Norethisterone: Has anybody ever taken this... - Endometriosis UK

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Norethisterone

hanz_hx profile image
10 Replies

Has anybody ever taken this to stop long term bleeding?

I'm taking it and I just seem to be in more pain and is not working?

Has anybody experienced this?

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hanz_hx profile image
hanz_hx
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10 Replies
Brownlow profile image
Brownlow

Hi Hanz_hx,

I am truly no expert on this but just surmising on a couple of possibilities.

- Maybe it takes time to settle down and you might feel worse before you feel better?

- Is it possible to get a lower dose of progesterone? A different product might be better?

- In some women, progesterone is immediately converted to oestrogen, a zero sum game for us which essentially means that your oestrogen goes up, progesterone stays down...which endo loves.

I believe that the last point is possibly my case. I was recently put on the combined pill and my endo went rampant. My doctor did not warn me of this risk and as far as I recall there was no warning on the package details. I think I was ultimately taking a dose of oestrogen! Some women can't 'hold' progesterone. I'm currently trying to find out more about this and there's a thread on this forum about oestrogen dominance healthunlocked.com/endometr...

This might not be the case with you so please explore all avenues and speak to your doctor to let them know you're feeling worse.

curlyjo profile image
curlyjo

Hi hanz_hx, have you had any other tests? My doctor sent me for an ultrasound the minute I started bleeding persistently to see if there was anything else going on inside. They found cysts and it led to an op - the only true way to determine what is going on inside. Suffice to say they didn't find what they thought they would, but at least now they can treat me properly. I found taking norethisterone did stop me bleeding and in my case it did shut down my periods but it didn't do anything to stop my pain, and that was because I had endo and adenomyosis. My concern is that they are treating you 'in the dark' and that if it isn't working there's something else going on. Like Brownlow suggested, do go back to your doctor.

madtabby profile image
madtabby

I was put on it last december to stop my periods cos of endo, fibroids, PSOS but it actually caused me to bleed for the best part of 3 months & the pain floored me , i lost time off work & felt pretty ill & run down. They change my pill to cerazette in march & i continued to bleed another 4 wks but pain was totally bearable .

Have stopped bleeding now for 2 wks so have to wait & see if its working .

2 points tho : hormones take at least 3 months to get under control

Also alot of these progesterone only pills have a max weight of patient to dose of 11 stone so if you weigh more than 11 stone it can be ineffective .

Hope u get sorted soon !!!

A123 profile image
A123

Hi,

I took norethisterone for 9 months after surgery. It stopped my developing endo cysts and I felt ok on it, there was spotting but little blood. I started having phantom contractions though, first once a month but these increased into 3 per week and by the end i was in pain UNLESS I took noresthisterone. I was on a high dose and also have a mirena coil so together this meant no bleeding at all.

I had surgery a month ago though and the consultant said that the noresthisterone enflamed the endometriosis much more than normal and made it very angry which is why there was so much pain. I am off it now and feel much much better. I still get pain but I find Mefenamic acid and muscle relaxants make the biggest difference to combat this. I only have the coil now. If you can cope with an initial 3 month painful period I would recommend the mirena. The insert and general pain is nothing compared to endo pain and it seems to be better than norethisterone.

Hope that helps. xx

Sian83 profile image
Sian83

Hi

I have been taking this since last November an I've found it works for me. I had a coil fitted 2 years ago during surgery to remove endo and had prostap injections for 6 months. For some reason after about 15 months I started bleeding everyday again despite still having my coil. I now take the Norethisterone along with 10mg of an antidepressant everyday. The antidepressant is a low dose so it's not strong enough to affect my moods, just strong enough to block nerve pain. This combination works for me. I think you need to go back to the Dr and tell them you're suffering. I am on this combination thanks to my GP after the hospital consultant messed my treatment up and I went to my GP because I didn't know where else to turn. They are not always right! Good luck x

Agirl89 profile image
Agirl89

Hi, what dose of norethistorone are you taking? I ask as I was taking a low dose to no effect and was then increased to 4 per day at worst and once stopped 3 per day xx

Impatient profile image
Impatient

I was on 3 per day and it stopped mine. If I skipped one tablet then it triggered a period. So speak to your GP and up the dose with his/her approval.

rainey6373 profile image
rainey6373

HI, after an attempted hysterectomy 2 1/2 years ago, I was classed as having a frozen pelvis, the surgeon only managed to remove 1 ovary with a 11cm chocolate cyst. I was then put on Prostap for 6 months, discharged from the consultant and told to take the pill constantly. or have the coil fitted. I detested the idea of that, and as my Mum had had a hysterectomy, 10 years before due to endo, her gynae had put her on Norethisterone to make sure any other endo hidden in her body was killed off, and to take it until she was right past 'the change' age, I requested it from my doctor and he was very good, and prescibed it 3 times per day. After a bowel blockage last year due to endo scar tissue, I had to have 6 inches of bowel removed, scary times (12 inch scar), but the surgeon I had did the job and gave the endo he found a bit of 'clearing out' was given. I have since been referred back to another gynae as the different hospital I was sent to were surprised to find I was not under one considering my history!! I am currently having 6 monthly check ups with the gynae and have been told if there are any changes to contact them. I hope you get sorted xx

Twinky12 profile image
Twinky12

I am currently taking Provera which is supposed to stop the pain & periods and it doesn't if anything the pain is getting worse, my gynaecologist wants me to take these tablets until July when I next see him

rainey6373 profile image
rainey6373 in reply to Twinky12

I'd get in touch with your gynae - nobody should suffer xx

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