Depo-Provera

What Is Depo-Provera?

Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) is a form of progesterone, a female hormone used as contraception to prevent pregnancy. Depo-Provera is also used to reduce pain cause by endometriosis, and to ease pain and symptoms in women with metastatic uterine or kidney cancer. Depo-Provera is available in generic form.

What Are Side Effects of Depo-Provera?

Common side effects of Depo-Provera include:

• changes in menstrual periods,
• weight gain,
• nausea,
• stomach cramping or pain,
• bloating,
• dizziness,
• headache,
• tiredness,
• drowsiness,
• irritability,
• breast tenderness,
• decrease in breast size,
• acne,
• hair loss,
• decreased sex drive,
• hot flashes,
• joint pain, or
• injection site reactions (irritation, pain, skin changes, or a hard lump).

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Depo-Provera including:

• mental/mood changes (such as new or worsening depression),
• changes in sexual interest or ability,
• swelling of the ankles or feet,
• bone pain,
• unusual changes in vaginal bleeding (such as continuous spotting, sudden heavy bleeding),
• persistent nausea or vomiting,
• severe stomach/abdominal/pelvic pain,
• unusual weakness or tiredness,
• dark urine,
• yellowing eyes or skin, or
• seizures.

Dosage for Depo-Provera

The recommended dose of Depo-Provera is 150 mg every 13 weeks administered by deep intramuscular (IM) injection in the gluteal or deltoid muscle.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Depo-Provera?

Depo-Provera should not be used as a long-term birth control method (longer than 2 years). Depo-Provera may interact with aminoglutethimide (Cytadren). Other drugs may interact with Depo-Provera. Tell your doctor all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you use.

Depo-Provera During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Depo-Provera must not be used during pregnancy. It may take longer for you to get pregnant after you stop using this medication. This drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Additional Information

Our Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

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

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• menstrual periods that are heavier or longer than normal;
• severe pain in your lower stomach;
• swelling in your face, or your hands, ankles, and feet;
• pain, bleeding, oozing (pus), or skin changes where the injection was given;
• symptoms of depression (sleep problems, weakness, mood changes);
• liver problems--upper stomach pain, itching, tiredness, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• signs of a blood clot--sudden numbness or weakness, severe headache, chest pain, sudden cough, coughing up blood; problems with vision or speech, swelling or pain in an arm or leg.

Common side effects may include:

• changes in your menstrual periods;
• swelling, weight gain;
• headache; or
• lumps or dimpling in your skin where injections were given.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Depo-Provera (Medroxyprogesterone)

Read the Depo-Provera User Reviews »

© Depo-Provera Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Depo-Provera Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.