Utovlan 5mg Tablets

Period Delay Doctor Service

Utovlan Tablets 5mg is one of a group of medicines called ‘Progestogens’. Progestogens are similar to the natural female hormone progesterone.

Utovlan Tablets contain the synthetic hormone, norethisterone as the active ingredient. 

It can have multiple uses, however, is often used as a tablet to delay periods. Utovlan contains the active ingredient norethisterone 5mg and can be taken to delay periods for up to 17 days.

As many women have experienced, sometimes your period can come at the worst time. If you are taking the combined oral contraceptive, most allow the delay of your period by continuing straight onto your next pack. If you are not taking an oral contraceptive, then Utovlan / norethisterone 5mg can be an ideal way to delay your period when it coincides with a special occasion.

Utovlan works by keeping levels of the female hormone, progesterone, in the body up. This, in turn, stops your womb lining from shedding, and so delaying your period. Utovlan is basically a synthetic version of progesterone.

Utovlan Is Not A Method Of Contraception

It is therefore important that you should continue to use contraceptive methods if you do not want to become pregnant. Utovlan should also not be taken if you are already taking the combined contraceptive pill. You can, however, take it while taking the "mini pill". Utovlan is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

When can I use the contraceptive pill to delay my period?
Most brands of the combined contraceptive can delay your period if you have already been taking the pill for a number of weeks. You CAN NOT use the contraceptive pill to delay your period if you just start taking the pill just before your period is due.

Can I delay my period?
Yes. Norethisterone is a prescription medication which can be used to delay your period for as many as 17 days. You can speak to your GP or order it through our online service.

If you are taking once, you can use your combined oral contraceptive to delay your period, by moving right onto the next pack of active pills.

Can I use period delay tablets to manage heavy periods?
No. These tablets are intended only to delay your period temporarily, and cannot be used as a regular treatment for heavy periods.

What if my period does not return after 3 days?
Your period should return like normal, 3 days after you have taken your last period delay tablet. If it does not, and you have had sex during the time you were using the tablets, you may have become pregnant. Check with your doctor.

Are there any side effects from using period delay tablets?
Some women do experience minor side effects, but this is uncommon as the tablets are usually only used for a brief time. Prolonged usage increases the chances of some kind of reaction to the drug. Bloating and stomach problems sometimes occur, and changes in libido also are sometimes experienced by users of norethisterone.

What exactly is norethisterone?
Norethisterone is a synthetic version of a sex hormone produced by the body, and is one variety in the group of hormones known as progestogens.

How many period delay tablets do I have to take every day?
Norethisterone tablets must be taken as one tablet three times a day, starting 3 days before you expect your period to begin normally. Ideally, the tablets should be taken at the same time each day and facilitate their delaying function. The best way to do this would be one pill in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening.

Will period delay tablets stop me from becoming pregnant?
No, norethisterone is not a contraceptive. You would have to use a method of birth control in order to avoid becoming pregnant.

Which women should not take period delay tablets?
Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should not take norethisterone. If you are allergic to the drug or any similar hormone, it cannot be used. Also, women who have suffered from unexplained vaginal bleeding, women who have had blood clots in the past, women who have had liver or heart problems, women who have had the blood disease porphyria, women who have had the severe itching irritation called pruritus, and women who have been jaundiced during past pregnancies.

How long does it take for your period to come after taking norethisterone?
After stopping period delay tablets, your period should start after 2-3 days

Is it safe to take medicine to delay periods?
Yes - as long as you check with your GP, and let them know all medications you are taking, and any relevant health conditions, taking period delay tablets is a safe and commonly prescribed method of period delay.

What tablets stop periods?
You can use the following tablets to stop / delay a period

• Norethisterone 5mg
• Utovlan (contains norethisterone 5mg)
• Your combined oral contraceptive if you are taking one.

Utovlan is generally a well-tolerated medication, and most women will not experience side effects.

With any medication you take however, there is always a risk of side effects occurring. Some are more common than others, and often side effects may subside with the regular usage of the medicine. If the side effects do not subside, you should report them to us, or your GP.

Possible Side Effects

Reasons for stopping Utovlan treatment immediately
Very rarely, Utovlan may cause a severe allergic reaction which can be life-threatening in some cases. You can get some or all of the following symptoms:
• wheezing
• difficulty breathing
• feeling faint
• swelling of the face or tongue
• swelling of the hands and feet
• intense itchy skin rash.

If you think you are reacting badly to the medicine, get emergency medical help immediately.

The following symptoms could be warning signs of thrombosis (a blood clot) which will need urgent treatment:
Symptoms of a blood clot in the lungs:
- Sudden, severe, sharp pain in your chest
- Coughing up blood
- You suddenly become short of breath
- Your heart beats more rapidly
Symptoms of a blood clot in the brain (‘a stroke’):
- You have an unusually severe or long headache
- Your sight is affected in any way
- You find it difficult to speak
- You collapse or faint
- Any part of your body feels weak or numb
Symptoms of a deep-vein thrombosis (DVT):
- You have severe pain, tenderness or swelling in your calf, ankle or foot
- You have purple discolouration of the skin of the leg or the skin becomes red and warm to touch

If you get any of these symptoms, you should stop taking the tablets and see your doctor immediately.

Reasons for seeking medical advice during treatment
It is important to see your doctor straight away if you get:
- Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- Migraine headache for the very first time
Your doctor may also decide to stop treatment if your blood pressure gets too high.

For a full list of side effects, please read the patient information leaflet.

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, our Rightdose pharmacists or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.

You can help to make medicines safer by reporting any side-effects to the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.

Before taking any medication, it is important to read the Patient Information Leaflet. You can find information leaflets for your medicines by typing them into the search bar at medicines.org, or by contacting us.

Patient Information Leaflet Utovlan 5mg Tablets (Pack of 30)

Pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine.

Pregnancy

Utovlan Tablets must not be taken if you are pregnant as hormonal medicines can affect the developing baby. It is important you use some form of contraception (e.g. a condom) while taking Utovlan Tablets, as it is not a contraceptive.

Breastfeeding

If you are breastfeeding, ask your doctor for advice before taking this medicine, so they can advise whether you should use an alternative method of feeding your baby.

Driving and using machines

No effect on the ability to drive or use machinery has been seen with Utovlan Tablets.

Utovlan Tablets contains lactose

Lactose is a type of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.

How to take Utovlan Tablets

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor if you are not sure. The recommended dose will depend on the condition you are being treated for.

The following information will help you see what the usual dose is for a particular problem.

Taking Utovlan to delay your periods 

You will usually take 1 tablet 3 times (15 mg) a day. You need to start taking the tablets 3 days before your period is due to start. Your period will usually start within 3 days of finishing the tablets.

• Continue taking until a period delay is no longer required. Do not take for more than 20 days (17 days of period delay).

If you do not have a period after you finish a course of Utovlan Tablets, check with your doctor in case you are pregnant.

If you take more Utovlan than you should
If you take too many tablets, contact your doctor straight away.

If you forget to take Utovlan
Take the tablet as soon as you remember, and carry on taking the tablets at the normal times. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Utovlan if you have any of the following conditions. This will help them decide if Utovlan is suitable for you:
- Epilepsy
- Migraine headaches
- Asthma
- Heart problems
- Kidney problems.

Psychiatric disorders
Some women using hormonal contraceptives including Utovlan have reported depression or depressed mood. Depression can be serious and may sometimes lead to suicidal thoughts. If you experience mood changes and depressive symptoms contact your doctor for further medical advice as soon as possible.

Risk of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)
All women have a small chance of having a blood clot in the veins of the leg, in the lung or other part of the body. The chances of getting a clot are very slightly higher if you are taking a hormone medicine like Utovlan. You are more likely to get a clot whether or not you are taking Utovlan if you:
- are very overweight
- have systemic lupus erythematosus. (This is a condition where the immune system attacks
healthy tissues, typically causing symptoms such as painful joints and muscles, tiredness, fever and rashes).
- have had a blood clot in the veins or lungs before
- have relatives who have had blood clots
- are unable to move for long periods of time (for example after an operation)
- have a serious injury or have major surgery
- have a history of repeated miscarriage.

Tell your doctor if you have just had an operation or if you are going to have an operation while taking Utovlan.

Other medicines and Utovlan
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes the following medicines, as the effect of Utovlan may be altered when they are
taken at the same time:
- 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, 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.

Utovlan can also interfere with some laboratory tests, so tell your doctor if you are having any blood tests or hospital investigations.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines not listed above, including those bought without a prescription.

What Utovlan contains

The active substance is norethisterone. Each tablet contains 5 mg of norethisterone.

The other ingredients are lactose monohydrate, maize starch, polyvidone and magnesium stearate.

What Utovlan looks like and contents of the pack

Utovlan tablets are white, flat, circular, bevel-edged tablets inscribed ‘SEARLE’ on one side and ‘U’ on the other. They are available in cartons of 30 and 90 tablets in blister strips.