Warnings & Recalls for Heather
Family Planning Warnings
Heather is pregnancy category X and can cause birth defects. Patients should inform their doctors if they are currently breast-feeding, because medication can be excreted into breast milk.
General Warnings
- Before using this medication, patients who have had a history of blood clots, brain bleeds, liver disease, family history of cancer in the female organs, unknown vaginal bleeding, a missed abortion, obesity, heart disease or recent stroke/heart attack, high blood pressure, lupus, migraines, seizures, asthma, kidney problems, high cholesterol levels, depression or diabetes should consult a physician before taking this medication
- A patient's physician should be notified before taking this medication if she will be having surgery or if she will be on a bed rest for extended periods of time, as this may cause increased risk of blood clots.
- Patients should inform their doctor if they are allergic to birth control pills or norethindrone.
- Alcoholic beverages should not be heavily mixed with Heather.
- Smoking should NOT be mixed with Heather, as smoking combined with the medication can increase risk for strokes/heart attacks, high blood pressure and blood clots.
- Heather can cause dark blotches on the skin, and sunlight can worsen the condition. Patients taking the medication should avoid harsh and prolonged sun exposure and wear protective sunscreen and clothing.
Interactions
Heather should not be taken with any other hormonal birth control. Patients should not use Heather for conditions it is not meant to treat.
Heather Treatment and Use
What is Heather?
Heather | Norethindrone is an oral contraceptive, or birth control. It does not protect against any sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV or AIDS. It can be used to treat abnormal bleeding in the uterus, amenorrhea and endometriosis.
How does it work?
Heather contains the female hormone progestin, that is similar the the existing hormone progesterone. Taking Heather stops the normal growth of the uterus lining during a female’s menstrual cycle, making it difficult for sperm to attach to the uterus lining. It also works to treat abnormal bleeding by leveling hormone levels and changes in the uterus to restore a regular menstrual cycle.
How to take it?
A single .35 mg pill must be taken orally and consistently at the same time each day to prevent pregnancy. A back-up birth control method, like a condoms or spermicide, should be used at the start of this medication.
For abnormal bleeding and amenorrhea, a 2.5 to 10 mg dose of Heather is normally taken once a day for 5-10 days during the last half of the planned menstrual cycle, after which some withdrawal bleeding may occur up to a week after discontinuation of the medication.
For endometriosis, a 5 mg dosage of Heather must be taken daily for two weeks, with a 2.5 mg dosage increase per week until a 15 mg per day dosage has been reached. This dosage can be continued for up to 9 months.
This pill can be taken with food or after a meal to prevent any upset stomach.
