MEDROXYPROGESTERONE

In this session, we will be discussing the consumer medication information for medroxyprogesterone, trade name Provera^TM.

What it’s for & How to take

Medroxyprogesterone is a female hormone used to replace your progesterone when your body is not making enough of it. This medication is used to help restore normal menstrual cycle in women who are not yet in menopause and who are not pregnant.

Medroxyprogesterone is also used along with estrogen treatment to help reduce full body symptoms that happen due to a lowering of hormones during menopause. These symptoms may include hot flashes, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. Progesterone is added to estrogen replacement therapy to help reduce the risk of developing cancer of the uterus.

Your doctor will have you take this medication either daily at the same time as your estrogen or will instruct you to take the medroxyprogesterone for only a certain number of days each month.

Your doctor may give you this medication to help regulate your cycle of abnormal bleeding. In this situation, you may only take the medication for 5-10 days. Make sure you understand when you expect your bleeding to either start or stop and notify your doctor if your condition does not improve as expected.

This medication is usually taken once daily, with or without food. Take this medication at the same time each day. If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of your next dose, skip it and continue with your normal dose time. Do not take a double dose to make up the missed dose.

Most Important Warnings

• Estrogen therapy used along with progestin treatment has been linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots in the legs or lungs, and increased risk of breast cancer.
• Estrogen therapy, with or without progestin, has been shown to increase the chances of heart disease and dementia and should not be used for the treatment of either of these two disease states
• Estrogen, with or without progestin, should be prescribed at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration of therapy, specific for each patient. Ask your doctor to evaluate your hormone dose every 6 months, to see if your dose may be lowered.

Other Warnings & Cautions

• Call your doctor right away if you have any signs of a blood clot, such as chest and left arm pain, shortness of breath and sweating, pain and swelling of your leg, weakness on one side of your body, slurred speech, sudden vision changes or confusion.
• Do not smoke while using estrogen therapy. Smoking will increase the risk of heart disease and blood clots in patients who use estrogen therapy, especially those over 35 years of age. If you can’t stay out of the sun, cover up with clothing and sunscreen.
• Let your doctor know if you will be confined to a chair for a long time, like on an airplane flight. This may increase your risk of a clot in your leg. Your doctor may have you take precautions to prevent a clot from forming.
• If you notice any change in your vision or have any difficulty wearing your contact lenses, notify your eye doctor as soon as possible to talk about it with them. Be sure to have a complete eye exam every year.
• This medication may make you dizzy, drowsy, or blur your vision. Do not drive or do any activity that requires focus and attention until you are sure you can do them safely. Limit alcoholic beverages while taking medroxyprogesterone.
• Do not use this medication if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Interactions & Side Effects

• Tell your pharmacist or doctor all your medication allergies so they may determine if the medroxyprogesterone is safe for you to take.
• Avoid dangerous drug interactions. Tell your pharmacist or doctor all the other medication you are taking, including over the counter supplements, even if you don’t take them very often.
• Ask your doctor if this medication is safe to use with your current health conditions. Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart, liver, or kidney disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, any blood clotting, vaginal bleeding, cancer, or any other medical condition.
• While using this medication, you may feel some nausea, bloating, headache or breast tenderness. If these or any other unwanted side effects persist, contact your doctor or pharmacist to talk about it with them.
• Call your doctor right away if you have any vaginal bleeding, breast lumps, vaginal irritation, yellowing of the eyes or skin or increased swelling of your hands and feet.
• Call emergency 911 if you have any symptoms of a heart attack such as chest and left arm pain, shortness of breath and sweating or if you have symptoms of a stroke such as weakness on one side of your body, slurred speech, sudden vision changes, and confusion.

If you have any questions about what you have heard, contact your pharmacist or doctor. This session does not include all the potential interactions or side effects that this medication may cause. Ask your pharmacist how your medication should be stored and how you should dispose of it when you are done taking it. Do not share your medication with anyone, ever. Remember, this is not meant to replace your counseling session with your pharmacist. In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

Updated 7/20