NORETHISTERONE ENANTATE

Indication: Hormonal cotaception.

Dosage: It must always be administered as a deep intramuscular injection (preferably intraguteal, al­ternatively into the upper arm). It is advisable to place a plaster over the injection site after the injection to prevent any reflux of the solution. The first i.m. injection is given within the first 5 days of a cycle. The next three injections are to be given at intervals of 8 weeks, after which a further injection is required every 12 weeks (84 days). If the injection interval is extende eyond this, no adequate contraceptive cover is available from the 13th week onwards.

Contraindications: Pregnancy, phlebitis or thrombo-embolic diseases, pathologically increased blood pressure, acute and severe chronic liver diseases with and without jaundice (particularly primary biliary liver cirrhosis), existing or treated cancer of the breast or uterus, severe diabetes with vascular changes, disturbances of limpometabolism, Dubin-Johnson syndrome, Rotor syndrome, im­paired liver function.

Special precautions: Before starting a thorough general medical and gynaecological examination (including the breasts) should be carried out and pregnancy must be excluded. During the use of Norethisterone, it is recommended that the checks be repeated at about 6-month intervals.

Side effects: Cycle disturbances in the form of spotting, break-through bleeding & short-lasting amenorrhoea.

Drug Interaction: Rifampicin, griseofulvin, phe-nobarbitone, phenytoin and antibiotics like tetra-cycline, ampicillin, antihistamines, analgesics and tranquilizers reduce efficacy potentiated by Vita­min C. Reduced efficacy of anticoagulants, antihypertensives, oral antidiabetic drugs and antidapressant drugs.