norethindrone
Brand names: Camila, Errin
Camila and Errin are progestin-only birth control pills. They help prevent pregnancy.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.08/unit
Generic Available
Yes (86 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
These pills are used to prevent pregnancy.
Common side effects
Nausea, Vomiting, Gastrointestinal symptoms (like cramps and bloating)
Key warnings
Cigarette smoking increases your risk of serious heart problems from birth control pills.
How It Works
Camila and Errin contain a progestin hormone. This hormone prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary). It also thickens cervical mucus, making it harder for sperm to reach the egg.
How to Take It
Take one pill every day, at the same time each day. You can take it with or without food. Start your next pack of pills the day after you finish your current pack. It is important to take the pill exactly as directed to prevent pregnancy.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
These pills should not be taken if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. Talk to your doctor about other birth control options if you are breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
If you miss a pill, take it as soon as you remember. If you are more than 3 hours late, use a backup method of birth control for the next 48 hours.
Storage
Store at room temperature, away from heat and moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 3,258 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 5,342 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
5,342
Death-Related Reports
80
Hospitalization Reports
945
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NAUSEA | 449 |
| 2 | HEADACHE | 424 |
| 3 | HOT FLUSH | 370 |
| 4 | FATIGUE | 322 |
| 5 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 320 |
| 6 | PAIN | 308 |
| 7 | OFF LABEL USE | 291 |
| 8 | VAGINAL HAEMORRHAGE | 278 |
| 9 | ABDOMINAL PAIN | 268 |
| 10 | ARTHRALGIA | 228 |
| 11 | DIARRHOEA | 224 |
| 12 | DIZZINESS | 221 |
| 13 | ANXIETY | 204 |
| 14 | MIGRAINE | 202 |
| 15 | DEPRESSION | 199 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Cigarette smoking increases your risk of serious heart problems from birth control pills. This risk is higher if you are over 35 and smoke. You should not take this medication if you are over 35 and smoke.
Known Drug Interactions
John's Wort (CYP450 inducer; P-gp inducer) Significantly Reduced Contraindicated Oral Contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone (CYP2C19 Inhibition) Increased Monitoring for adverse reactions and toxicity related to voriconazole is recommended when coadministered with oral contraceptives. Oral Contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone (CYP3A4 Inhibition) Increased Monitoring for adverse reactions related to oral contraceptives is recommended during coadministration.
Mechanism: Voriconazole slows down the process your body uses to get rid of the birth control pill. This can lead to higher levels of the birth control in your blood and increase your risk of side effects.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you closely for any new or worsening side effects while you are taking both medications. You may need to report any unusual symptoms immediately.
Oral Contraceptives: May increase plasma levels of norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol; consider this effect when selecting an oral contraceptive (7.3 ). Table 4: Atorvastatin Effects on Other Drugs Oral Contraceptives Clinical Impact: Co-administration of atorvastatin and an oral contraceptive increased plasma concentrations of norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Mechanism: Taking atorvastatin can raise the levels of this hormone in your bloodstream.
What to do: Talk to your healthcare provider about how this might affect your choice of oral contraceptive.
Drug Interactions: Pharmacokinetic Parameters for Colchicine Tablets in the Presence of the Coadministered Drug Coadministered Drug Dose of Coadministered Drug (mg) Dose of Colchicine Tablets (mg) N % Change in Colchicine Concentrations from Baseline (Range: Min – Max) C max AUC 0-t Cyclosporine 100 mg single dose 0.6 mg single dose 23 270.0 (62.0 to 606.9) 259.0 (75.8 to 511.9) Clarithromycin 250 mg twice daily, 7 days 0.6 mg single dose 23 227.2 (65.7 to 591.1) 281.5 (88.7 to 851.6) Ketoconazole 200 mg twice daily, 5 days 0.6 mg single dose 24 101.7 (19.6 to 219.0) 212.2 (76.7 to 419.6) R...
Mechanism: There is no known significant interaction between these two medications. They do not interfere with how each other is processed by the body.
What to do: You can typically take these medications together without any dose changes. Continue to follow your doctor's instructions for both.
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Concomitant use with colesevelam hydrochloride may decrease the exposure of the following drugs: Drugs with a narrow therapeutic index (e.g., cyclosporine), phenytoin, thyroid hormone replacement therapy, warfarin, oral contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone, olmesartan medoxomil, and sulfonylureas (glimepiride, glipizide, glyburide). Oral Contraceptives Containing Ethinyl Estradiol and Norethindrone Clinical Impact: In vivo drug interactions studies showed a decrease in exposure of ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone when coadministered with coles...
Mechanism: Colesevelam can reduce the amount of birth control medicine that enters your body. This happens because the drug can trap the birth control in your digestive system before it can work.
What to do: Talk to your doctor about the best timing for taking these medications to ensure your birth control stays effective. You may need to take them several hours apart.
ethinyl estradiol, norethindrone, drospirenone ↓ ethinyl estradiol ↓ norethindrone drospirenone: effects unknown For co-administration with drospirenone, clinical monitoring is recommended due to the potential for hyperkalemia.
Mechanism: Darunavir can lower the amount of birth control hormones in your body, which might make the medication less effective.
What to do: You should talk to your doctor about using an extra form of birth control to prevent pregnancy.
Common Questions
What if I experience breakthrough bleeding?
Can this pill cause weight gain?
Will this pill protect me from STIs?
What should I do if I vomit after taking the pill?
Can I still get pregnant if I take this pill?
Will this pill affect my mood?
Can I take this pill if I have high blood pressure?
Does this pill have any effect on my cholesterol?
Can I take this pill if I have a history of blood clots?
What if I want to stop taking this pill?
What are the common side effects of norethindrone?
Does norethindrone interact with other medications?
What drug class is norethindrone?
Is norethindrone safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Progestin-Only Oral Contraceptive
Other drugs grouped near norethindrone — same-class peers and common alternatives.
abiraterone
Zytiga
Abiraterone (Zytiga) is a medicine used with prednisone to treat prostate cancer that has spread.
Compare with norethindrone →
anastrozole
Arimidex
Anastrozole is a medicine used to treat breast cancer in women after menopause.
Compare with norethindrone →
bazedoxifene/conjugated estrogens
Duavee
Duavee is a combination medicine containing estrogen and a drug that blocks estrogen in some parts of the body.
Compare with norethindrone →
cabergoline
Dostinex
Cabergoline is a medicine that helps lower the amount of prolactin in your body.
Compare with norethindrone →
clomiphene
Clomid, Serophene
Clomiphene citrate is a medicine that helps women ovulate.
Compare with norethindrone →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
🩺 Find a Doctor
Search prescribers for Progestin-Only Oral Contraceptive
🏨 Hospital Quality
CMS hospital ratings, safety scores & patient outcomes
💊 Supplement Data
NIH DSLD — check supplement ingredients & label claims
🍽️ Food Safety Alerts
FDA recalls, inspections & outbreak investigations
⚠️ Product Recalls
FDA, CPSC & NHTSA recall search
💉 Procedure Costs
Medicare procedure pricing for 9,297 procedures
Save on norethindrone
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for norethindrone
The FDA label for norethindrone (sold under brand names such as Camila, Errin) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Progestin-Only Oral Contraceptive class. These pills are used to prevent pregnancy. Official labeling lists 9 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Vomiting, Gastrointestinal symptoms (like cramps and bloating).
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 3,258 voluntary reports. The database also lists 10 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.08.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: January 29, 2026
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages