What is Norinyl (Norethisterone/Mestranol) used for?

Norinyl (Norethisterone/Mestranol) is a birth control pill commonly known as a 'combined oral contraceptive' that contains both an oestrogen (mestranol) and progestogen (norethisterone) hormone. Norinyl is used to help control heavy, irregular or painful periods.

Oral contraceptives belonging to this group produce their birth control effect by preventing ovulation during each menstrual cycle. Combined Oral Contraceptives also cause changes to the mucus of the cervix and the lining of the womb which contribute to the contraceptive action.

Norinyl is intended to prevent pregnancy. It does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases.

How should I use Norinyl (Norethisterone/Mestranol)?

Starting a hormonal contraceptive for the first time:

To begin Norinyl, take your first tablet on the first day of your next period, that is, the day your bleeding starts. Take your first tablet from the top row of the green section of the strip. Take the tablet which corresponds to the appropriate day of the week. For example, if your first day of bleeding is on Tuesday, you should take the tablet marked "TUE" from the green section of the strip.

Continue to take one tablet every day, following the arrows around the strip, until all 21 white tablets are finished. You should then take one orange tablet daily for the next 7 days, following the arrows so that you are taking the correct tablet for the day of the week. Taking these orange inactive tablets helps you to remember to take a tablet every day.

If switching from a 21 day oral contraceptive:

Stop taking your current oral contraceptive after you have taken the last active tablet. Leave 7 tablet-free days.

Start the new Norinyl-1 28 Day pack on the eighth day by taking a white active tablet from the top row of the green section which corresponds to the day of the week. Continue to take one tablet every day, following the arrows around the strip until you finish all 21 white tablets in the green section of the strip. Then take one orange tablet daily for the next 7 days, before starting your new strip.

If switching from a 28 day oral contraceptive:

Stop taking your current oral contraceptive after you have taken the last inactive tablet in the strip.

Start the new Norinyl-1-1 28 Day pack on the next day by taking a white active tablet from the top row which corresponds to the day of the week. Continue to take one tablet every day, following the arrows around the strip until you finish all 21 white tablets in the green section of the strip. Then take one orange tablet daily for the next 7 days, before starting your new strip.

If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your physician or pharmacist immediately.

What are the side effects of Norinyl (Norethisterone/Mestranol)?

Tell your physician if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

• break-through bleeding
• spotting
• nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
• change in menstrual flow
• change in weight
• retention of fluids
• dark discolouration of the skin
• blotchy discolouration on the face or limbs
• absence of periods
• breast tenderness, enlargement or secretion
• headache or dizziness
• depression
• fatigue or tiredness
• hair growth or loss of scalp hair
• acne, rashes, or itching
• vaginal thrush
• vaginal irritation
• bladder irritation or urinary tract infection
• pre-menstrual like symptoms
• change in cervical secretions
• suppression of milk production
• change in appetite

Tell your physician immediately, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:

• unexplained or persistent pains in the head, chest, stomach or legs
• gradual or sudden, partial or complete loss of vision
• double vision
• symptoms of severe vision impairment
• eye protrusion
• swelling of the eye or eye lesions
• migraine headaches for the first time
• more frequent or severe migraines
• breast lumps
• jaundice
• fever
• rise in blood pressure
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
• shortness of breath, wheezing or trouble breathing

Please Note

Do not take it if you have had a stroke or a heart attack, inflammation, infection or clotting in any blood vessel(s), liver disease, a history of jaundice, severe generalised itch in the body during pregnancy, Dubin-Johnson Syndrome or Rotor Syndrome, abnormal vaginal bleeding, cancer, a family history of breast nodules, sickle cell anaemia, a lipid metabolism disorder, diabetes with blood vessel damage, a history of herpes during pregnancy, otosclerosis (an ear disorder), or an allergy to norethisterone or mestranol.

Before you start to take it, you must tell your physician if you are breastfeeding or a heavy smoker (15 or more cigarettes per day), especially if you are aged over 35 years, also, if you have uterine fibroids, gall bladder disease, heart or kidney disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, asthma, migraine, any form of depression, or a disorder of calcium or phosphorus metabolism.

Please see Consumer Medicine Information for detailed precautions.