Medroxyprogesterone Injection (patient information)

IMPORTANT WARNING

Medroxyprogesterone injection may decrease the amount of calcium stored in your bones. The longer you use this medication, the more the amount of calcium in your bones may decrease. The amount of calcium in your bones may not return to normal even after you stop using medroxyprogesterone injection.

Loss of calcium from your bones may cause osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become thin and weak) and may increase the risk that your bones might break at some time in your life, especially after menopause (change of life).

The amount of calcium in the bones usually increases during the teenage years. A decrease in bone calcium during this important time of bone strengthening may be especially serious. It is not known whether your risk of developing osteoporosis later in life is greater if you start to use medroxyprogesterone injection when you are a teenager or young adult. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has osteoporosis; if you have or have ever had any other bone disease or anorexia nervosa (an eating disorder); or if you drink a lot of alcohol or smoke a great deal. Tell your doctor if you take any of the following medications: corticosteroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone); or medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton).

You should not use medroxyprogesterone injection for a long time (e.g., more than 2 years) unless no other method of birth control is right for you or no other medication will work to treat your condition. Your doctor may test your bones to be sure they are not becoming too thin before you continue to use medroxyprogesterone injection.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will monitor your health carefully to be sure you do not develop osteoporosis.

Talk to your doctor about the risks of using medroxyprogesterone injection.

Why this medication is prescribed

Medroxyprogesterone intramuscular (into a muscle) injection and medroxyprogesterone subcutaneous (under the skin) injection are used to prevent pregnancy. Medroxyprogesterone subcutaneous injection is also used to treat endometriosis [a condition in which the type of tissue that lines the uterus (womb) grows in other areas of the body and causes pain, heavy or irregular menstruation (periods), and other symptoms]. Medroxyprogesterone is in a class of medications called progestins. It works to prevent pregnancy by preventing ovulation (the release of eggs from the ovaries). Medroxyprogesterone also thins the lining of the uterus.This helps to prevent pregnancy in all women and slows the spread of tissue from the uterus to other parts of the body in women who have endometriosis. Medroxyprogesterone injection is a very effective method of birth control but does not prevent the spread of human immunodeficiency virus [HIV, the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)] or other sexually transmitted diseases.

How this medication should be used

Medroxyprogesterone intramuscular injection comes as a suspension (liquid) to be injected into the buttocks or upper arm. It is usually given once every 3 months (13 weeks) by a health care provider in an office or clinic. Medroxyprogesterone subcutaneous injection comes as suspension to be injected just under the skin. It is usually injected once every 12-14 weeks by a health care provider in an office or clinic.

You must receive your first medroxyprogesterone subcutaneous or intramuscular injection only at a time when there is no possibility that you are pregnant. Therefore, you may only receive your first injection during the first 5 days of a normal menstrual period, during the first 5 days after you give birth if you are not planning to breastfeed your baby, or during the sixth week after giving birth if you are planning to breastfeed your baby. If you have been using a different method of birth control and are switching to medroxyprogesterone injection, your doctor will tell you when you should receive your first injection.

Other uses for this medicine

This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Special precautions

Before using medroxyprogesterone injection:

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to medroxyprogesterone (Depo-Provera, depo-subQ provera 104, Provera, in Prempro, in Premphase) or any other medications.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and aminoglutethimide (Cytadren). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had breast cancer or diabetes. Also tell your doctor if you have or have ever had problems with your breasts such as lumps, bleeding from your nipples, an abnormal mammogram (breast x-ray), or fibrocystic breast disease (swollen, tender breasts and/or breast lumps that are not cancer); unexplained vaginal bleeding; irregular or very light menstrual periods; excessive weight gain or fluid retention before your period; blood clots in your legs, lungs, brain, or eyes; stroke or mini-stroke; migraine headaches; seizures; depression; high blood pressure;heart attack; asthma; or heart, liver, or kidney disease.
• tell your doctor if you think you might be pregnant, you are pregnant, or you plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while using medroxyprogesterone injection, call your doctor immediately. Medroxyprogesterone may harm the fetus.
• tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You may use medroxyprogesterone injection while you are breastfeeding as long as your baby is 6 weeks old when you receive your first injection. Some medroxyprogesterone may be passed to your baby in your breast milk but this has not been shown to be harmful. Studies of babies who were breastfed while their mothers were using medroxyprogesterone injection showed that the babies were not harmed by the medication.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using medroxyprogesterone injection.
• you should know that your menstrual cycle will probably change while you are using medroxyprogesterone injection. At first, your periods will probably be irregular, and you may experience spotting between periods. If you continue to use this medication, your periods may stop completely. Your menstrual cycle will probably return to normal some time after you stop using this medication.

Special dietary instructions

You should eat plenty of foods that are rich in calcium and vitamin D while you are taking medroxyprogesterone injection to help decrease the loss of calcium from your bones. Your doctor will tell you which foods are good sources of these nutrients and how many servings you need each day. Your doctor also may prescribe or recommend calcium or vitamin D supplements.

What to do if you forget a dose

If you miss an appointment to receive an injection of medroxyprogesterone, call your doctor. You may not be protected from pregnancy if you do not receive your injections on schedule . If you do not receive an injection on schedule, your doctor will tell you when you should receive the missed injection. Your doctor will probably administer a pregnancy test to be sure that you are not pregnant before giving you the missed injection. You should use a different method of birth control, such as condoms until you receive the injection that you missed.

Side effects

Minor side effects

Medroxyprogesterone may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• changes in menstrual periods (See SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS)
• weight gain
• weakness
• tiredness
• nervousness
• irritability
• depression
• difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
• hot flashes
• breast pain, swelling, or tenderness
• stomach cramps or bloating
• leg cramps
• back or joint pain
• acne
• loss of hair on scalp
• swelling, redness, irritation, burning, or itching of the vagina
• white vaginal discharge
• changes in sexual desire
• cold or flu symptoms
• pain, irritation, lumps, redness or scarring in the place where the medication was injected

Severe side effects

Some side effects can be serious. The following side effects are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately:

• sudden shortness of breath
• sudden sharp or crushing chest pain
• coughing up blood
• severe headache
• upset stomach
• vomiting
• dizziness or faintness
• change or loss of vision
• double vision
• bulging eyes
• difficulty speaking
• weakness or numbness in an arm or leg
• seizure
• yellowing of the skin or eyes
• extreme tiredness
• pain, swelling, warmth, redness, or tenderness in one leg only
• menstrual bleeding that is heavier or lasts longer than normal
• severe pain or tenderness just below the waist
• rash
• hives
• itching
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• difficult, painful, or frequent urination
• constant pain, pus, warmth, swelling, or bleeding in the place where the medication was *injected

If you are younger than 35 years old and began to receive medroxyprogesterone injection in the last 4-5 years, you may have a slightly increased risk that you will develop breast cancer. Medroxyprogesterone injection may also increase the chance that you will develop a blood clot that moves to your lungs or brain. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication.

Medroxyprogesterone injection is a long-acting birth control method. You might not become pregnant for some time after you receive your last injection. Talk to your doctor about the effects of using this medication if you plan to become pregnant in the near future.

Medroxyprogesterone injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

Storage conditions needed for this medication

Your doctor will store the medication in his or her office.

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Other information

You should have a complete physical exam, including blood pressure measurements, breast and pelvic exams, and a Pap test, at least yearly. Follow your doctor's directions for self-examining your breasts; report any lumps immediately.

Before you have any laboratory tests, tell the laboratory personnel that you are using medroxyprogesterone.

Brand names

• Depo-Provera
• depo-subQ provera 104®

Other names

• acetoxymethylprogesterone
• methylacetoxyprogesterone