The Family Chemist clinician.

A rare side effect (1 in 10 in every 10,000 users) can occur in women taking Noriday: a harmful blood clot in a vein or artery. Seek urgent medical attention if you notice any swelling of one leg, pain or tenderness, increased warmth in the affected leg, change in colour of the skin on the leg, sudden unexplained breathlessness or rapid breathing, sharp chest pain, severe lightheadedness, rapid or irregular heartbeat or severe pain in your stomach. The patient information leaflet contains more information regarding recognising a blood clot.

You are more at risk of having a blood clot:

▪ as you get older
▪ if you smoke
▪ if you are seriously overweight

▪ if you have some diseases of the heart and blood vessels
▪ if you have diabetes
▪ if you suffer from migraines
▪ if you’re off your feet for a long time because of major surgery, injury or illness ▪ if you or any of your close family have had blood clots

▪ if you have varicose veins

Common side effects of Noriday include:

• bleeding and spotting between your periods
• no periods
• allergic reactions, including wheezing, rash or reddened skin. depressive moods, loss of interest in sex
• headaches or migraine
• dizziness
• feeling sick or being sick
• putting on weight or losing weight.

The patient information leaflet contains a full list of side effects.

A few women have irregular periods, a little unexpected bleeding or spotting or no periods at all while taking Noriday, especially during the first few months. Normally, these changes are nothing to worry about and require no treatment. Keep taking Noriday as usual. The problem should disappear after the first few strips.

You may also have unexpected bleeding if you are not taking your pills regularly, so try to take your pill at the same time every day. Also, unexpected bleeding can sometimes be caused by other medicines.

Make an appointment to see your doctor if:

You get breakthrough bleeding or spotting that:

• carries on for more than the first few months
• starts after you’ve been taking Noriday for a while
• carries on even after you’ve stopped taking Noriday.

You have had no period for six weeks.

Most patients can take Noriday. However, there may be occasions where an alternative pill may suit you better. You must fill in the consultation form accurately so the clinician can make sure your treatment is safe for you.

Do not use Noriday:

• If you are pregnant or might be pregnant
• If you have ever had a severe liver disease and have been told by your doctor that your liver function test results are not yet back to normal
• If you have ever had liver tumours
• If you have cancer affected by sex hormones –such as current or history of breast cancer If you have vaginal bleeding that has not been explained by your doctor
• If you have ever had a problem with your blood circulation. This includes a blood clot (thrombosis) in the legs (deep vein thrombosis), lungs (pulmonary embolism), heart (heart attack), brain (stroke) or any other parts of the body
• If you have severe diabetes with changes to the blood vessels
• If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to any of the ingredients in Norgeston.

Progesterone only pill may be more suitable for you if you smoke and are 35 or older, stopped smoking less than a year ago and are 35 or older, are overweight or breastfeeding.