Norgeston

Authored by

Dr Sadia Saeed

20 August 2024

What is Norgeston?

Norgeston is a progesterone only pill, commonly referred to as the mini pill. It helps prevent unwanted pregnancies in women. It can be used by women that cannot take oestrogen.

Description

Norgeston as a Contraception

Norgeston is a POP, progesterone-only pill, sometimes known as the mini-pill. This is an oral birth control pill to be taken consecutively for 35 days to prevent pregnancy.

Progesterone-only pills are a suitable alternative for people who cannot take oestrogen such as when breastfeeding, if you smoke or if you are overweight.

What is Norgeston and how does it work?

Norgeston contains a type of progesterone which is the female sex hormone. This contraceptive works to prevent pregnancy by thickening the lining of the cervix thicker and preventing the lining of the womb from becoming thick enough to host an egg. For some people, it can also stop the ovary from releasing an egg each month.

Norgeston is not intended for use before the first menstrual bleeding or after menopause.

Is Norgeston right for me?

If you are looking for an effective oral contraceptive, Norgeston may be right for you. However, it may not be suitable for you if you have the following:

If you are allergic to progestogen levonorgestrel or any other ingredients of this medicine
If you are pregnant or might be pregnant
If you have thrombosis
If you have ever had a blood clot or are at risk of a blood clot
If you have severe heart, liver or kidney problems
If you are suspected of having breast cancer
If you have unexplained bleeding from the vagina
If you are taking medication for hepatitis C

Side Effects

All medications can cause potential side effects, below we have listed some potential side effects of Norgeston. However, these do not always occur and are mostly mild in nature. But if you experience any prolonged or worrying side effects of Norgeston, please discontinue the medication immediately and consult your doctor.

Common side effects include:

Mood altered,
Decreased sexual drive,
Dizziness,
Headache, migraine,
Nausea, vomiting,
Irregular or no menstruation,
Weight fluctuations.

How to take Norgeston?

Always take Norgeston exactly as prescribed by your doctor or advised by the pharmacist.

Take 1 Norgeston tablet every day for 35 days
Always take your pill at the same time each day
Start by taking a pill marked with the correct day of the week
Make sure you are never more than three hours late with the pill, otherwise you might not be fully protected against pregnancy
Follow the directions of the arrows on the strip and take a pill every day until you have finished the pack
Do not take a break between packs
It can be taken with or without food, if necessary with a small amount of water
Do not use Norgeston if you are pregnant or think you are pregnant
Ask your doctor if you are breastfeeding and want to use Norgeston.

Warnings and Precautions

Norgeston may not be safe if taken with certain other medications or recreational drugs.

Please inform the prescriber if you are taking any of the listed medications:

Epilepsy (e.g. primidone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, felbamate, topiramate and phenobarbital);
certain sedatives (barbiturates)
HIV infections (e.g. ritonavir, nelfinavir, nevirapine, efavirenz);
Hepatitis C virus infection (e.g. boceprevir, telaprevir);
or other infectious diseases (e.g. griseofulvin);
high blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs (bosentan);
depressive moods (the herbal remedy St. John’s Wort);
macrolide antibiotics (e.g. clarithromycin, erythromycin);
fungal infections (e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole);
high blood pressure (hypertension), angina, or certain heart rhythm disorders (e.g. diltiazem).

The above-listed warnings are not exhaustive, please consult a doctor, pharmacist, or nurse if you have further questions on the use of this medication or potential interactions with other medicines.

Norgeston Patient Leaflet

To view Norgeston Patient Leaflet click here.

To view PDF patient leaflet click here.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this blog post is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Welzo does not endorse or sell the medication discussed, nor do we recommend using this information as a substitute for professional healthcare. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions regarding your health or medical treatment. Welzo assumes no responsibility for any actions taken based on the information provided in this blog.