Women who use Norplant should be checked regularly by their clinicians if they have:
-increasingly severe headaches.
-constant headaches.
-diabetes.
-high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
-heart disease.
-seizures that require medication.
-serious depression.
-conditions that may be aggravated by fluid retention.
-serious liver disease.
Women who experience any of the following should NOT take Norplant:
-are pregnant.
-cannot stand irregular bleeding or spotting
. -have unexplained bleeding from the vagina.
-have had breast cancer
. -have had growths of the liver
. -have a very rare type of high blood pressure ¾ idiopathic intracranial hypertension
. -have a certain kind of brain tumor (meningioma)
. -are breast-feeding in the first six weeks after delivery
. -have a sensitivity to the ingredients in Norplant.
More than 80 percent of women who use Norplant notice a change in the menstrual cycle. These changes may include:
-irregular intervals between periods.
-longer or heavier menstrual flow.
-irregular bleeding or spotting between periods.
-no menstrual bleeding for months at a time. ***A small number of women experience irregular bleeding throughout the five years.
Common side effects may include:
-headache.
-change in appetite.
-weight gain or loss.
-depression.
-dizziness.
-nervousness.
-sore breasts.
-nausea.
-changes in sex drive.
-decreased vaginal lubrication.
-acne.
-skin irritations.
-gain or loss of facial hair.
-discolored skin over the implants.
-enlarged ovaries or ovarian cysts (rare) .
-increased chance of ectopic pregnancy in the unlikely event that pregnancy occurs. ***If Norplant fails, there is a greater chance that the pregnancy will be in the tube.
Norplant users may be have a slightly increased risk for:
-heart attacks or strokes (especially for smokers) .
-blood clots or inflammation of the veins.
-growths in the liver. ***Women using Norplant are advised to stop smoking.
Serious problems are very rare. Usually there are warning signs:
-vaginal bleeding that is much heavier than your normal period.
-delayed menstruation after a long period of regular cycles.
-arm pain.
-severe lower abdominal pain, especially on one side.
-severe headaches or blurred vision.
-development of, or worsened, migraine or severe headache.
-pus or bleeding at the implant site after insertion or removal.
-nerve pain while moving the arm or hand after the insertion site has healed.
-one of the implants seem to be coming out.
-symptoms of pregnancy.
***Report any warning signs to your clinician as soon as possible.
