Brevinor

What is Brevinor?

Brevinor is a combined contraceptive pill which contains synthetic versions of the hormones oestrogen (ethinylestradiol) and progesterone (norethisterone). They work together to reduce the chances of becoming pregnant.

When used correctly, combined contraceptive pills are 99% effective against unwanted pregnancy. However, they are closer to 91% effective when typical use is taken into account. This includes things like illness (e.g., being sick or having diarrhoea) and forgetting to take a pill.

The Brevinor pill can also help regulate periods, making them lighter, less painful, and more regular. It may also be used to delay periods for personal events such as weddings and holidays.

How Does Brevinor Work?

The Brevinor combined pill contains the artificial hormones, ethinylestradiol and norethisterone, which work together to stop you getting pregnant by:

1. Inhibiting ovulation - the release of an egg cell from the ovaries.
2. Thickening the mucous lining of the cervix to prevent sperm from travelling to the womb.
3. Thinning the lining of the womb to make it difficult for an egg to implant itself into the endometrium (walls of the womb), ready for fertilisation.

How to Take Brevinor

Brevinor comes in a blister pack containing 21 tablets, each marked with the corresponding day of the week. Take the pill for 21 days at the same time and abstain for 7 days before starting the new strip. You can expect your period during these 7 days.

You should start taking Brevinor between 1 and 5 days after starting your period for immediate protection.

If you start the course of treatment later than this, additional contraception, such as condoms, should be used to reduce the risk of pregnancy.

What Do I Do if I Miss a Dose of the Brevinor Pill?

If you are less than 24 hours late, take the missed Brevinor pill as soon as you remember, and then take the next pill as normal. This may mean you take two tablets in one day. You should be protected in this case.

If you are more than 24 hours late taking your Brevinor pill, take the missed tablet and continue with your normal schedule. You may not be protected in this case, and so you should use other contraceptive methods, such as condoms, for the next seven days.

If there are fewer than seven Brevinor pills left in your strip after a missed dose, when you have finished the strip, start the next one straight away without a break. This will mean you are still protected from when you took the last missed pill. You may not have a withdrawal bleed until you have finished the second strip, but this is fine and will not harm you. You may also get some bleeding while taking the tablets.

What Should I Do if I Accidentally Take More Brevinor Than I Should?

Taking too many Brevinor pills can cause sickness, vaginal bleeding and swelling of the breasts. Speak to your doctor or go straight to your nearest accident and emergency department if you accidentally take more Brevinor pills than you should.

What Should I Do if I am Sick (Vomit) or Have Diarrhoea When Taking Brevinor?

If you are sick or have diarrhoea while taking Brevinor, it may be less effective. If you are sick within 3 hours of taking Brevinor, take another pill immediately, then take your next one at the usual time. If you’re still being sick, use condoms until you have taken the pill for 7 days without being sick.

If you have diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, keep taking Brevinor as usual and use condoms for 7 days after your diarrhoea has stopped.

Brevinor Interactions and Warnings

Although Brevinor is an effective combined oral contraceptive pill, it may not be suitable for everyone. There are several medical interactions and contraindications to be aware of before taking Brevinor. Your clinician will assess your suitability for the medication during your consultation.

Do not take Brevinor if you:

• Are allergic to ethinylestradiol, norethisterone, or any other ingredients in the medication
• Are currently pregnant
• Have ever had blood clots in your legs, varicose veins, lungs, brain, or anywhere else in the body
• Or a member of your family ever had problems with blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Have had swelling of a vein caused by a blood clot
• Have had a heart attack or stroke, or have angina
• Have or have had very high blood fat levels 
• Have or have ever had cancer of the breast, cervix, vagina, or womb
• Have had pruritus, jaundice, or pemphigoid gestationis during pregnancy
• Have or have ever had severe chronic liver disease
• Have or have ever had unexplained vaginal bleeding
• Have or have ever had bad migraines
• Have hepatitis C

Before taking the Brevinor pill, speak to your doctor if you:

• Have or have had heart, blood or circulation problems
• Are diabetic
• Have kidney or liver problems
• Suffer from mental illness

Brevinor and Other Medicines

Some medicines can interact with Brevinor, making it less effective or more dangerous, and vice versa. You should tell your clinician if you are taking any prescribed or over-the-counter medicines before taking Brevinor.

Do not take Brevinor if you have hepatitis C and are taking any medication containing:

• Ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir
• Dasabuvir
• Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir
• Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir

Before taking Brevinor, speak to your doctor if you are taking medications for any of the following, because they may reduce the effectiveness of Brevinor:

• Epilepsy: carbamazepine, oxacarbazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, primidone, topiramate
• HIV & AIDS: nelfinavir, nevirapine, ritonavir  
• Bacterial infections: rifabutin or rifampicin
• Fungal infections: griseofulvin
• Narcolepsy: modafinil
• Depression: the herbal remedy St John’s wort

Emergency contraception containing ulipristal acetate, such as ellaOne, may also reduce the effectiveness of combined hormonal contraceptives (CHC) such as Brevinor. Revised guidance from the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (CoSRH) advises that you wait 5 days after taking ulipristal acetate before starting CHC. During this time, it is advised that you use condoms reliably or abstain from sex altogether. Once you restart Brevinor treatment, you should continue using condoms for a further 7 days. 

Brevinor Side Effects And Cautions

The Brevinor pill is not suited for everyone, and you need to make sure it fits with your body and your lifestyle before taking it. There are other types of contraceptive pills available on prescription, such as Yasmin, that you can order through Prescription Doctor.

Brevinor Pill Side Effects

All medicines have the potential to cause side effects, though not everybody experiences them. If you experience any side effects from taking Brevinor, report them to your doctor immediately.

Some potential side effects of the Brevinor pill include:

• Feeling sick (nausea)
• Upset stomach
• Weight gain
• Appetite changes
• Headaches
• Swollen or sore breasts
• Changes in the way your body breaks down fats, sugar, or vitamins
• High blood pressure
• Depression
• Sex drive changes
• Worsening of womb disorders
• Irregular vaginal bleeding

The Patient Information Leaflet that comes with your medicine includes a full list of side effects reported with Brevinor, as well as other safety information about the pill.

Allergies

Do not take Brevinor if you are allergic to norethisterone, ethinylestradiol or any of its other ingredients listed in the patient information leaflet.

If you experience the signs of an allergic reaction, stop taking Brevinor immediately and seek emergency medical attention. Go straight to your nearest accident and emergency department. Remember to take the packaging and any remaining medicine with you. This is important for doctors treating you.

Signs of an allergic reaction include:

• Chest tightening
• Dry, red and cracked skin
• Itchy, red, watery eyes
• Raised, itchy, red rash (hives)
• Swelling of the lips, tongue, eyes or face
• Tummy pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
• Wheezing

Brevinor and The Risk of Blood Clots

The combined pill, including Brevinor, can slightly increase the risk of blood clots. In non-pregnant women of reproductive age, around 2 per 10,000 women each year will experience a blood clot, but this rises to around 5 to 7 women per 10,000 per year in women taking a norethisterone-containing combined pill, like Brevinor.

Brevinor is one of the lower-risk combined pills available. However, if you experience any of the following side effects, stop taking Brevinor and contact your doctor straight away, as they could be a sign of a blood clot:

• Coughing up blood
• Swelling or tenderness in your stomach
• Sudden, sharp, or severe chest pain
• Sudden shortness of breath or breathing is painful
• Painful or inflamed veins in your legs
• Migraines that get worse
• Sudden and unusual severe headaches
• Dizziness or fainting
• Speech or sight problems
• Swelling of the face, tongue, lips, or throat and/or difficulty swallowing or breathing, and hives

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

You should always speak to your doctor before taking any medication if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Do not take the Brevinor contraceptive pill if you are pregnant, think you might be pregnant, or plan on becoming pregnant.

If you become pregnant while taking Brevinor, stop taking Brevinor and speak to your doctor as soon as possible.

Do not take Brevinor if you are breastfeeding.

Frequently Asked Questions About Brevinor

Can I Use Brevinor to Delay My Period?

Yes, the Brevinor combined pill can be used to delay your period. To do this, you will need to start a new Brevinor strip immediately after finishing one, so you will skip the 7-day pill-free break. However, you should consult your GP to confirm that using Brevinor in this way is safe for you.

Does Brevinor Stop Periods?

Yes, Brevinor can stop periods if you take the pill back-to-back (without the 7-day break). Taking the break is likely to cause a withdrawal bleed, which isn’t the same as a normal period. The medication can also lighten periods while you’re using it.

Is Brevinor a Low Dose Pill?

Yes, Brevinor is considered a low-dose pill because it contains 35 micrograms of Ethinylestradiol. The term “low dose” is typically used to describe contraceptive pills that have a hormone dose of 35 micrograms or less, sometimes as low as 10.

Will Brevinor Cause Me to Gain Weight?

Although weight gain is listed as a potential Brevinor side effect, there is not strong enough evidence to show that the combined pill causes weight changes. Some people may experience temporary changes in weight, such as water retention or increased appetite, during the first few months of using Brevinor. If you are concerned about weight changes while taking the pill, speak to your clinician for more advice.

Can I take Brevinor While Breastfeeding?

No. The hormones in Brevinor can reduce milk production; therefore, it should not be used if you are breastfeeding. Speak to your clinician for a more suitable contraceptive method if you are breastfeeding.

Will Brevinor Make Me Infertile?

No. If you stop taking the Brevinor contraceptive pill, and you were fertile before treatment, you should be able to conceive after stopping the treatment.

How Should I Store Brevinor?

Brevinor should be stored out of the sight and reach of children. It should be stored below 25°C and in its original packaging to protect it from light. Do not take Brevinor if the expiry date printed on the carton and blister strip has passed. Take any unused or expired medication to your nearest pharmacy for proper disposal.

Are There Any Alternatives to Brevinor?

There are other types of combined contraceptive pills available on prescription, such as Yasmin, that you can order through Prescription Doctor if Brevinor is not suitable for you or unavailable due to ongoing supply issues. Our clinicians can also prescribe the mini-pill if oestrogen is not suitable for you, or the vaginal ring (NuvaRing) if you’d prefer not to take a daily pill.