Medroxyprogesterone (Intramuscular Route, Subcutaneous Route)

Precautions

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits when you are using Depo-Provera CI® (contraceptive injection) or Depo-Subq Provera 104® to make sure this medicine is working properly. These visits will usually be every 3 months, but some doctors require them more often. Your doctor will check your blood pressure once a year. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Although you are using Depo-Provera CI® (contraceptive injection) or Depo-Subq Provera 104® to prevent pregnancy, you should know that using this medicine while you are pregnant could harm the unborn baby. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.

This medicine may cause loss of bone mineral density, which may lead to osteoporosis or weakened bones. Check with your doctor if you have pain in the back, ribs, arms, or legs.

You will need to talk with your doctor if you want to use this medicine for more than 2 years. You might need to be tested to make sure your bones are not losing too much calcium.

Using this medicine may increase your risk for blood clots. Check with your doctor right away if you have pain in the chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves, difficulty or trouble breathing, a sudden, severe headache, slurred speech, a sudden loss of coordination, or vision changes while using this medicine.

Check with your doctor immediately if you have blurred vision, difficulty with reading, or any other change in vision occurs during or after treatment. Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

Using this medicine may increase your risk of breast cancer or cervical cancer. Talk with your doctor about this risk. Check with your doctor immediately if you experience abnormal vaginal bleeding.

Call your doctor right away if you have severe lower stomach pain after receiving Depo-Provera CI® (contraceptive injection) or Depo-Subq Provera 104®. You may have a pregnancy outside of the uterus, which is called an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy can be a serious and life-threatening condition. It can also cause problems that may make it harder for you to become pregnant in the future.

You might have some light bleeding or spotting, especially during the first 2 or 3 months of using this medicine. This is usually normal and should not last long. However, if you have heavy bleeding or the bleeding lasts more than a few days in a row, call your doctor.

This medicine may cause a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after receiving this medicine.

This medicine may cause injection site reactions. Tell your doctor right away if you have bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site.

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

This medicine may cause fluid retention (edema) and weight gain in some patients. Tell your doctor right away if you have bloating or swelling of face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet, tingling of hands or feet, or unusual weight gain or loss.

This medicine may cause some people to be agitated, irritable, or display other abnormal behaviors. Tell your doctor if you have sudden or strong feelings, including feeling nervous, angry, restless, violent, or scared. If you or your caregiver notice any of these side effects, tell your doctor right away.

Using these medicine may cause adrenal problems. Tell your doctor right away if you have darkening of the skin, diarrhea, nausea, or weight gain around your neck, upper back, breast, face, or waist.

If you plan to have children after you stop using Depo-Provera CI® (contraceptive injection), it may take up to year or longer before you can become pregnant. However, do not depend on this medicine to prevent pregnancy for more than 13 weeks.

This medicine may cause changes in menstrual bleeding. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.

Depo-Provera CI® (contraceptive injection) or Depo-Subq Provera 104® will not protect you from getting HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted infections. If this is a concern for you, talk with your doctor.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are using this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements.