Period delay

Norethisterone tablets are pills to stop your period. They can be used to delay your period, for example when going on holiday. Norethisterone tablets need to be taken three days before you expect your period to begin and delay your period until three days after you have taken the last tablet.

To purchase this medication from Fairlop Pharmacy, please visit us in store for a brief consultation. Our pharmacist will review your requirement and suitability and, just like your GP, check whether it is safe for you to take a period delay treatment such as norethisterone tablets.

Please note, that we can only prescribe norethisterone for period delay. If you need treatment for heavy or painful periods, speak to your GP.

Our prices are listed below.

Norethisterone 5mg tablets, 30 pack – £15.00

More information

What do period delay tablets do?

Period delay tablets are a treatment used to stop your period for a set amount of time (up to 30 days with norethisterone). Period delay tablets are not contraceptives, so you can’t use them to protect against pregnancy.

There are 2 main types of period delay tablet available in the UK:

• Norethisterone 5mg
• Medroxyprogesterone 10mg

Both of these types of period delay tablets use a version of the hormone progesterone. This hormone is used by your body to help time your periods. When the level of progesterone in your body drops, that’s the signal to start another period. If you’re taking progesterone tablets then you trick your body into waiting a little longer before starting the next period.

Norethisterone is licensed specifically for period delay, but medroxyprogesterone technically isn’t. This doesn’t mean medroxyprogesterone isn’t safe, though. From a doctor’s point of view they’re both safe to use for period delay.

Norethisterone side effects

Like any medication, norethisterone can cause side effects for some people. Make sure you stop taking your tablets and get emergency medical help if you get:

• Symptoms of an allergic reaction
• Symptoms of a blood clot in the lungs or brain
• Symptoms of deep-vein thrombosis

See your doctor as soon as you can if you get:

• Yellow skin
• Migraines for the first time

Other side effects that norethisterone can cause include:

• Effects on your genitals or breasts
• Effects on your nerve system
• Effects on your stomach and gut
• Effects on your liver
• Cysts and tumours
• Effects on your metabolism
• Effects on your heart and blood supply
• Effects on skin and hair
• Others effects that aren’t covered above

For detailed info on norethisterone side effects, please check the patient information leaflet that comes with your tablets.