Norimin

Norimin is a combined contraceptive pill used to prevent pregnancy and it can also help women who deal with heavy or painful periods. It contains synthetic versions of oestrogen (35 micrograms ethinylestradiol) and progesterone (1mg norethisterone), and prevents pregnancy by stopping you ovulating and thickening the mucus at the entrance to your womb (cervix). Norimin is a highly effective form of birth control, and is 99% effective when taken correctly.

What is the difference between Norimin and Norimin 28 day pill?

Both Norimin and Norimin 28 day contraceptive pills contain 21 tablets of the same ingredients (ethinylestradiol and norethisterone), but Norimin 28 day contains 7 extra pills that don’t contain any hormones: these are called placebo pills, and are there to help you remember to take one pill every day.

The most common way to take Norimin birth control is by taking one tablet every day for 21 days, before taking a 7-day break. During this break, you should experience a withdrawal bleed that’s similar to your normal period.

Norimin 28 day tablets are taken for 28 days with no 7-day break. The withdrawal bleed then appears during the 7 days of placebo tablets.

At ZAVA, we offer Norimin, but not Norimin 28.

Norimin works by:

• stopping you from ovulating
• thickening the mucus in your cervix (your womb’s entrance)
• thinning the lining of your womb

These 3 processes significantly reduce the chances of sperm reaching an egg or any fertilised egg from growing.

Norimin is a type of contraceptive pill known as the combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP). It contains 2 active ingredients which are synthetic (man-made) forms of naturally occurring female sex hormones. These are ethinylestradiol (a synthetic form of oestrogen) and norethisterone (a synthetic form of progesterone).

Using combined contraceptive pills like Norimin can also result in lighter and less painful periods.

What hormone is in Norimin?

“Norimin birth control contains synthetic forms of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which are commonly found in contraceptive pills. Norimin has a relatively low dose of synthetic oestrogen at 0.035mg, which some women find gives them less or no side effects or reduces particularly unwanted side effects. You may find with low oestrogen birth control that your periods are lighter and more regular, with less pronounced cramping and PMS. On the other hand, risks of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots are increased, and Norimin pills aren’t recommended if you’re breastfeeding or pregnant.” – Dr Brenda Nomann, Medical Editor.

Norimin contraceptive pill is highly effective when taken as directed. Combined pills like Norimin are 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, meaning fewer than 1 in every 100 women who use combined contraceptive pills correctly will get pregnant in 1 year.

Clinical research shows the chance of becoming pregnant while using a combined pills like Norimin is 0.3%, when the pill is taken exactly as instructed. However, the average chance of pregnancy whilst taking these pills is around 9%, and this is believed to be mostly due to patients not taking their contraceptive pill correctly. These findings highlight the importance of taking Norimin according to prescribed instructions.

Norimin is a prescription-only medication you can get from most pharmacies in-person and you can also request contraceptive treatment online through ZAVA.

How to buy Norimin online?

You can safely and legally buy Norimin online from trusted online doctor and pharmacy services like ZAVA.

All you have to do to get Norimin with ZAVA is complete a short online questionnaire to give our doctors information about your health. Our doctors will review your answers, and prescribe Norimin if it is safe and appropriate to do so. Then your medication will be delivered to an address of your choice.

Take one Norimin pill every day, regardless of whether you are having sex that day. Try and take your pill at the same time every day, as this means Norimin will be at its most effective in preventing pregnancy.

Swallow your Norimin pill whole with water. You can take your pill before, during, or after a meal, but do not crush up the tablet.

When should I start Norimin?

Ideally on the first day of your period. If you cannot start Norimin on the first day of your period, you can start it on any other day up until the 5th day. In this case, you must use another method of contraception (e.g. a condom) for the first seven days.

Norimin should be taken every day at the same time each day. Take the tablet marked with the correct day of the week until you reach the end of a blister strip. When you have finished the 21 tablets of a blister strip, stop taking Norimin for 7 days. You may bleed during this time. Start a new blister strip after the 7-day break.

Detailed instructions on how to take Norimin can be found in the patient information leaflet.

Norimin missed pill: What if I miss a pill?

What you need to do if you have a Norimin missed pill depends on the circumstances. If you are 12 hours or more late taking your Norimin pill, Norimin may not work.

You should take your next pill as soon as possible, and either use extra contraception (e.g., condoms) or avoid having sexual intercourse for 7 days, as you may not be well protected from becoming pregnant.

If you have less than 7 tablets left in your blister strip when you miss taking a Norimin pill, finish that blister strip as normal and continue taking Norimin when it finishes without taking a break. This gives you protection from pregnancy from when you took the last missed tablet.

Like all medications, you may experience side effects when taking contraceptive pills such as Norimin, but they should be mild and temporary. These side effects are usually caused by your body getting used to the hormonal changes caused by the contraceptive.

Common Norimin side effects (affect 1% to 10% of people) include:

• Headaches – if you have headaches, they should improve as time goes on. However, if you still experience headaches and you’ve been taking Norimin for more than three months, or suffer migraines, you should speak to your GP.
• Nausea – you may feel sick when you first start taking Norimin, but the symptoms should improve; if these symptoms do not improve, speak to your doctor.
• Breast tenderness – this side effect tends to improve a few weeks after starting Norimin, but if you suffer from persistent or severe breast pain or find a lump in the breast then speak to your doctor.

Uncommon side effects (affect 0.1%-1% of people) include:

• vomiting and diarrhoea
• a reduction in your sex drive
• skin conditions, such as eczema

Norimin side effects are typically mild, and should go away as your body gets used to the hormonal changes caused by the medication. This can take a few months.

If you are experiencing side effects that last longer than 3 months, or are severe, speak to your doctor.

How will Norimin affect my weight or acne?

A common misconception is that contraceptive pills can cause weight gain, but there is no proof to support this.

There has been lots of inaccurate news about weight gain with the contraceptive pill, but pills like Norimin have not been shown to cause weight gain or loss. However, some women may find that their weight changes throughout their cycle due to fluid retention.

Contraceptives pills can affect acne: Whilst some progestogen-only pills might make your acne worse, most combined hormonal contraceptive pills like Norimin improve acne.

Some combination pills such as Norimin have been shown to help in the treatment of acne, but they can cause side effects such as rashes, so in some cases if you have acne it can make it worse.

As long as a doctor has approved treatment, you can use Norimin. There are people who should not take Norimin birth control, because it’s not safe for them due to their health history. For example, you should not take Norimin if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. Your doctor can discuss the risks and benefits with you.

You might have to consider a different contraceptive if you’re breastfeeding (depending on when you gave birth) as the oestrogen contained in Norimin may reduce the amount of milk you produce.

You shouldn't take Norimin contraceptive pill if you have:

• an allergy to any of the ingredients
• risk factors for blood clots
• a history of breast, cervix, vagina or womb cancers
• certain complications during pregnancy
• a history of heart problems or high cholesterol
• a history of severe liver disease
• a history of bad migraines
• a history of unexplained vaginal bleeding
• hepatitis C and are taking certain medications

For a full list of Norimin contraindications, see the patient information leaflet that comes with your medication.

There are also some medications that may interfere with the effectiveness of Norimin birth control and vice versa. It is important to speak to your doctor if you are taking any other medications including any that you have bought from a pharmacy or health food shop.

Some of the following medications can impact on the effectiveness of Norimin, so tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:

• rifampicin for the treatment of tuberculosis
• some medications for treating HIV
• antifungal agents such as griseofulvin
• barbiturates.
• medications for epilepsy such as carbamazepine and phenytoin
• Phenylbutazone – a medication used to relieve symptoms of inflammation, including arthritis
• St John's wort – a herbal remedy that you can buy without a prescription

If you don’t think Norimin is suitable, then there are plenty of other contraceptive options which may be right for you.

There are a number of alternative combined contraceptive pills that work in the same way as Norimin, but contain different hormones which may work better for you. Other combined contraceptive pills include:

• Microgynon
• Rigevidon
• Marvelon
• Gedarel
• Yasmin
• Brevinor

If Norimin is unsuitable because you cannot use a contraceptive that contains oestrogen, then a progestogen-only pill (mini pill) may be the right choice for you. Progestogen-only contraceptive pills include:

• Cerelle
• Cerazette
• Noriday
• Hana

If you have any specific questions about which pill might be better for you, speak with your doctor.

Are Brevinor and Norimin the same?

Brevinor and Norimin both contain the same active ingredients ethinylestradiol (synthetic oestrogen) and norethisterone (synthetic progesterone). However, Brevinor and Norimin are different. Brevinor contains 0.5 milligrams (mg) of norethisterone, whereas Norimin contains 1mg. Both Brevinor and Norimin contain the same amount (35 micrograms) of ethinylestradiol.

In summary, Norimin is a good option for someone who is looking to prevent pregnancy. Like any medication, Norimin will not be suitable for everyone. If you are not sure whether you can take Norimin, speak to your doctor who can suggest which contraceptive pill or contraceptive method is most appropriate for you.