Mestranol and Norethindrone Brand Names
Necon 1/50 | Norinyl 1/50 | Ortho-Novum 1/50
What is Mestranol and Norethindrone
Mestranol and norethindrone are used together as an oral contraceptive agent for routine contraception.
Mestranol is the estrogen that was in the first marketed combination oral contraceptive pill, Enovid. Mestranol is metabolized to ethinyl estradiol, the active form in vivo.
Norethindrone is a first generation oral progestin with moderate androgenic and slight estrogenic activity relative to newer progestins.
Norethindrone is known as norethisterone outside of the United States. Combined hormonal contraceptives can be used in female patients from menarche to over the age of 40 years up until the time of menopause with proper selection of products.
The choice of a routine hormonal contraceptive for any given patient is based on the individual’s contraceptive needs, underlying medical conditions or risk factors for adverse effects, and individual preferences for use.
All combined oral contraceptives (COCs) have risks related to venous and arterial thromboembolism, particularly in women who smoke; all combined hormonal contraceptive labels contain a boxed warning about tobacco smoking.
The Centers for Disease Control’s U.S. medical Eligibility Criteria describe considerations for risk vs. benefits, including medical conditions or attributes that contraindicate use; these criteria can help prescribing practitioners in product selection for individual patients.
Mestranol and norethindrone oral contraceptive combinations were first approved by the FDA before 1982.
Indications
- acne vulgaris
- amenorrhea
- contraception
- dysfunctional uterine bleeding
- endometriosis
- gastrointestinal bleeding prophylaxis
- hirsutism
- polycystic ovary syndrome
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- acne vulgaris
- alopecia
- amenorrhea
- anaphylactoid reactions
- angioedema
- anorexia
- anxiety
- appetite stimulation
- arthralgia
- asthenia
- back pain
- bowel ischemia
- breakthrough bleeding
- breast discharge
- breast enlargement
- candidiasis
- cataracts
- cervical dysplasia
- cholecystitis
- cholelithiasis
- cholestasis
- colitis
- cystitis
- depression
- diarrhea
- diplopia
- dysmenorrhea
- dyspepsia
- edema
- elevated hepatic enzymes
- emotional lability
- erythema multiforme
- erythema nodosum
- fatigue
- fluid retention
- galactorrhea
- gingivitis
- headache
- hepatitis
- hepatoma
- hirsutism
- hyperlipidemia
- hypertension
- hypertriglyceridemia
- intracranial bleeding
- irritability
- jaundice
- lactation suppression
- leukorrhea
- libido decrease
- libido increase
- lupus-like symptoms
- maculopapular rash
- mastalgia
- melasma
- menorrhagia
- menstrual irregularity
- migraine
- musculoskeletal pain
- myalgia
- myocardial infarction
- nausea
- new primary malignancy
- optic neuritis
- pancreatitis
- papilledema
- peliosis hepatis
- pelvic pain
- photosensitivity
- porphyria
- pruritus
- pulmonary embolism
- rash
- retinal thrombosis
- rhinitis
- sinusitis
- stroke
- thromboembolism
- thrombosis
- urticaria
- vaginal discharge
- vaginal irritation
- vaginitis
- visual impairment
- vomiting
- weight gain
- weight loss
Monitoring Parameters
- pap smear
- pelvic exam
Contraindications
- acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
- atrial fibrillation
- breast cancer
- breast-feeding
- cerebrovascular disease
- cervical cancer
- children
- chloasma
- cholestasis
- contact lenses
- coronary artery disease
- coronary thrombosis
- depression
- diabetes mellitus
- endocarditis
- endometrial cancer
- gallbladder disease
- glaucoma
- headache
- hepatic disease
- hepatitis
- hepatocellular cancer
- hereditary angioedema
- history of angioedema
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- hypercalcemia
- hypercholesterolemia
- hyperlipidemia
- hypertension
- hypertriglyceridemia
- hypothyroidism
- jaundice
- migraine
- myocardial infarction
- obesity
- obstetric delivery
- ovarian cancer
- porphyria
- pregnancy
- protein C deficiency
- protein S deficiency
- renal disease
- stroke
- surgery
- systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- thromboembolic disease
- thromboembolism
- thrombophlebitis
- thyroid disease
- tobacco smoking
- uterine cancer
- vaginal bleeding
- vaginal cancer
- valvular heart disease
- visual disturbance
Interactions
- Acarbose
- Acebutolol
- Acetaminophen; Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
- Acetaminophen; Caffeine
- Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Dihydrocodeine
- Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Magnesium Salicylate; Phenyltoloxamine
- Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Phenyltoloxamine; Salicylamide
- Acetaminophen; Propoxyphene
- Acetohexamide
- Acitretin
- Albiglutide
- Aliskiren
- Aliskiren; Amlodipine
- Aliskiren; Amlodipine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Aliskiren; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Aliskiren; Valsartan
- Alogliptin
- Alogliptin; Metformin
- Alogliptin; Pioglitazone
- Alpha-blockers
- Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors
- Alprazolam
- Amikacin
- Amiloride
- Amiloride; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Aminoglycosides
- Amiodarone
- Amitriptyline; Chlordiazepoxide
- Amlodipine
- Amlodipine; Atorvastatin
- Amlodipine; Benazepril
- Amlodipine; Celecoxib
- Amlodipine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Olmesartan
- Amlodipine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Valsartan
- Amlodipine; Olmesartan
- Amlodipine; Telmisartan
- Amlodipine; Valsartan
- Amobarbital
- Amoxicillin
- Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Lansoprazole
- Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Omeprazole
- Amoxicillin; Clavulanic Acid
- Ampicillin
- Ampicillin; Sulbactam
- Amprenavir
- Anastrozole
- Angiotensin II receptor antagonists
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors
- Apalutamide
- Aprepitant, Fosaprepitant
- Armodafinil
- Artemether; Lumefantrine
- Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine; Dihydrocodeine
- Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine; Orphenadrine
- Atazanavir
- Atazanavir; Cobicistat
- Atenolol
- Atenolol; Chlorthalidone
- Atorvastatin
- Atorvastatin; Ezetimibe
- Atropine; Hyoscyamine; Phenobarbital; Scopolamine
- Azelastine; Fluticasone
- Azilsartan
- Azilsartan; Chlorthalidone
- Azithromycin
- Aztreonam
- Bacitracin
- Barbiturates
- Beclomethasone
- Belladonna Alkaloids; Ergotamine; Phenobarbital
- Benazepril
- Benazepril; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Bendroflumethiazide; Nadolol
- Beta-adrenergic blockers
- Betamethasone
- Betaxolol
- Bexarotene
- Bismuth Subcitrate Potassium; Metronidazole; Tetracycline
- Bismuth Subsalicylate; Metronidazole; Tetracycline
- Bisoprolol
- Bisoprolol; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Boceprevir
- Bosentan
- Brigatinib
- Brimonidine; Timolol
- Bromocriptine
- Budesonide
- Budesonide; Formoterol
- Bumetanide
- Butabarbital
- Caffeine
- Caffeine; Ergotamine
- Calaspargase pegol
- Calcium
- Calcium-channel blockers
- Canagliflozin
- Canagliflozin; Metformin
- Candesartan
- Candesartan; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Captopril
- Captopril; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Carbamazepine
- Carbapenems
- Carbenicillin
- Carteolol
- Carvedilol
- Cefaclor
- Cefadroxil
- Cefazolin
- Cefdinir
- Cefditoren
- Cefepime
- Cefiderocol
- Cefixime
- Cefotaxime
- Cefotetan
- Cefoxitin
- Cefpodoxime
- Cefprozil
- Ceftaroline
- Ceftazidime
- Ceftazidime; Avibactam
- Ceftibuten
- Ceftizoxime
- Ceftolozane; Tazobactam
- Ceftriaxone
- Cefuroxime
- Cenobamate
- Central-acting adrenergic agents
- Cephalexin
- Charcoal
- Chenodiol
- Chloramphenicol
- Chlordiazepoxide
- Chlordiazepoxide; Clidinium
- Chlorothiazide
- Chlorpropamide
- Chlorthalidone
- Chlorthalidone; Clonidine
- Ciclesonide
- Cimetidine
- Ciprofloxacin
- Clarithromycin
- Clevidipine
- Clindamycin
- Clobazam
- Clonazepam
- Clonidine
- Clorazepate
- Cobicistat
- Colesevelam
- Colistimethate, Colistin, Polymyxin E
- Corticosteroids
- Cortisone
- Cosyntropin
- Cyclosporine
- Dabrafenib
- Dalbavancin
- Dantrolene
- Dapagliflozin
- Dapagliflozin; Metformin
- Dapagliflozin; Saxagliptin
- Daptomycin
- Daratumumab; Hyaluronidase
- Darunavir
- Darunavir; Cobicistat
- Darunavir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir alafenamide
- Dasabuvir; Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
- Deferasirox
- Deflazacort
- Delafloxacin
- Demeclocycline
- Dexamethasone
- Diazepam
- Dicloxacillin
- Diltiazem
- Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors
- Dirithromycin
- Doripenem
- Dorzolamide; Timolol
- Doxazosin
- Doxycycline
- Dronedarone
- Dulaglutide
- Duloxetine
- Efavirenz
- Efavirenz; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir
- Efavirenz; Lamivudine; Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
- Elagolix
- Elagolix; Estradiol; Norethindrone acetate
- Elvitegravir
- Elvitegravir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir Alafenamide
- Elvitegravir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
- Empagliflozin
- Empagliflozin; Linagliptin
- Empagliflozin; Linagliptin; Metformin
- Empagliflozin; Metformin
- Enalapril, Enalaprilat
- Enalapril; Felodipine
- Enalapril; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Enasidenib
- Encorafenib
- Enzalutamide
- Eprosartan
- Eprosartan; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Eravacycline
- Ertapenem
- Ertugliflozin
- Ertugliflozin; Metformin
- Ertugliflozin; Sitagliptin
- Erythromycin
- Erythromycin; Sulfisoxazole
- Eslicarbazepine
- Esmolol
- Estazolam
- Ethacrynic Acid
- Exemestane
- Exenatide
- Felbamate
- Felodipine
- Fidaxomicin
- Flibanserin
- Fludrocortisone
- Flunisolide
- Flurazepam
- Fluticasone
- Fluticasone; Salmeterol
- Fluticasone; Umeclidinium; Vilanterol
- Fluticasone; Vilanterol
- Formoterol; Mometasone
- Fosamprenavir
- Fosinopril
- Fosinopril; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Furosemide
- Gemifloxacin
- Gentamicin
- Glimepiride
- Glimepiride; Pioglitazone
- Glimepiride; Rosiglitazone
- Glipizide
- Glipizide; Metformin
- Glyburide
- Glyburide; Metformin
- Glycylcyclines
- grapefruit juice
- Green Tea
- Griseofulvin
- Guanabenz
- Guanfacine
- Hemin
- Hyaluronidase
- Hyaluronidase, Recombinant; Immune Globulin
- Hydantoins
- Hydralazine
- Hydralazine; Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Hydralazine; Isosorbide Dinitrate, ISDN
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Irbesartan
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Lisinopril
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Losartan
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Methyldopa
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Metoprolol
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Moexipril
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Olmesartan
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Propranolol
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Quinapril
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Spironolactone
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Telmisartan
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Triamterene
- Hydrochlorothiazide, HCTZ; Valsartan
- Hydrocortisone
- Icosapent ethyl
- Idelalisib
- Imipenem; Cilastatin
- Imipenem; Cilastatin; Relebactam
- Incretin Mimetics
- Indinavir
- Insulin Degludec; Liraglutide
- Insulin Glargine; Lixisenatide
- Insulins
- Irbesartan
- Isoniazid, INH; Pyrazinamide, PZA; Rifampin
- Isoniazid, INH; Rifampin
- Isotretinoin
- Isradipine
- Ivosidenib
- Kanamycin
- Labetalol
- Lamotrigine
- Lefamulin
- Leflunomide
- Lenalidomide
- Lesinurad
- Lesinurad; Allopurinol
- Letrozole
- Levobetaxolol
- Levobunolol
- Levofloxacin
- Levothyroxine
- Levothyroxine; Liothyronine (Porcine)
- Levothyroxine; Liothyronine (Synthetic)
- Linagliptin
- Linagliptin; Metformin
- Lincomycin
- Lincosamides
- Linezolid
- Liothyronine
- Liraglutide
- Lisinopril
- Lixisenatide
- Lomitapide
- Loop diuretics
- Lopinavir; Ritonavir
- Lorlatinib
- Losartan
- Lumacaftor; Ivacaftor
- Mecamylamine
- Meglitinides
- Melatonin
- Mephobarbital
- Meropenem
- Meropenem; Vaborbactam
- Metformin
- Metformin; Pioglitazone
- Metformin; Repaglinide
- Metformin; Rosiglitazone
- Metformin; Saxagliptin
- Metformin; Sitagliptin
- Methohexital
- Methyclothiazide
- Methyldopa
- Methylprednisolone
- Metolazone
- Metoprolol
- Metreleptin
- Metronidazole
- Metyrapone
- Mifepristone
- Miglitol
- Miltefosine
- Mineral Oil
- Minocycline
- Minoxidil
- Mivacurium
- Modafinil
- Moexipril
- Mometasone
- Morphine
- Morphine; Naltrexone
- Moxifloxacin
- Mycophenolate
- Nadolol
- Nafcillin
- Nebivolol
- Nebivolol; Valsartan
- Nefazodone
- Nelfinavir
- Neomycin
- Nevirapine
- Nicardipine
- Nifedipine
- Nimodipine
- Nisoldipine
- Nitrofurantoin
- Nitroprusside
- Norfloxacin
- Ofloxacin
- Olmesartan
- Omadacycline
- Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
- Omeprazole; Amoxicillin; Rifabutin
- Oritavancin
- Ospemifene
- Oxacillin
- Oxazepam
- Oxcarbazepine
- Paromomycin
- Pegaspargase
- Penbutolol
- Penicillin G
- Penicillin G Benzathine
- Penicillin G Benzathine; Penicillin G Procaine
- Penicillin G Procaine
- Penicillin V
- Pentobarbital
- Perindopril
- Perindopril; Amlodipine
- Pexidartinib
- Phenobarbital
- Phenothiazines
- Phenoxybenzamine
- Phentermine; Topiramate
- Phentolamine
- Pindolol
- Piperacillin
- Piperacillin; Tazobactam
- Pitolisant
- Plazomicin
- Polymyxin B
- Polymyxins
- Potassium-sparing diuretics
- Pramlintide
- Prasterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA (Dietary Supplements)
- Prasterone, Dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA (FDA-approved)
- Prazosin
- Prednisolone
- Prednisone
- Primidone
- Propoxyphene
- Propranolol
- Pyrimethamine; Sulfadoxine
- Quazepam
- Quinapril
- Raloxifene
- Ramipril
- Reserpine
- Ribociclib; Letrozole
- Rifabutin
- Rifampin
- Rifamycins
- Rifapentine
- Riluzole
- Ritonavir
- Rituximab; Hyaluronidase
- Rivaroxaban
- Roflumilast
- Romidepsin
- Ropinirole
- Rosuvastatin
- Rufinamide
- Sacubitril; Valsartan
- Saquinavir
- Sarilumab
- Saxagliptin
- Secobarbital
- Selegiline
- Semaglutide
- SGLT2 Inhibitors
- Siltuximab
- Simvastatin; Sitagliptin
- Sincalide
- Sitagliptin
- Somatropin, rh-GH
- Spironolactone
- St. John’s Wort, Hypericum perforatum
- Streptogramins
- Streptomycin
- Succinylcholine
- Sugammadex
- Sulfadiazine
- Sulfamethoxazole; Trimethoprim, SMX-TMP, Cotrimoxazole
- Sulfasalazine
- Sulfisoxazole
- Sulfonamides
- Sulfonylureas
- Tacrine
- Tazemetostat
- Tedizolid
- Telaprevir
- Telavancin
- Telithromycin
- Telmisartan
- Terazosin
- Teriflunomide
- Testolactone
- Tetracycline
- Thalidomide
- Theophylline, Aminophylline
- Thiazide diuretics
- Thiazolidinediones
- Thiopental
- Thyroid hormones
- Ticarcillin
- Ticarcillin; Clavulanic Acid
- Tigecycline
- Timolol
- Tinidazole
- Tipranavir
- Tizanidine
- tobacco
- Tobramycin
- Tocilizumab
- Tolazamide
- Tolbutamide
- Tolvaptan
- Topiramate
- Toremifene
- Torsemide
- Trandolapril
- Trandolapril; Verapamil
- Tranexamic Acid
- Trastuzumab; Hyaluronidase
- Triamcinolone
- Triamterene
- Triazolam
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Trimethoprim
- Ulipristal
- Ursodeoxycholic Acid, Ursodiol
- Valproic Acid, Divalproex Sodium
- Valsartan
- Vancomycin
- Verapamil
- Voriconazole
- Warfarin
