Heather Tablets

Generic name:norethindrone
Dosage form: tablet
Drug classes:Contraceptives, Progestins

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 1, 2021.

Rx only

Patients should be counseled that oral contraceptives do not protect against transmission of HIV (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as Chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, and syphilis.

Heather Tablets Description

Each pale yellow HEATHER tablet provides a continuous oral contraceptive regimen of 0.35 mg norethindrone, USP daily, and the inactive ingredients include corn starch, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, povidone, talc, D&C Yellow No. 10 aluminum lake and FD&C Yellow No. 6 aluminium lake.

The chemical name for norethindrone, USP is 17-Hydroxy-19-Nor-17α-pregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one. The structural formula follows:

Norethindrone, USP

Therapeutic class = oral contraceptive

Heather Tablets - Clinical Pharmacology

1. Mode of Action

HEATHER progestin-only oral contraceptives prevent conception by suppressing ovulation in approximately half of users, thickening the cervical mucus to inhibit sperm penetration, lowering the mid-cycle LH and FSH peaks, slowing the movement of the ovum through the fallopian tubes, and altering the endometrium.

2. Pharmacokinetics

Norethindrone is rapidly absorbed with maximum plasma concentrations occurring within 1 to 2 hours after HEATHER administration (see Table 1). Norethindrone appears to be completely absorbed following oral administration; however, it is subject to first pass metabolism resulting in an absolute bioavailability of approximately 65%.