Depo Provera

Drug name: Depo-Provera

Other names used:

• Amen®
• Cycrin®
• Farlutal®
• Provera®

Active Ingredients: medroxyprogesterone acetate

Therapeutic actions: Depo-Provera works by preventing the release of hormones called gonadotropins from the pituitary gland in the brain. Without these hormones, the monthly release of an egg from the ovary cannot occur. If no egg is released, pregnancy is impossible. Depo-Provera also causes changes in the lining of the uterus that make pregnancy less likely even if an egg is released.

Indications: Medroxyprogesterone is used as a contraceptive to prevent pregnancy. In higher doses, Depo-Provera also be used in the treatment of inoperable, recurrent, and metastatic endometrial or renal carcinoma and for the management of pain associated with endometriosis.

Contraindications and cautions: Do NOT use Depo-Provera Suspension if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Depo-Provera Suspension
• you have a history of bleeding in the brain or stroke, brain blood vessel problems, breast cancer, liver problems, undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, or blood clots
• you are pregnant

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you. Before using Depo-Provera Suspension: Tell your health care provider if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have a history of an abnormal mammogram, fibrocystic breast disease, lumps in the breast, bleeding from your nipples, kidney problems, high blood pressure, migraine headaches, asthma, seizures, diabetes, or mental or mood problems (eg, depression)
• if you have a family history of breast cancer

Important safety information:

• Depo-Provera Suspension may cause drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, or vision changes. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Depo-Provera Suspension. Using Depo-Provera Suspension alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Depo-Provera Suspension may cause dark skin patches on your face. Exposure to the sun may make these patches darker. If patches develop, use a sunscreen or protective clothing when exposed to the sun, sunlamps, or tanning booths.
• Depo-Provera Suspension may cause a decrease in the amount of calcium in your bones. A decrease in bone calcium is of most concern if you have the following risk factors: adolescence, bone disease, anorexia nervosa (an eating disorder), a strong family history of osteoporosis, if you take certain medicines (eg, for epilepsy or steroids), or if you drink a lot of alcohol or smoke cigarettes often. If you need a birth control method for more than 2 years, your health care provider may switch you to another method or test you for weak bones. When Depo-Provera Suspension is stopped, the calcium in bones begins to come back. Your health care provider may recommend that you take calcium or vitamin D to help lower the amount of calcium lost from your bones.
• Diabetes patients - Depo-Provera Suspension may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely and ask your doctor before adjusting the dose of your Diabetes medicine.
• Depo-Provera Suspension may interfere with certain lab tests, including urinary steroid levels, gonadotropin and other hormone levels, thyroid function, blood clotting tests, and blood cholesterol. Be sure your doctor and laboratory personnel know you are using Depo-Provera Suspension.
• LAB TESTS, including blood calcium and bone density tests, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Depo-Provera Suspension is not recommended for use in CHILDREN. Safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not use Depo-Provera Suspension if you are pregnant. If you suspect that you could be pregnant, contact your doctor immediately. Depo-Provera Suspension is excreted in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you are using Depo-Provera Suspension, check with your doctor or pharmacist to discuss the risks to your baby.

Adverse effects: Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

• Acne; dizziness; drowsiness; fever; headache; hot flashes; nausea; nervousness; pain, redness, and swelling at injection site; sleeplessness; weakness.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

• Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blood clots; changes in menstrual flow, including breakthrough bleeding, spotting, or missed periods; chest pain; mental or mood changes; partial or complete loss of vision or changes in vision; severe dizziness or fainting; severe stomach pain; shortness of breath; slurred speech; sudden loss of coordination; sudden or severe headache or vomiting; swelling of fingers or ankles; unusual weight gain or loss; weakness, numbness, or pain in the arms or legs; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Interactions: It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to ensure that the combination is safe. Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Depo-Provera Suspension. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any of the following medicines. Rifampin because the effects of Depo-Provera Suspension may be decreased and side effects, such as menstrual irregularities (spotting, breakthrough bleeding, loss of menses, and/or pregnancy), may occur If Depo-Provera is taken with aminoglutethimide (Cytadren), a drug used to treat a disorder of the adrenal glands called Cushing's syndrome, it could make the Depo-Provera less potent, which could lead to unexpected pregnancy. Check with your doctor before taking Cytadren if you are on Depo-Provera. This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Depo-Provera Suspension may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Additional Information: DO NOT SHARE THIS MEDICINE with others. DO NOT USE THIS MEDICINE for other health conditions. KEEP THIS PRODUCT, as well as syringes and needles, if needed during treatment, out of the reach of children. Do not reuse needles, syringes, or other materials.