Medroxyprogesterone

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What is the most important information I should know about medroxyPROGESTERone?

You should not use this medication if you are pregnant, or if you have liver disease, a hormone-related cancer such as breast or uterine cancer, a history of stroke or blood clot, or abnormal vaginal bleeding that has not been checked by a doctor.

Medroxyprogesterone will not prevent heart disease, breast cancer, or dementia, and may actually increase the risk of developing these conditions in post-menopausal women. Medroxyprogesterone may also increase the risk of uterine or ovarian cancer in some women. Long-term treatment with estrogens and progestins (such as medroxyprogesterone) may also increase your risk of heart attack, blood clot, or stroke.

Talk to your doctor about your specific risks and benefits of taking this medication, especially if you smoke or are overweight. Your doctor should check your progress on a regular basis (every 3 to 6 months) to determine whether you should continue this treatment.

Warning

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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What is medroxyPROGESTERone?

Medroxyprogesterone is a progestin (a form of progesterone), a female hormone that helps regulate ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary) and menstrual periods.

Medroxyprogesterone is used to treat conditions such as absent or irregular menstrual periods, or abnormal uterine bleeding. Medroxyprogesterone is also used to decrease the risk of endometrial hyperplasia (a condition that may lead to uterine cancer) while taking estrogens.

Medroxyprogesterone is also used to prevent overgrowth in the lining of the uterus in postmenopausal women who are receiving estrogen hormone replacement therapy.

Medroxyprogesterone may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Precautions

FDA pregnancy category X. Medroxyprogesterone can cause birth defects. Do not use if this medication you are pregnant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to medroxyprogesterone, or if you have:

abnormal vaginal bleeding that has not been diagnosed;
a hormone-related cancer such as breast or uterine cancer;
liver disease; or
a history of stroke or blood clot.

If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication. Before using medroxyprogesterone, tell your doctor if you have:

heart disease, congestive heart failure, recent stroke or heart attack
high blood pressure;
high cholesterol or triglycerides;
low levels of calcium in your blood;
severe pelvic pain;
recent miscarriage or abortion;
epilepsy;
asthma;
migraine headaches;
a thyroid disorder;
kidney disease,
diabetes; or
lupus.

Medroxyprogesterone can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Avoid smoking while you are taking this medication. Smoking greatly increases your risk of blood clots.

Instructions

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, breast tenderness, dizziness, drowsiness, or vaginal bleeding.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Side Effects

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;
chest pain, sudden cough, wheezing, rapid breathing, fast heart rate;
pain or swelling in one or both legs;
chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
vaginal bleeding if you have already gone through menopause;
feeling like you might pass out;
a breast lump;
symptoms of depression (sleep problems, dizziness, mood changes, headache).
fever;
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet.

Less serious side effects may include:

spotting or breakthrough bleeding;
changes in your menstrual periods;
vaginal itching or discharge;
breast tenderness or discharge;
mild itching or skin rash;
increased acne, hair growth, loss of scalp hair;
sleep problems (insomnia);
changes in appetite or weight,
mild stomach pain, bloating, nausea; or
skin color changes.

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. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Interactions

There may be other drugs that can interact with medroxyprogesterone. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.