I have been prescribed this tablet to stop my period, as it is causing me great problems.
Firstly 5 to 6 days before I am due my body temperature rises and this makes all my neurological symptoms 10 times worse. Once my period starts I then experience stomach pains which I never use to get. My period use to last 5 days Max, it know lasts 8 days and even when it is really light at the end of the week I still get the stomach pains, finally, I also have difficulty with the personel hygiene thing as I constanly drop light items.
So my doctor has prescribed Norethisterone. to take 5mg twice a day for days 12 to 26 of my cycle. I’ve had a look on line and can only fined info relating to postponing your period for up to 2 weeks while taking the tablet and when you stop you will have your period a few days later.
Can anyone help if they have any experience of this I am abit confused.
I just looked it up on www.drugs.com. I can’t see anything on there about it stopping periods permanently. Wouldn’t the contraceptive pill or injection be more along the lines of what you need if that’s your goal? Maybe the GP wasn’t focusing on the exacerbated neurological symptoms?
Metropathia haemorrhagica (dysfunctional uterine bleeding): 5mg three times daily for ten days. Bleeding is arrested usually within one to three days. A withdrawal bleeding resembling normal menstruation occurs within two to four days after discontinuing treatment.
Prophylaxis of recurrence of dysfunctional bleeding: if there are no signs of resumption of normal ovarian function (no rise of morning temperature in the second half of the cycle), recurrence must be anticipated. Cyclical bleeding can be established with 5mg twice daily from the 19th to the 26th day of the cycle.
Pre-menstrual syndrome (including pre-menstrual mastalgia): Pre-menstrual symptoms such as headache, migraine, breast discomfort, water retention, tachycardia and psychic disturbances may be relieved by the administration of 10 – 15mg daily from the 19th to the 26th day of the cycle. Treatment should be repeated for several cycles. When treatment is stopped, the patient may remain symptom free for a number of months.
Postponement of menstruation: In cases of too frequent menstrual bleeding, and in special circumstances (e.g. operations, travel, sports) 5mg three times daily, starting three days before the expected onset of menstruation. A normal period should occur two to three days after the patient has stopped taking tablets.
Dysmenorrhoea: Functional or primary dysmenorrhoea is almost invariably relieved by the suppression of ovulation. 5mg three times daily for 20 days, starting on the fifth day of the cycle (the first day of menstruation counting as day one). Treatment should be maintained for three to four cycles followed by treatment-free cycles. A further course of therapy may be employed if symptoms return.
Endometriosis (pseudo-pregnancy therapy): long-term treatment is commenced on the fifth day of the cycle with 10mg daily for the first few weeks. In the event of spotting, the dosage is increased to 20mg and, if necessary, 25mg daily.
After bleeding has ceased, the initial dose is usually sufficient. Duration of treatment: four to six months continuously, or longer if necessary.
Menorrhagia (hypermenorrhoea): 5mg two to three times a day from the 19th to the 26th day of the cycle (counting the first day of menstruation as day one).
Hi Twist - I take this drug which was prescribed for heavy periods/fibroids last year. I actually now take only one a day (for as many days as I don’t want to go through that horridnous). I probably take it for 3 weeks continous, stop and then my period starts within 3/4 days and lasts for about 5 (which is a vast improvement to what I was). I can’t say I’ve experienced any of my MS symptons getting worse when taking it, but everyone’s different. It may take a couple of months to get your body used to it.
I get the feeling My GP has got the wrong end of the stick or thinks that using this drug will stop the raised temperature & cramps I am currently experiencing and I guess only time will tell.
We talked alot about the neurological problems and the fact they had no known cause, he mentioned again that sometimes the scientific proof comes years after the patient starts experiences the symptoms.
So I am totally confused. Like you Karen that is the info I had read too.
Hi alycat - It’s not the drug that is worsening my sypmtoms it’s the period itself . I have just been prescribed the drug to stop my periods. I probable didn’t make myself clear. If it does help I will be happy to continue with it.
I feel I need to give it two cycles and go back if I have had no improvement (which is what I’m guessing will happen).
I had the same problem as you, re the monthly period making everything worse. And for me, the solution, as Karen suggests, was going on the pill.
I’m not sure if there’s some reason that’s not an option for you? It’s not usually prescribed if you have certain other conditions.
I started off on Loestrin, but my body sometimes used to completely ignore I was on it, and ovulate anyway - which resulted in a normal, full-blown period (with corresponding exacerbation of symptoms). Just as well I wasn’t relying on it for birth control, as it would have resulted in full-blown pregnancy!
I’m now on Microgynon, which has pros and cons. The good news is my natural hormones have so far NEVER overriden it - no surprise failures, like last time.
On the downside, my periods are a bit more like a natural one, on this type, so a bit heavier, and a bit more painful - not as effective at symptom reduction. They are being kept exactly on schedule though, which is one improvement.
With advancing age, my periods had gradually reduced to a three-week cycle. As they were lasting a week, I was only getting two “good” weeks, before starting the whole nonsense again. So keeping them a proper 28 days apart is some advantage, even though the periods themselves aren’t a whole lot better.