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Depo-Provera

Medroxyprogesterone Acetate

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RateADrug users have reported 15 Depo-Provera side effects and 3 Depo-Provera benefits.

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Description | Uses & Side Effects | Warnings

There is currently no information to display in this section. RateADrug provides information about drugs and supplements though a wiki format provided by researchers, health care providers and others. We encourage you to add to this description by clicking on the button below.

Common Uses:

Depo-Provera is a form of progesterone, a female hormone that prevents ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary). Depo-Provera also causes changes in your cervical mucus and uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.

Depo-Provera is used as contraception to prevent pregnancy. It is also used to reduce pain cause by endometriosis.

Depo-Provera is also used to ease pain and other symptoms in women with metastatic uterine or kidney cancer. This medication is not a cure for these conditions.

Off Label Uses:

At present there are no known off label uses for Depo-Provera.

Side Effects:
Depo-Provera side effects include the following:

You must seek emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body.
Sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance.
Fever
Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
Swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet
Symptoms of depression (sleep problems, weakness, mood changes)

Less serious side effects may include
Changes in your menstrual periods
Headache, nervousness, dizziness, tired feeling;breast tenderness or discharge
Changes in weight or appetite
Mild stomach pain and bloating
Nausea
Back pain or pelvic pain
Mild itching or skin rash
Increased acne
Hair growth
Loss of scalp hair
Sleep problems (insomnia)
Vaginal itching or discharge
Decreased sex drive
Skin color changes or a hard lump where the injection was given

Cautions / Warnings:

Depo-Provera may cause bone loss (osteoporosis) especially when used over long periods of time. Bone loss may not be reversible. Do not use this medication for longer than 2 years. Talk with your doctor about your specific risk of bone loss. Depo-Provera can cause birth defects. Do not use if this medication you are pregnant.

Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment. Do not use this medication if you are allergic to medroxyprogesterone, or if you have:
abnormal vaginal bleeding;
breast cancer;
liver disease; or
a history of a stroke or blood clot.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions. You may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use Depo-Provera.

congestive heart failure;
diabetes;
seizures or epilepsy;
or a history of depression.

Depo-Provera passes into breast milk, but it is not known whether this could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Drug Interactions:
Depo-Provera drug interactions include the following:

Bromocriptine: decreased bromocriptine efficacy
Carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampin: decreased contraceptive efficacy.
BackDepo-Provera (medroxyPROGESTERone) is known to interact with the following drugs:

Major Interactions of Depo-Provera might occur with the following drugs:

Accutane, acitretin, Agenerase, Amnesteem, amprenavir, bexarotene, bosentan, Claravis, etretinate, fosamprenavir, Fulvicin P/G, Fulvicin U/F, Grifulvin V, Gris-PEG, Grisactin 250, Grisactin 500, Grisactin Ultra, Griseofulicin, Griseofulvic, griseofulvin, griseofulvin microsize, griseofulvin ultramicrosize, isotretinoin, Lexiva, Soriatane, Soriatane CK, Sotret, Targretin, Tegison, Telzir, Tracleer.

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Depo-Provera Comments

03 Jul 2014

Pure Hell. Do not take under any circumstance unless you want to be in constant excruciating pain, with continuous bleeding and lots of hair loss

—Posted by Anonymous

31 Jul 2012

I had 2 shots of depo to help with my severe PMS. Whilst I was on it, I didn't notice a huge difference but when I decided to stop taking it, I never had a period for 11 months. I put some weight on whilst having the shots but put on even more weight after coming off it, gaining 2 stone in total. I am 43 and have always weighed 8 stone and have also been lucky in being able to eat whatever I want without gaining weight. My metabolism seems to have changed and 18months after stopping the depo and I haven't lost a pound of the extra weight. I have CFS and the depo seemed to add to the fatigue and muscle ache as well as giving me unbearable hot flushes. On the plus side, whilst not having any periods, my anxiety levels were much better and also insomnia much improved and my gum disease seemed to subside and my dentist noticed great improvement with my gums. Now that my periods are back to normal, all these issues are back with a vengeance and I have just started the mini-pill on the advise of my dentist but it is too early to tell if it is helping in the same way as the depo.

—Posted by Anonymous

05 Jul 2012

I was on it for about 4 years got off it once in between to cycle and got back on, had no side effects, and when i wanted to get pregnant again, i was due in august for my shot but did not get that shot, had a period in sep and i was pregnant by Christmas and due in this following august.. so it took me like 2 months to get pregnant after the shot. but then i had a miss carriage at 15 weeks but did not find out till my dr app at 18 weeks in march and had a D & C . could my miss carriage have something to do with getting pregnant to soon off the shot?

—Posted by Anonymous

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About Depo-Provera

Depo-Provera Generic name: Medroxyprogesterone acetate Brand name: Depo-Provera. Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection (CI) contains medroxyprogesterone acetate, a derivative of progesterone, as its active ingredient. Medroxyprogesterone acetate is active by the parenteral and oral routes of administration. It is a white to off-white; odorless crystalline powder that is stable in air and that melts between 200°C and 210°C. It is freely soluble in chloroform, soluble in acetone and dioxane, sparingly soluble in alcohol and methanol, slightly soluble in ether, and insoluble in water. Depo-Provera contains medroxyprogesterone acetate as active ingredient. Inactive ingredients include macrogol 3350, polysorbate 80, sodium chloride, methyl hydroxybenzoate, propyl hydroxybenzoate and water for injections. Depo-Provera does not contain lactose, sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes.

Source: Wikipedia

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