Depo Provera (Medroxyprogesterone) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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February 3, 2012

Depo Provera

Osteoporosis »

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by a decrease in the density of bone, decreasing its strength and resulting in fragile bones. Osteoporosis literally leads to abnormally porous bone that is compressible, like a sponge. This disorder of the skeleton weakens the bone and results in frequent fractures (breaks) in the bones. Osteopenia is a condition of bone that is slightly less dense than normal bone but not to the degree of bone in osteoporosis.

Normal bone is composed of protein, collagen, and calcium, all of which give bone its strength. Bones that are affected by osteoporosis can break (fracture) with relatively minor injury that normally would not cause a bone to fracture. The fracture can be either in the form of cracking (as in a hip fracture) or collapsing (as in a compression fracture of the vertebrae of the spine). The spine, hips, ribs, and wrists are common areas of bone fractures from osteoporosis although osteoporosis-...

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Depo Provera User Reviews >>

Depo Provera

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DEPO-PROVERA CI
(medroxyprogesterone acetate)

WARNING

LOSS OF BONE MINERAL DENSITY

Women who use Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection may lose significant bone mineral density. Bone loss is greater with increasing duration of use and may not be completely reversible.

It is unknown if use of Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection during adolescence or early adulthood, a critical period of bone accretion, will reduce peak bone mass and increase the risk for osteoporotic fracture in later life.

Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection should not be used as a long-term birth control method (i.e., longer than 2 years) unless other birth control methods are considered inadequate. [(See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

DRUG DESCRIPTION

Depo-Provera 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.

The chemical name for medroxyprogesterone acetate is pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, 17-(acetyloxy)-6-methyl-, (6α-).

The structural formula is as follows:

DEPO-PROVERA CI (medroxyprogesterone acetate) Structural Formula Illustration

Depo-Provera CI for intramuscular (IM) injection is available in vials and prefilled syringes, each containing 1 mL of medroxyprogesterone acetate sterile aqueous suspension 150 mg/mL.

Each mL contains:

Medroxyprogesterone acetate	150 mg
Polyethylene glycol 3350	28.9 mg
Polysorbate 80	2.41 mg
Sodium chloride	8.68 mg
Methylparaben	1.37 mg
Propylparaben	0.150 mg
Water for injection	quantity sufficient
When necessary, pH is adjusted with sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid, or both.

What are the possible side effects of medroxyprogesterone (Depo-Provera, Depo-Provera Contraceptive, Depo-SubQ Provera 104)?

Get 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);

Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Depo Provera »

What are the precautions when taking medroxyprogesterone (Depo Provera)?

Before using medroxyprogesterone, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

This medication should not be used if you have any of the following conditions: history of stroke or other blood clots (e.g., in the legs, eyes, lungs), breast cancer, liver disease, current/suspected pregnancy, abnormal/unexplained vaginal bleeding.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: asthma, abnormal breast exam, family history of breast cancer, cancer of the reproductive organs (e.g., cervix, uterus), frequent use of alcohol/tobacco,...

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Last reviewed on RxList: 8/31/2011
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.