Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (med ROX ee proe JES ter one AS e tate)
Injectable Suspension
Read this Patient Information carefully before you decide if medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension is right for you. This information does not take the place of talking with your gynecologist or other healthcare professional who specializes in women's health. If you have any questions about medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension, ask your healthcare professional. You should also learn about other birth control methods to choose the one that is best for you.
What is the most important information I should know about medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension?
Medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension can cause serious side effects, including:
Medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension is intended to prevent pregnancy. Medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
What is medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension?
Medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension is a progestin hormone birth control method that is given by injection (a shot) to prevent pregnancy.
How well does medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension work?
Your chance of getting pregnant depends on how well you follow the directions for taking your medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension. The more carefully you follow the directions (such as returning every 3 months for your next injection), the less chance you have of getting pregnant.
In clinical studies, about 1 out of 100 women got pregnant during the first year that they used medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension.
The following chart shows the chance of getting pregnant for women who use different methods of birth control. Each box on the chart contains a list of birth control methods that are similar in effectiveness. The most effective methods are at the top of the chart. The box on the bottom of the chart shows the chance of getting pregnant for women who do not use birth control and are trying to get pregnant.
How should I take medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension?
Who Should Not Use medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension?
Do not use medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension if you:
What should I tell my healthcare professional before taking medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension?
Before taking medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension, tell your healthcare professional if you have:
If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, medroxyprogesterone acetate can pass into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare professional about the best way to feed your baby if you take medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension.
Tell your healthcare professional about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension and certain other medicines may affect each other, causing serious side effects. Sometimes the doses of other medicines may need to be changed while you are taking medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension.
Some medicines may make medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension less effective at preventing pregnancy, including those listed below.
Especially tell your healthcare professional if you take:
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines with you to show your healthcare professional or pharmacist before you first start taking medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension or when you get a new medicine.
Follow your healthcare professional's instructions about using a back-up method of birth control if you are taking medicines that may make medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension less effective.
What are the possible side effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension?
Medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension can cause serious side effects, including:
Teenage years are the most important years to gain bone strength. The decrease in calcium in your bones is of most concern if you are a teenager or have the following problems:
If you need a birth control method for more than 2 years, your healthcare professional may switch you to another birth control method instead of using medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension. If you continue using medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension, your healthcare professional may ask you to have a bone test, especially if you have other risks for weak bones.
When medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension is stopped, your bones may start to regain calcium. However, in a study of teenage girls who used medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension for more than 2 years, their hip bones did not completely recover by 5 years after they stopped using medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension. Taking calcium and Vitamin D and exercising daily may lessen the loss of calcium from your bones.
Call your healthcare professional right away if you have:
The most common side effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension include:
Tell your healthcare professional if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension. For more information, ask your healthcare professional or pharmacist.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other information should I know before choosing medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension?
How will medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension change my periods?
Unusually heavy or continuous bleeding is not a usual effect of medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension and if this happens you should see your healthcare professional right away.
With continued use of medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension, bleeding usually decreases and many women stop having periods completely. When you stop using medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension your menstrual period will usually, in time, return to its normal cycle.
What if I want to become pregnant?
Because medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension is a long-acting birth control method, it takes some time after your last shot for its effect to wear off. Most women who try to get pregnant after using medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension get pregnant within 18 months after their last shot. The length of time you use medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension has no effect on how long it takes you to become pregnant after you stop using it.
General Information about medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets. This leaflet summarizes the most important information about medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare professional. You can ask your healthcare professional for information about medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension that is written for healthcare professionals.
What are the ingredients in medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension?
Active ingredient: medroxyprogesterone acetate
Inactive ingredients: polyethylene glycol 3350, polysorbate 80, sodium chloride, methylparaben, propylparaben, and water for injection. When necessary, pH is adjusted with sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid, or both.
This Patient Information has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
This product's labeling may have been updated. For the most recent prescribing information, please visit eugiaus.com.