Makena
(mah-KEE-na)
(hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) 250 mg/mL

Read this Patient Information Leaflet before you receive Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) . There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.

What is Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) ?

Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) is a prescription hormone medicine (progestin) used in women who are pregnant and who have delivered a baby too early (preterm) in the past. Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) is used in these women to help lower the risk of having a preterm baby again.

Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) is for women who:

• Are pregnant with one baby
• Have had a preterm delivery of one baby in the past

How well does Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) work?

Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) was studied in women who were at risk for having a preterm baby because they had previously given birth to a preterm baby. In the main study, about 37 of 100 women who received Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) gave birth preterm (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), compared to about 55 of 100 women who did not receive Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) . Another study of Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) is going on to see whether Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) reduces the number of babies who have serious problems shortly after birth or who die.

It is not known whether Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) is safe and effective in women who have other risk factors for preterm birth.

It is not known whether Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) is safe and effective in women less than 16 years old.

Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) is not intended for use to stop active preterm labor.

Who should not receive Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) ?

Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) should not be used if you:

• Have now or have had a history of blood clots or other blood clotting problems
• Have now or have had a history of breast cancer or other hormone-sensitive cancers
• Have unusual vaginal bleeding not related to your current pregnancy
• Have yellowing of your skin due to liver problems during your pregnancy
• Have liver problems, including liver tumors
• Have uncontrolled high blood pressure

What should I tell my healthcare provider before receiving Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) ?

Before you receive Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) , tell your healthcare provider if you have:

• An allergy to hydroxyprogesterone caproate, castor oil, or any of the other ingredients in Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) . See the end of this patient leaflet for a complete list of the ingredients in Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) .
• Diabetes or prediabetes
• Epilepsy
• Migraine headaches
• Asthma
• Heart problems
• Kidney problems
• Depression
• High blood pressure

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) works.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medication.

How should I receive Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) ?

• Do not give yourself Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) injections. A healthcare professional will give you the Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) injection into your hip area (upper outer area of the buttocks) once a week (every 7 days).
• You will start receiving Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) injections anytime from 16 weeks and 0 days of your pregnancy up to 20 weeks and 6 days of your pregnancy.
• You will continue to receive Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) injections once weekly until week 37 of your pregnancy or when your baby is delivered, whichever happens first.

Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) comes in ready-to-use vials. There are 5 doses of medicine in each vial. Your healthcare professional should give you only one dose (1 mL) of Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) as prescribed each week.

Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) should be used within 5 weeks after the first use.

It is very important that you do not miss a dose of Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) and that you continue to receive the medicine once a week. If you miss a dose, talk to your healthcare provider for specific directions on how to get back on schedule.

What are the possible side effects of Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) ?

Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) may cause serious side effects, including:

• Blood clots. Symptoms of a blood clot may include:
  • Leg swelling
  • Redness in your leg
  • A spot on your leg that is warm to touch
  • Leg pain that worsens when you bend your foot
• Allergic reactions. Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
  • Hives
  • Itching
  • Swelling of the face

Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the symptoms above.

• Depression
• Yellowing of your skin and the whites of your eyes

The most common side effects of Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) include:

• Pain, swelling, itching, bruising or a hard bump at the injection site
• Hives
• Itching
• Nausea
• Diarrhea

Call your healthcare provider if you have the following at your injection site:

• Increased pain over time
• Oozing of blood or fluid
• Swelling

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) . For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

In a clinical study, certain complications or events associated with pregnancy occurred more often in women who received Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) compared to women who did not receive Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) , including:

• Miscarriage (pregnancy loss before 20 weeks of pregnancy)
• Stillbirth (fetal death occurring during or after the 20th week of pregnancy)
• Hospital admission for preterm labor
• Preeclampsia (high blood pressure and too much protein in your urine)
• Gestational hypertension (high blood pressure caused by pregnancy)
• Gestational diabetes
• Oligohydramnios (low amniotic fluid levels)

Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects or pregnancy complications. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) ?

• Store Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) at room temperature (59° to 86°F or 15° to 30°C)
• Store Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) in the original box to protect it from light
• Store the Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) box upright
• Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) should be used within 5 weeks after the first use
• Keep Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) out of the reach of children

General information about the safe and effective use of Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection)

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those mentioned in the Patient Information Leaflets. Do not take Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) for conditions for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) to other people, even if they have the same condition you have. It may harm them.

This leaflet summarizes the most important information about Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) . If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask for information about Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) that is written for healthcare professionals.

For more information, go to www.makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) .com or call Ther-Rx Corporation Customer Service at the toll free number 1-877-567-7676.

To refill a prescription or to check on prescription status, call the Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) Care Connection at the toll free number 1-800-847-3418.

What are the ingredients in Makena?

Active ingredient: hydroxyprogesterone caproate

Inactive ingredients: castor oil, benzyl benzoate, and benzyl alcohol (a preservative)

Last reviewed on RxList: 3/29/2011
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.