Utovlan 5mg Tablets

What is Utovlan?

Utovlan is a brand of prescription medicine that can delay menstruation for up to 17 days. It can be prescribed to anybody who has a period and wants to delay it for a reason - the reason does not have to be medical, but a doctor does need to clear it.

It contains Norethisterone, a hormone that keeps progesterone levels high. This elevation in progesterone levels means that menstruation is unable to start like it normally would. When taken correctly, Utovlan also prevents all period symptoms, such as cramps, mood swings, nausea, and headaches.

Some people take Utovlan for other reasons, including dealing with heavy or painful periods, irregular periods, endometriosis, or breast cancer.

If taken for periods, Utovlan should only be a temporary solution. If your periods are too difficult to deal with, it’s important to speak to a doctor about other treatments.

How do period delay tablets work?

Norethisterone (Utovlan), a synthetic progesterone hormone, can manipulate your body into delaying your period. This medication is able to delay your period because it causes the womb to hold on to the womb lining for longer, by working in the same way as your body's natural supply of progestogen. This occurs because Norethisterone has the ability to stimulate the womb lining, so that it keeps on growing for as long as you take it.

Utovlan or Norethisterone?

Norethisterone and Utovlan are the same thing. Both cause the same effect (delaying your period) using the same drug. Utovlan is simply the brand name of Norethisterone.

Norethisterone is the drug that is present in Utovlan and other period delay medication.

Is Utovlan safe?

Utovlan is generally safe for most people who take it occasionally. However, the dose should not be exceeded, and it should not be taken for longer than 17 days.

Utovlan can cause some side effects, and it is not suitable for some people with certain conditions or those that take specific medications (please refer to side effects drop down for more information about these conditions and types of medication). This is why it is important to always consult a medical professional before embarking on a course of Utovlan or any medication.

Can Utovlan stop your period once it has started?

No, Utovlan cannot stop your period once it has already started. For full effectiveness, the course of Utovlan should be started three days before your period. Please see the patient leaflet for further information.

Does Utovlan stop you from getting pregnant?

Utovlan is not a form of contraception, and women who take it should also use a form of contraception, such as condoms, to stop getting pregnant. All Utovlan does is prevent your womb lining from shedding, meaning that it is still possible to get pregnant while taking this tablet.

Utovlan reviews

Utovlan reviews are generally very positive. Most people try Utovlan for occasions when they don’t want to experience their period - such as a holiday, a wedding, or a spa day.

Most people who have tried them reported that they worked well to delay their period, and it arrived within 2-3 days afterwards ceasing to take the medication.

Some reviewers did report a few cramps after their course of Utovlan, which may be a more common side effect. However, most Utovlan reviews reported little or very mild side effects and note that the tablets work as stated.

Of course, as with any medication, different people can react very differently to Utovlan. Therefore, it’s important to recognise the side effects and be prepared for them, even though the chance of them occurring is minimal.

How do I use period delay tablets?

If you are taking norethisterone to delay your period, there are a few things you should know. Firstly, it's important you can predict when your period is due. As long as this is known, you should start taking norethisterone three days before your period is due to start. One 5mg tablet is taken THREE times daily. When you want your period to start, simply stop taking the medication. After stopping, your period should start 1-2 days later.

You can take Norethisterone for up to 20 days in total, meaning that you can delay your period for around 17 days.

Utovlan side effects

Most people who take Utovlan do not have any issues. However, some common side effects of Utovlan have been reported:

• Bleeding or spotting in between periods
• Unusual vaginal discharge
• Breast pain
• Nausea, constipation or diarrhoea
• Dry mouth
• Headaches

More serious Utovlan side effects include:

• Erosions in the cervix (this does not usually cause any pain but may show up in a smear test)
• Hallucinations
• Liver issues
• Jaundice
• Feeling confused

Contact a doctor immediately if you have any of these side effects when taking Utovlan. You may need to stop taking it.

If you experience any of these Utovlan side effects, you should stop taking the tablets instantly:

• An itchy rash on the skin
• Feeling faint
• Issues with breathing
• Swelling on the face, hands or feet

There is also a slightly higher risk of developing a blood clot or thrombosis if you take Utovlan. These can be fatal if not treated. If you experience any of these blood clot warning signs, stop taking Utovlan immediately and seek emergency healthcare:

• Sudden chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing blood
• Pain and swelling in your calf or foot
• Rapid heartbeat
• Severe headache
• Hallucinations
• Fainting
• Numbness and weakness
• Purple skin
• Difficulty speaking

Ensure that your next of kin are aware that you are taking Utovlan so that they can tell medics if required.

People with some conditions should not take Utovlan. These include:

• Heart conditions, including previous heart attack or angina
• Liver problems
• Unexplained vaginal bleeding
• A history or family history of blood clots or thrombosis
• A history of pruritus
• Porphyria
• A history of jaundice
• Pemphigoid gestationis
• Allergies to any progesterone, including norethisterone or another ingredient in Utovlan
• Women should also not take Utovlan if there is any chance that they could be pregnant

People with these conditions should only take Utovlan after consulting with their doctor:

• Kidney problems
• Epilepsy
• Migraines
• Asthma

Consult your doctor before taking Utovlan if you take any other medicines. Utovlan is known to interact with the following:

• Some high blood pressure medicines
• HIV antiviral medications
• St John’s Word
• Aminoglutethimide
• Ciclosporin
• Some painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicines
• Some antibiotics
• Some epilepsy medicines
• Some cancer medicines

For more information about Utovlan tablets, please take a look at the information leaflet below:

• Utovlan