Nortrel

H2 – What is Nortrel?

Nortrel is a combined birth control pill that you can get as both a monophasic and triphasic pill. Both versions contain the same hormones: norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol. The monophasic pill, commonly referred to as Nortrel 28, comes in two different doses: 0.5/35 and 1/35. And the triphasic pill, usually known as Nortrel 7/7/7, includes three different doses in each packet: 0.5mg – 0.035mg / 0.75mg – 0.035mg / 1mg – 0.035mg.

If the monophasic pill doesn’t work well enough for you when it comes to managing PMS symptoms, the triphasic pill might be the ideal option for you as it can match your cycle more closely than the monophasic pill. Both are equally effective — your chance of becoming pregnant while taking it is below 1%, as long as you take it ‘perfectly’ (at the same time every day, without missing any).

Nortrel contains the hormone norethindrone, which tends to have fewer progestogenic side effects than other pills. These side effects include heavy bleeding, breast fullness and tenderness, headaches, fluid retention, tiredness, irritability, nausea and bloating.

H3 – How does Nortrel work?

The hormones present in Nortrel have three main functions.^[1] First and foremost, they keep you from ovulating, and this alone can prevent pregnancy. But if for some reason ovulation does occur, the hormones prevent a build-up of the uterine lining so an egg can’t implant there. Finally, the hormones also make your cervical fluid thicker so sperm can’t get through. All of these factors together make pregnancy very unlikely, and as a bonus, your periods should also be lighter.

What doses of Nortrel are there?

You can get triphasic and monophasic Nortrel pills. The monophasic pills come in two different doses, and will include 21 active and 7 inactive pills in each packet. The triphasic pill will include three different doses in each packet, with seven pills of each, plus seven inactive pills. The doses are:

• 21 active pills with 0.5mg norethindrone acetate and 0.035 ethinyl estradiol, and 7 inactive pills;
• 21 active pills with 1mg norethindrone acetate and 0.035mg ethinyl estradiol, and 7 inactive pills;
• 7 active pills of each of the following doses: 0.5mg – 0.035mg / 0.75mg – 0.035mg / 1mg – 0.035mg of norethindrone acetate and ethinyl estradiol respectively, plus 7 inactive pills.

The highest dose of the monophasic pill is recommended for people with heavy periods, especially if they’ve led to anemia.^[1] The lower dose has fewer side effects so it’s the best option for people with light periods who tend to be sensitive to high levels of hormones. The triphasic pill matches your cycle more closely, so it will be a better option if you experience side effects with the monophasic pill.

There are a lot of other pills with the same hormones as Nortrel but in different doses. Some are monophasic with higher or lower hormone levels, and some have the same progestin levels but lower estrogen levels. And some options are biphasic or triphasic. So if you get side effects with Nortrel or it doesn’t control your menstrual symptoms well enough, we can help you find a different option.

How to take Nortrel

The clinician who prescribes Nortrel to you will give you instructions on how to take it, and you should always follow their directions. But there are a few general guidelines you can keep in mind when taking birth control:

• Take your pill with a glass of water; you don’t need to take it with food.
• Birth control isn’t completely effective as soon as you start taking it, so you should use a barrier contraceptive method, such as a condom or spermicide, for the first week.
• You need to take one pill at the same time every day; if the interval between pills exceeds 24 hours, the effectiveness of the hormones lowers and you might become pregnant as a result. If you’re not used to taking pills and need to be reminded, you should set an alarm on your phone to ring at the same time every day. You should also always have the pills with you, in case your alarm rings and you’re not at home.

How long does it take Nortrel to work?

Unless you start taking it on the first day of your period, Nortrel won’t protect you from pregnancy as soon as you start taking it. It usually takes about a week for the hormones to reach the optimum level and get to work efficiently in your body. For that reason, you should continue to use a barrier contraceptive method for the first seven days of you taking your birth control, such as a condom or spermicide.

If you start taking Nortrel on the first day of your period though, you’ll be protected straight away from pregnancy, with no need to use additional birth control for the first seven days.

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Nortrel?

If you forget to take your pill, you should take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time for your next one, simply skip the one you missed and continue taking your pill as usual. You should never take two pills to make up for a missed one, as that won’t make it more effective and it might cause some side effects.

Keep in mind that if you miss a pill or more during your cycle, the effectiveness of the birth control drops slightly, and you might become pregnant as a result. To be on the safe side, you should use a condom or spermicide until your next cycle starts. If you’re not used to taking pills and need a reminder, the best thing for you to do is set an alarm on your phone to ring at the same time every day.

If on the other hand you accidentally took too much Nortrel, don’t worry. The toxicity of the pill is low and overdoses are uncommon.^[1] You might feel some nausea and get mild vaginal bleeding as a result of taking too much Nortrel. Unless these effects are persistent and severe, you shouldn’t be alarmed. But if they are, you should seek emergency medical attention.