Aygestin

What Is Aygestin?

Aygestin (norethindrone) is a form of progesterone, a female hormone, used for birth control (contraception) to prevent pregnancy. Aygestin is also used to treat menstrual disorders, endometriosis, or abnormal vaginal bleeding caused by a hormone imbalance. Aygestin is available in generic form.

What Are Side Effects of Aygestin?

Common side effects of Aygestin include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• bloating,
• stomach cramps,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• mood swings,
• trouble sleeping,
• weight gain/loss,
• increased acne,
• breast pain/swelling/tenderness,
• changes in sexual interest,
• increased hair growth,
• hair loss,
• freckles or darkening of facial skin,
• vaginal itching or discharge,
• skin itching or rash, or
• changes in your menstrual periods.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Aygestin including:

• changes in vaginal bleeding (e.g., spotting, breakthrough bleeding, changes in menstrual flow, no menstrual bleeding),
• depression,
• swelling of the hands or feet,
• frequent/burning/painful urination, or
• yellowing eyes or skin.

Dosage for Aygestin?

The dosage and the duration of treatment with Aygestin is based on the patient's medical condition and response to therapy. Follow doctor's instructions. Withdrawal bleeding usually occurs within three to seven days after discontinuing Aygestin therapy.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Aygestin?

Aygestin may interact with griseofulvin, rifampin, St. John's wort, ketoconazole or itraconazole, barbiturates, or HIV medicines. Tell your doctor all medications you are taking. Smoking combined with this medication increases your risk for strokes, blood clots, high blood pressure, and heart attacks.

Aygestin During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Aygestin must not be used during pregnancy because it may harm a fetus, especially during the first 4 months of pregnancy. This drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Additional Information

Our Aygestin (norethindrone) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

 

Aygestin Consumer Information

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• sudden vision loss, bulging eyes, or severe headache;
• swelling, rapid weight gain;
• unusual vaginal bleeding;
• missed menstrual periods;
• pelvic pain (especially on one side);
• a breast lump;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• increased thirst, increased urination;
• liver problems--loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• signs of a blood clot--sudden numbness or weakness, problems with vision or speech, chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling or redness in an arm or leg.

Common side effects may include:

• irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting;
• headache;
• breast pain or swelling;
• stomach pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting;
• hair loss;
• depressed mood, trouble sleeping;
• weight gain; or
• vaginal itching or discharge.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Aygestin (Norethindrone)

 

Aygestin Professional Information

SIDE EFFECTS

See WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS.

The following adverse reactions have been observed in women taking progestins:

• Breakthrough bleeding
• Spotting
• Change in menstrual flow
• Amenorrhea
• Edema
• Changes in weight (decreases, increases)
• Changes in the cervical squamo-columnar junction and cervical secretions
• Cholestatic jaundice
• Rash (allergic) with and without pruritus
• Melasma or chloasma
• Clinical depression
• Acne
• Breast enlargement/tenderness
• Headache/migraine
• Urticaria
• Abnormalities of liver tests (i.e., AST, ALT, Bilirubin)
• Decreased HDL cholesterol and increased LDL/HDL ratio
• Mood swings
• Nausea
• Insomnia
• Anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions
• Thrombotic and thromboembolic events (e.g., deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, retinal vascular thrombosis, cerebral thrombosis and embolism)
• Optic neuritis (which may lead to partial or complete loss of vision)

Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Aygestin (Norethindrone)