Errin

What is Errin?

Errin is a type of progestogen-only contraceptive pill, also known as the mini pill. Errin is primarily prescribed to prevent pregnancy, but can also be used to treat endometriosis or abnormal vaginal bleeding. This type of contraceptive pill does not contain estrogen, is taken continuously and does not allow for a monthly withdrawal bleed.

How does Errin work?

Errin contains norethindrone, a synthetic version of the female sex hormone progestogen which plays a vital role in regulating the menstrual cycle. Norethindrone helps to prevent pregnancy in 3 ways. Firstly, it thickens the mucus lining around the cervix, which prevents sperm from being able to reach the uterus. Secondly, it prevents ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary) and, finally, alters the uterine lining (womb lining) to prevent any fertilized egg from being able to implant and develop.

How effective is Errin?

When taken correctly, Errin is considered to be 99.5% effective in preventing pregnancy. A more accurate success rate, which takes into account women who occasionally miss a pill or are late taking their pill, is about 95%.

Errin will NOT protect you against STIs, nor will any other form of hormonal contraception. The only form of contraception to offer partial protection from STIs is the male condom.   

Is Errin safe?

Errin is considered to be a safe and effective form of contraception for most women. In general, hormonal contraceptives can very slightly increase the risk of developing more serious health complications, including blood clots, heart disease, gallbladder disease, liver tumors, and estrogen-sensitive cancers such as breast, ovarian and uterine cancer. While the benefits of hormonal contraceptives greatly outweigh these risks, women who have a personal or family history of the above conditions should consult a doctor before using them, as they may not be suitable. See ‘Contraindications’ above for more information.

Active ingredients

Each Errin tablet contains 0.35mg of norethindrone, a synthetic form of the female progestin hormone. 

Inactive ingredients

It also contains the following inactive ingredients:  anhydrous lactose, corn starch, D&C yellow no. 10 aluminum lake, ethylcellulose aqueous dispersion, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose and povidone.

Errin dosage

The usual dosage of Errin is 1 x tablets containing 0.35 mg Norethindrone per day, at the same time each day.

How to start taking Errin

Never start taking Errin without first consulting a doctor, and make sure to read the package information carefully before use. You are recommended to start Errin on the first day of your period; if you decide to start on a different day, you will need to use an additional form of contraception, such as condoms, for the first 48 hours of use.

If you are switching to Errin from a different type of contraceptive pill, you should start taking it on the first day after finishing your previous pack of contraceptive pills. If your current hormonal contraception is a combined method and contains inactive pills, throw these away and start taking Errin after you finish the active pills in the pack. If your current contraception is progestogen-only, you can switch to Errin at any time.   

How to take Errin

To assure that Errin achieves its maximum contraceptive effectiveness, take one tablet every day at the same time (24 hours apart), and continuously, which means without interruptions between pill packs. After you finish a pack, start a new one on the next day.

Pregnancy is more likely to occur if you skip doses, for example if you miss a pill, start a new pack later, or take a pill a different time than usual. If this happens, use a back-up method of birth control such as condoms or spermicide every time you have sex for the next 48 hours in order to avoid pregnancy.

What should I do if I miss a pill?

If you forget to take a pill, take it as soon as you remember, even if this means taking 2 pills within 24 hours. For the following 48 hours, you will need to use an additional, non-hormonal form of contraception, such as condoms, as missing a pill can reduce the effectiveness of Errin.   

Errin side effects

Errin may cause the following side effects:

• Vaginal bleeding between periods (spotting) or missed/irregular periods

• Breast tenderness or pain

• Weight gain

• Headache

• Nausea (feeling sick)

• Vomiting (being sick)

• Depression

• Trouble sleeping

• Vaginal itching or discharge

• Hair loss

 

If you experience any of the following rare but serious side effects, call your doctor immediately as they may indicate possible heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis,  pulmonary embolism, or other serious diseases:

 

• Lumps in the breast

• Changes in vaginal bleeding (continuous spotting, sudden heavy bleeding, continuous missed periods)

• Dark urine

• Yellowing of eyes/skin (jaundice)

• chest /jaw/ left arm pain

• Sudden dizziness/fainting

• Pain/swelling in the calf

• Slurred speech

• Unusual headaches with vision changes, lack of coordination, severe or worsening migraine

• Vision problems such as double vision, partial/complete blindness

• Sudden shortness of breath or rapid breathing

• Unusual sweating

• Weakness on one side of the body

Contraindications

Errin is contraindicated in the following cases:

• If you are allergic to norethindrone or any other ingredient contained in Errin. See the ingredients list above (rash, itching/swelling of the face/tongue/throat, dizziness, difficulty breathing)

• If you have breast cancer

• If you have unusual bleeding that has not been checked by your doctor yet

• If you suffer from a liver disease or have a benign or malignant liver tumor

• If you have had blood clots in your brain, eyes, lungs, or legs before

• If you are pregnant

• If you smoke

Drug interactions

Some drugs may disrupt the effects of Errin if taken together. Errin may interact with the following medicines amongst others:

• Phenytoin (Dilantin)
• Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
• Phenobarbital
• Rifampicin

It is possible for Errin to interact with substances other than those listed here. Therefore, it is important that you let the prescribing physician know of any other medications, supplements, alternative medicines or recreational drugs that you take. 

Errin vs Norethindrone

Errin is a brand name for the generic medication Norethindrone. Both work in the same way and contain the same active ingredient. 

Alternatives to Errin

Errin is a progestogen-only form of birth control and is suited to women who are sensitive to estrogens, have a health condition that contradicts estrogen supplements, or are taking medication that may interact with estrogen. However, there are many different types of hormonal contraceptives, and it is not uncommon to try a few before finding one that is right for you. Different combined contraceptives, which contain both estrogen and progestogen supplements, contain different synthetic hormones, and you may be more sensitive to some types than others. Alternatively, you can try a low-estrogen contraceptive, which contains a lower dose of estrogen but still allows for a monthly withdrawal bleed.

If you struggle to remember to take your pill each day, or prefer not to swallow tablets, a non-oral form of hormonal contraceptive might be better suited to you. Non-oral hormonal contraceptives include the implant (Implanon, Nexplanon), the shot (Depo-Provera), and the intrauterine device (IUD, Mirena, ParaGard, Skyla, Liletta, Kyleena). The IUD works locally to the reproductive system and therefore tends to have fewer side effects, and is particularly suited to women who have a history of contradictory health conditions such as diabetes or hypertension.

If you’d rather avoid hormonal contraceptives altogether, you will need to rely on barrier methods of contraception such as the cervical cap (FemCap), and male and female condoms. For more information and advice on which method might be best for you, speak to your doctor or health worker.

It is worth noting that male condoms are the only form of contraception to offer partial protection against STIs.