Norethindrone USP is a white to creamy white, odorless, crystalline powder. It is stable in air. Practically insoluble in water; soluble in chloroform and in dioxane; sparingly soluble in alcohol; slightly soluble in ether. The chemical name for norethindrone is 17-Hydroxy-19-nor-17α-pregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one. The structural formula is as follows:
Each yellow tablet contains 0.35 mg norethindrone USP, and has the following inactive ingredients: anhydrous lactose, corn starch, D&C yellow no. 10 aluminum lake, ethylcellulose aqueous dispersion, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose and povidone.
Meets USP Dissolution Test 2.
If used perfectly, the first-year failure rate for progestin-only oral contraceptives is 0.5%. However, the typical failure rate is estimated to be closer to 5%, due to late or omitted pills. lists the pregnancy rates for users of all major methods of contraception.
Adapted from Hatcher et al, 1998, Ref. # 1.
Emergency Contraceptive Pills: Treatment initiated within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse reduces the risk of pregnancy by at least 75%.
Lactational Amenorrhea Method: LAM is highly effective, temporary method of contraception.
Source: Trussell J, Contraceptive efficacy. In Hatcher RA, Trussell J, Stewart F, Cates W, Stewart GK, Kowal D, Guest F, Contraceptive Technology: Seventeenth Revised Edition. New York NY: Irvington Publishers, 1998.
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Some users may experience slight deterioration in glucose tolerance, with increases in plasma insulin but women with diabetes mellitus who use progestin-only oral contraceptives do not generally experience changes in their insulin requirements. Nonetheless, prediabetic and diabetic women in particular should be carefully monitored while taking POPs.
Lipid metabolism is occasionally affected in that HDL, HDL2, and apolipoprotein A-I and A-II may be decreased; hepatic lipase may be increased. There is usually no effect on total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, or VLDL.
Each yellow tablet contains 0.35 mg norethindrone. Inactive ingredients include anhydrous lactose, corn starch, D&C yellow no. 10 aluminum lake, ethylcellulose aqueous dispersion, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose and povidone.
This leaflet is about birth control pills that contain one hormone, a progestin. Please read this leaflet before you begin to take your pills. It is meant to be used along with talking with your healthcare professional.
Progestin-only pills are often called “POPs” or “the minipill”. POPs have less progestin than the combined birth control pill (or “the pill”) which contains both an estrogen and a progestin.
About 1 in 200 POP users will get pregnant in the first year if they all take POPs perfectly (that is, on time, every day). About 1 in 20 “typical” POP users (including women who are late taking pills or miss pills) gets pregnant in the first year of use. will help you compare the efficacy of different methods.
Adapted from Hatcher et al, 1998, Ref. # 1.
Emergency Contraceptive Pills: Treatment initiated within 72 hours after unprotected intercourse reduces the risk of pregnancy by at least 75%.
Lactational Amenorrhea Method: LAM is highly effective, temporary method of contraception.
Source: Trussell J, Contraceptive efficacy. In Hatcher RA, Trussell J, Stewart F, Cates W, Stewart GK, Kowal D, Guest F, Contraceptive Technology: Seventeenth Revised Edition. New York NY: Irvington Publishers, 1998.
POPs can prevent pregnancy in different ways including:
Cigarette smoking greatly increases the possibility of suffering heart attacks and strokes. Women who use oral contraceptives are strongly advised not to smoke.
If you have sudden or severe pain in your lower abdomen or stomach area, you may have an ectopic pregnancy or an ovarian cyst. If this happens, you should contact your healthcare professional immediately.
An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy outside the womb. Because POPs protect against pregnancy, the chance of having a pregnancy outside the womb is very low. If you do get pregnant while taking POPs, you have a slightly higher chance that the pregnancy will be ectopic than do users of some other birth control methods.
These cysts are small sacs of fluid in the ovary. They are more common among POP users than among users of most other birth control methods. They usually disappear without treatment and rarely cause problems.
Some studies in women who use combined oral contraceptives that contain both estrogen and a progestin have reported an increase in the risk of developing breast cancer, particularly at a younger age and apparently related to duration of use. There is insufficient data to determine whether the use of POPs similarly increases this risk.
A meta-analysis of 54 studies found a small increase in the frequency of having breast cancer diagnosed for women who were currently using combined oral contraceptives or had used them within the past ten years. This increase in the frequency of breast cancer diagnosis, within ten years of stopping use, was generally accounted for by cancers localized to the breast. There was no increase in the frequency of having breast cancer diagnosed ten or more years after cessation of use.
Some studies have found an increase in the incidence of cancer of the cervix in women who use oral contraceptives. However, this finding may be related to factors other than the use of oral contraceptives and there is insufficient data to determine whether the use of POPs increases the risk of developing cancer of the cervix.
In rare cases, combined oral contraceptives can cause benign but dangerous liver tumors. These benign liver tumors can rupture and cause fatal internal bleeding. In addition, some studies report an increased risk of developing liver cancer among women who use combined oral contraceptives. However, liver cancers are rare. There is insufficient data to determine whether POPs increase the risk of liver tumors.
Diabetic women taking POPs do not generally require changes in the amount of insulin they are taking. However, your healthcare professional may monitor you more closely under these conditions.
The most common side effect of POPs is a change in menstrual bleeding. Your periods may be either early or late, and you may have some spotting between periods. Taking pills late or missing pills can result in some spotting or bleeding.
Less common side effects include headaches, tender breasts, nausea and dizziness. Weight gain, acne and extra hair on your face and body have been reported, but are rare.
If you are concerned about any of these side effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Before taking a POP, inform your healthcare professional of any other medication, including over-the-counter medicine, that you may be taking.
These medicines can make POPs less effective:
Medicines for seizures such as:
Medicine for TB:
Before you begin taking any new medicines be sure your healthcare professional knows you are taking a progestin-only birth control pill.
1) a missed pill as soon as you remember that you missed it,
2) go back to taking POPs at your regular time,
3) be sure to use a backup method (such as a condom and/or a spermicide) every time you have sex for the next 48 hours.
If you think you are pregnant, contact your healthcare professional. Even though research has shown that POPs do not cause harm to the unborn baby, it is always best not to take any drugs or medicines that you don't need when you are pregnant.
You should get a pregnancy test:
If you want to become pregnant, simply stop taking POPs. POPs will not delay your ability to get pregnant.
If you are breastfeeding, POPs should not affect the quality or amount of your breast milk or the health of your nursing baby. However, isolated cases of decreased milk production have been reported.
No serious problems have been reported when many pills were taken by accident, even by a small child, so there is usually no reason to treat an overdose.
If you have any questions or concerns, check with your healthcare professional. You can also ask for the more detailed “Professional Labeling” written for doctors and other healthcare professionals.
Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F).
KEEP THIS AND ALL MEDICATIONS OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN.
1. The first time you use these pills, take your first pill on the first day of your menstrual period. Pick the Days of the Week Sticker that starts the first day of your period. When you have picked the right sticker, throw away the others and place the sticker on the blister card over the pre-printed days of the week and make sure it lines up with the pills.
2. Your blister package consists of three parts, the foil pouch, wallet, and a blister card containing 28 individually sealed pills. Note that the pills are arranged in four numbered rows of 7 pills, with the pre-printed days of the week printed above them. All 28 pills are “active” birth control pills. Refer to the sample of the blister card below:
3. To remove a pill, push down on the pill with your thumb and forefinger so that the pill releases through the back of the blister card. Each day, take one pill. Always go from left to right along the row. Each new row will begin on the same day of the week.
4. Take one pill every day for 28 days, whether bleeding or not, until you have taken all the pills. It is important that you take your pill at the same time every day.
5. After you have taken all 28 pills, begin taking your pills again the next day. Be sure that the calendar day on your new package corresponds with the actual day.
Sellersville, PA 18960
Rev. A 6/2011
