You should always take this medicine as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. Period delay tablets should be taken with water. The normal dosage for these tablets is:

Delay your period - 1 tablet three times a day starting at least three days before your period is due. Your period should occur 2-3 days after you have stopped taking the medicine.

This medicine is intended for short-term occasional use to delay a period during times of inconvenience, therefore the maximum number of tablets we will prescribe is 60 tablets which would be sufficient to delay your period for up to 17 days.

For occasional use, we recommended that Norethisterone is not taken any more frequently than 2-3 times per year with regular normal periods between use.

Who should not use Norethisterone?

This medicine should not be used by the following groups of patients:

• if you or a member of your family have ever had a problem with blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
• if you have now or have had in the past, a heart attack or angina.
• if you have liver problems.
• if you have ever had a pregnancy where you had jaundice or an itchy rash known as pemphigoid gestationis. This rash appears as small blisters on your abdomen.
• if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. Your doctor may give you a pregnancy test before starting treatment or if you miss a period during treatment
• if you have now or have ever had any vaginal bleeding (not a period) for which your doctor could not find a cause.
• if you have severe generalised itching all over your body (pruritis)
• if you have a condition known as porphyria (a rare inherited blood disease).
• If you are at risk of blood clots, for example very overweight, suffer from systemic lupus, are over 35 and smoke.

Norethisterone is not suitable if you use any of the following medicines without first speaking with your GP or Pharmacist for medical advice:

• Use oral or injectable contraceptives, for example, the pill and depo-injection.
• Medicines to treat epilepsy (e.g. phenytoin, carbamazepine)
• Antibiotic medicines to treat an infection (e.g. tetracyclines, rifampicin, co-trimoxazole)
• Antiviral medicines to treat HIV (e.g. ritonavir, nelfinavir)
• Anticancer medicines
• Herbal preparations containing St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)
• Aminoglutethimide is sometimes used in Cushing’s Syndrome.
• Ciclosporin (for suppressing the immune system)
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for treating pain and inflammation
• Medicines for high blood pressure.

If you have any questions about how this product may interact with your current medicines or conditions don't hesitate to get in touch with us and one of our pharmacists will be more than happy to help. 

Can I buy Norethisterone over the counter?

This medicine is not available to buy over the counter. You need a prescription to buy Norethisterone. If you would like to buy Norethisterone from our Online Pharmacy then you will be asked some questions about your health. Our prescriber will check your consultation before dispatch to ensure it is safe and appropriate for you.

You can start your period delay consultation by following this link.

How to purchase

Norethisterone period delay tablets are a prescription-only medicine meaning the supply of this product is strictly controlled by a medical or non-medical prescriber like a doctor or prescribing pharmacist. Like an online doctor service, our handy online consultation will allow you to securely submit your details to our prescriber who will (if suitable) authorise the supply of the medicine.

CAN I TAKE NORETHISTERONE ONCE MY PERIOD HAS ALREADY STARTED?

If your period has already begun when you take your dose of Norethisterone, it will not be able to stop it. It also may not be effective if you take it too late. The best time to take this medication is around 3 days before the start of your period.