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Medroxyprogesterone

Also sold as: Provera, Depo-Provera, depo-subQ provera

Progesterone CongenersPrescription OnlyGeneric Available

Related Medications

Important: Only drugs listed as "Exact Equivalents" (FDA AB-rated) are confirmed interchangeable. All other listings are for informational reference only and do NOT indicate that drugs can be substituted without a physician's explicit guidance.
Same Pharmacologic Class

These drugs share a pharmacologic classification but are NOT interchangeable. Listing here does not imply clinical equivalence. A physician must evaluate each drug individually for the patient's specific condition.

Classification: Progesterone Congeners (source: RxClass/NLM)

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No community coverage data yet for medroxyprogesterone.

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Drug Information

Mechanism of Action

12.1 Mechanism of Action Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) injectable suspension, inhibits the secretion of gonadotropins which primarily prevents follicular maturation and ovulation and causes thickening of cervical mucus. These actions contribute to its contraceptive effect.

Indications & Uses

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension is indicated for use by females of reproductive potential to prevent pregnancy. Limitations of Use: The use of medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension is not recommended as a long-term (i.e., longer than 2 years) birth control method unless other options are considered inadequate [see Dosage and Administration (2.1) and Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]. Medroxyprogesterone acetate is a progestin indicated for use by females of reproductive potential to prevent pregnancy. (1) Limitations of Use: The use of medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension is not recommended as a long-term (i.e., longer than 2 years) birth control method unless other options are considered inadequate. (1, 5.1)

Dosage & Administration

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The recommended dose is 150 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension every 3 months (13 weeks) administered by deep, intramuscular (IM) injection in the gluteal or deltoid muscle. (2.1) 2.1 Prevention of Pregnancy The 1 mL prefilled syringe of medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension should be vigorously shaken just before use to ensure that the dose being administered represents a uniform suspension. The recommended dose is 150 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension every 3 months (13 weeks) administered by deep intramuscular (IM) injection using strict aseptic technique in the gluteal or deltoid muscle, rotating the sites with every injection. As with any IM injection, to avoid an inadvertent subcutaneous injection, body habitus should be assessed prior to each injection to determine if a longer needle is necessary particularly for gluteal IM injection. Use for longer than 2 years is not recommended (unless other birth control methods are considered inadequate) due to the impact of long-term medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension treatment on bone mineral density (BMD) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] . Dosage does not need to be adjusted for body weight [ see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )] . To ensure the patient is not pregnant at the time of the first injection, the first injection should be given ONLY during the first 5 days of a normal menstrual period; ONLY within the first 5-days postpartum if not breast-feeding; and if exclusively breast-feeding, ONLY at the sixth postpartum week. If the time interval between injections is greater than 13 weeks, the physician should determine that the patient is not pregnant before administering the drug. The efficacy of medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension depends on adherence to the dosage schedule of administration. 2.2 Switching From Other Methods of Contraception When switching from other contraceptive methods, medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension should be given in a manner that ensures continuous contraceptive coverage based upon the mechanism of action of both methods, (e.g., patients switching from oral contraceptives should have their first injection of medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension on the day after the last active tablet or at the latest, on the day following the final inactive tablet).

Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following important adverse reactions observed with the use of medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension are discussed in greater detail in the Warnings and Precautions section ( 5 ): Loss of Bone Mineral Density [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ) ] Thromboembolic disease [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 ) ] Breast Cancer [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 ) ] Anaphylaxis and Anaphylactoid Reactions [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 ) ] Bleeding Irregularities [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5. 10) ] Weight Gain [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5. 11) ] Most common adverse reactions (incidence >5%) are: menstrual irregularities (bleeding or spotting) 57% at 12 months, 32% at 24 months, abdominal pain/discomfort 11%, weight gain > 10 lbs at 24 months 38%, dizziness 6%, headache 17%, nervousness 11%, decreased libido 6%. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Inc. at 1-800-818-4555 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. In the two clinical trials with medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension, over 3,900 women, who were treated for up to 7 years, reported the following adverse reactions, which may or may not be related to the use of medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension. The population studied ranges in age from 15 to 51 years, of which 46% were White, 50% Non-White, and 4.9% Unknown race. The patients received 150 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension every 3-months (90 days). The median study duration was 13 months with a range of 1 to 84 months. Fifty eight percent of patients remained in the study after 13 months and 34% after 24 months. Table 1 Adverse Reactions that Were Reported by More than 5% of Subjects Body System* Adverse Reactions [Incidence (%)] Body as a Whole Headache (16.5%) Abdominal pain/discomfort (11.2%) Metabolic/Nutritional Increased weight> 10lbs at 24 months (37.7%) Nervous Nervousness (10.8%) Dizziness (5.6%) Libido decreased (5.5%) Urogenital Menstrual irregularities: (bleeding (57.3% at 12 months, 32.1% at 24 months) amenorrhea (55% at 12 months, 68% at 24 months) * Body System represented from COSTART medical dictionary. Table 2 Adverse Reactions that Were Reported by between 1 and 5% of Subjects Body System* Adverse Reactions [Incidence (%)] Body as a Whole Asthenia/fatigue (4.2%) Backache (2.2%) Dysmenorrhea (1.7%) Hot flashes (1.0%) Digestive Nausea (3.3%) Bloating (2.3%) Metabolic/Nutritional Edema (2.2%) Musculoskeletal Leg cramps (3.7%) Arthralgia (1.0%) Nervous Depression (1.5%) Insomnia (1.0%) Skin and Appendages Acne (1.2%) No hair growth/alopecia (1.1%) Rash (1.1%) Urogenital Leukorrhea (2.9%) Breast pain (2.8%) Vaginitis (1.2%) * Body System represented from COSTART medical dictionary. Adverse reactions leading to study discontinuation in ≥ 2% of subjects: bleeding (8.2%), amenorrhea (2.1%), weight gain (2.0%) 6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. There have been cases of osteoporosis including osteoporotic fractures reported post-marketing in patients taking medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension. Table 3 Adverse Reactions Reported during Post-Marketing Experience Body System Body System represented from COSTART medical dictionary. Adverse Reactions Body as a Whole Chest pain, Allergic reactions including angioedema, Fever, Injection site abscess Injection site abscess and injection site infections have been reported; therefore strict aseptic injection technique should be followed when administering medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension in order to avoid injection site infections [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)]. , Injection site infection , Injection site nodule/lump, Injection site pain/tenderness, Injection site persistent atrophy/indentation/dimpling, Injection-site reaction, Lipodystrophy acquired, Chills, Axillary swelling Cardiovascular Syncope, Tachycardia, Thrombophlebitis, Deep vein thrombosis, Pulmonary embolus, Varicose veins Digestive Changes in appetite, Gastrointestinal disturbances, Jaundice, Excessive thirst, Rectal bleeding Hematologic and Lymphatic Anemia, Blood dyscrasia Musculoskeletal Osteoporosis Neoplasms Cervical cancer, Breast cancer Nervous Paralysis, Facial palsy, Paresthesia, Drowsiness Respiratory Dyspnea and asthma, Hoarseness Skin and Appendages Hirsutism, Excessi

Drug Interactions

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Drugs or herbal products that induce certain enzymes, including CYP3A4, may decrease the effectiveness of contraceptive drug products. Counsel patients to use a back-up method or alternative method of contraception when enzyme inducers are used with medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension. ( 7.1 ) 7.1 Changes in Contraceptive Effectiveness Associated With Co-Administration of Other Products If a woman on hormonal contraceptives takes a drug or herbal product that induces enzymes, including CYP3A4, that metabolize contraceptive hormones, counsel her to use additional contraception or a different method of contraception. Drugs or herbal products that induce such enzymes may decrease the plasma concentrations of contraceptive hormones, and may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives. Some drugs or herbal products that may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives include: barbiturates bosentan carbamazepine felbamate griseofulvin oxcarbazepine phenytoin rifampin St. John’s wort topiramate HIV protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors : Significant changes (increase or decrease) in the plasma levels of progestin have been noted in some cases of coadministration of HIV protease inhibitors. Significant changes (increase or decrease) in the plasma levels of the progestin have been noted in some cases of co-administration with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Antibiotics : There have been reports of pregnancy while taking hormonal contraceptives and antibiotics, but clinical pharmacokinetic studies have not shown consistent effects of antibiotics on plasma concentrations of synthetic steroids. Consult the labeling of all concurrently used drugs to obtain further information about interactions with hormonal contraceptives or the potential for enzyme alterations. 7.2 Laboratory Test Interactions The pathologist should be advised of progestin therapy when relevant specimens are submitted. The following laboratory tests may be affected by progestins including medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension: (a) Plasma and urinary steroid levels are decreased (e.g., progesterone, estradiol, pregnanediol, testosterone, cortisol). (b) Gonadotropin levels are decreased. (c) Sex-hormone-binding-globulin concentrations are decreased. (d) Protein-bound iodine and butanol extractable protein-bound iodine may increase. T3-uptake values may decrease. (e) Coagulation test values for prothrombin (Factor II), and Factors VII, VIII, IX, and X may increase. (f) Sulfobromophthalein and other liver function test values may be increased. (g) The effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate on lipid metabolism are inconsistent. Both increases and decreases in total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol have been observed in studies.

Contraindications

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS The use of medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension is contraindicated in the following conditions: Known or suspected pregnancy or as a diagnostic test for pregnancy. Active thrombophlebitis, or current or past history of thromboembolic disorders, or cerebral vascular disease [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 ) ]. Known or suspected malignancy of breast [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 ) ]. Known hypersensitivity to medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension or any of its other ingredients [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 ) ]. Significant liver disease [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5. 7) ]. Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5. 10) ]. Known or suspected pregnancy or as a diagnostic test for pregnancy. ( 4 ) Active thrombophlebitis, or current or past history of thromboembolic disorders, or cerebral vascular disease. ( 4 ) Known or suspected malignancy of breast. ( 4 ) Known hypersensitivity to medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension or any of its other ingredients. ( 4 ) Significant liver disease. ( 4 ) Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding. ( 4 )

Verify with Primary Sources

Always verify clinical information with authoritative sources.