Details

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 oestrogens. Medroxyprogesterone is also used to prevent overgrowth in the lining of the uterus in postmenopausal women who are receiving oestrogen hormone replacement therapy. Medroxyprogesterone should not be used to prevent heart disease, stroke, or dementia. This medicine may actually increase your risk of developing these conditions. Long-term use of medroxyprogesterone may increase your risk of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke, or blood clot. You should not use this medicine 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. Medroxyprogesterone should not be used in pregnancy.

Typical Uses

Medroxyprogesterone is a type of female hormone (progestin). This medication is similar to the progesterone that your body naturally makes and is given to replace the hormone when your body is not making enough of it. This medication has several uses. In women who are not pregnant and not going through menopause, this medication is used to treat abnormal bleeding from the uterus and to restore normal menstrual periods in women who have stopped having them for several months (amenorrhea). Medroxyprogesterone is also used as part of combination hormone replacement therapy with estrogens to reduce menopause symptoms (e.g., hot flashes). Medroxyprogesterone is added to oestrogen replacement therapy to reduce the risk of cancer of the uterus. This medication must not be used to test for pregnancy.

Side Effects

Common medroxyprogesterone side effects may include vaginal bleeding if you have already gone through menopause a light-headed 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) swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet heart attack symptoms-chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating signs of a stroke-sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance signs of a blood clot in the lung-chest pain, sudden cough, wheezing, rapid breathing, coughing up blood or signs of a blood clot in your leg-pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in one or both legs.

Drug Interactions

• Medroxyprogesterone+acitretin- Using acitretin and medroxyprogesterone is not recommended. Acitretin can cause severe, life-threatening birth defects if the mother takes the medication during pregnancy. Never use acitretin if you are pregnant. Both a primary and a secondary form of birth control must be used together and for at least 3 years after stopping therapy.
• Medroxyprogesterone+bosentan- Bosentan may reduce the blood levels and effects of medroxyprogesterone, which may make it less reliable as a form of birth control. Alternative or additional methods of birth control should be used during treatment with bosentan to avoid unintended pregnancy. This is particularly important because bosentan may cause major birth defects in the unborn child.
• Medroxyprogesterone+dabrafenib- Dabrafenib may reduce the blood levels and effects of medroxyprogesterone, which may make it less reliable as a form of birth control. Alternative or additional methods of birth control should be used during treatment with dabrafenib to avoid unintended pregnancy. This is particularly important because dabrafenib may cause harm in the unborn child.
• Medroxyprogesterone+telaprevir- Telaprevir may reduce the blood levels and effects of medroxyprogesterone, which may make it less reliable as a form of birth control. You may continue to use medroxyprogesterone if desired, but two alternative, non-hormonal methods of birth control should be used during and for two weeks after treatment with telaprevir to avoid unintended pregnancy.

Mechanism of action

Medroxyprogesterone is one of a group of medicines called ‘progestogens’ which act like progesterone, a natural sex hormone. It can slow down the growth of certain tumours which are sensitive to hormones. As a contraceptive, it acts by preventing an egg being from fully developed and released from the ovaries, changes the lining of your womb and thickens the mucus at the entrance of the womb which makes pregnancy less likely to occur.

Pregnancy Category : X