PHARMACIST: Dispense a Patient Information Leaflet with each prescription.
Read this PATIENT INFORMATION before you start taking norethindrone acetate tablets and read what you get each time you refill norethindrone acetate tablets. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition.
What is the most important information I should know about Norethindrone Acetate (A Progestin Hormone) tablets?
What are Norethindrone Acetate Tablets?
Norethindrone acetate tablets are similar to the progesterone hormones naturally produced by the body. Your healthcare provider may provide norethindrone acetate tablets as individual tablets.
What are Norethindrone Acetate Tablets used for?
Norethindrone acetate tablets are used for the treatment of secondary amenorrhea (absence of menstrual periods in women who have previously had a menstrual period who are not pregnant), the treatment of endometriosis, and the treatment of irregular menstrual periods due to hormone imbalance.
Who should not take Norethindrone Acetate Tablets?
You should not take norethindrone acetate tablets if you are postmenopausal, pregnant or breast-feeding.
You should not take norethindrone acetate tablets if you have the following conditions:
What are the risks associated with Norethindrone Acetate Tablets?
Norethindrone acetate tablets should not be used if you are pregnant. Norethindrone acetate tablets are contraindicated during pregnancy as it may cause fetal harm when administered to pregnant women. There is an increased risk of minor birth defects in children whose mothers take this drug during the first 4 months of pregnancy. Several reports suggest an association between mothers who take these drugs in the first trimester of pregnancy and congenital abnormalities in male and female babies. Although it is not clear that these events were drug related, you should check with your healthcare provider about the risks to your unborn child of any medication taken during pregnancy.
You should avoid using norethindrone acetate tablets during pregnancy. If you take norethindrone acetate tablets and later find you were pregnant when you took it, be sure to discuss this with your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Use of progestational drugs, such as norethindrone acetate tablets, has been associated with changes in the blood-clotting system. These changes allow the blood to clot more easily, possibly allowing clots to form in the bloodstream. If blood clots do form in your bloodstream, they can cut off the blood supply to vital organs, causing serious problems. These problems may include a stroke (by cutting off blood to part of the brain), a heart attack (by cutting off blood to part of the heart), a pulmonary embolus (by cutting off blood to part of the lungs), visual loss or blindness (by cutting off blood vessels in the eye), or other problems. Any of these conditions may cause death or serious long-term disability. Call your healthcare provider right away if you suspect you have any of these conditions. He or she may advise you to stop using the drug.
Discontinue norethindrone acetate tablets and call your healthcare provider right away if you experience sudden partial or complete loss of vision, blurred vision, or sudden onset of bulging eyes, double vision, or migraine.
These are some of the warning signs of serious side effects with progestin therapy:
Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of these warning signs, or any other unusual symptom that concerns you.
These are not all the possible side effects of progestin and/or estrogen therapy. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
What can I do to lower my chances of getting a serious side effect with Norethindrone Acetate Tablets?
General information about the safe and effective use of Norethindrone Acetate Tablets
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets. Do not take norethindrone acetate tablets for conditions for which it was not prescribed. Do not give norethindrone acetate tablets to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.
Keep Norethindrone Acetate Tablets out of the reach of children.
This leaflet provides a summary of the most important information about progestin and/or estrogen therapy. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. You can ask for information about norethindrone acetate tablets that is written for health professionals.
What are the ingredients in Norethindrone Acetate Tablets?
Norethindrone acetate tablets contain the following inactive ingredients: anhydrous lactose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose