Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
About
Medroxyprogesterone Acetate belongs to a group of medicines called progestogens used to treat heavy, painful, irregular or missed periods, absence of periods, and uterine bleeding. It is also used to treat mild to moderate endometriosis and to decrease the risk of endometrial hyperplasia (a condition that may lead to uterine cancer) while taking estrogens. Medroxyprogesterone Acetate may also be used to prevent pregnancy.
Medroxyprogesterone Acetate contains medroxyprogesterone acetate that works by replacing or supplementing the naturally produced female sex hormone called progesterone. Medroxyprogesterone Acetate treats endometriosis by thinning the uterine lining, thereby preventing the spread of tissues from the uterus to other body parts. It helps prevent pregnancy by stopping the release of eggs from the ovaries (ovulation).
Take Medroxyprogesterone Acetate as prescribed. In some cases, you may have headache, nausea, dizziness, hair loss, acne, unusual vaginal bleeding or spotting. Most of these side effects of Medroxyprogesterone Acetate do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects are persistent, reach out to your doctor.
Avoid taking Medroxyprogesterone Acetate if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding. Inform your doctor if you have/had breast cancer, unusual bleeding in the vagina, liver disease, or any other health problems. Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption to prevent any unpleasant side effects. Medroxyprogesterone Acetate may cause dizziness, so drive only if you are alert after taking Medroxyprogesterone Acetate.
Uses of Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
Medicinal Benefits
Medroxyprogesterone Acetate belongs to a group of medicines called progestogens used to treat heavy, painful, irregular or missed periods, absence of periods, and uterine bleeding. It is also used to treat mild to moderate endometriosis and to decrease the risk of endometrial hyperplasia (a condition that may lead to uterine cancer) while taking estrogens. Medroxyprogesterone Acetate may also be used to prevent pregnancy. Medroxyprogesterone Acetate contains medroxyprogesterone acetate that works by replacing or supplementing the naturally produced female sex hormone called progesterone. Medroxyprogesterone Acetate treats endometriosis by thinning the uterine lining, thereby preventing the spread of tissues from the uterus to other body parts. It helps prevent pregnancy by stopping the release of eggs from the ovaries (ovulation).
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
- Headache
- Breast pain
- Irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting
- Stomach/abdominal cramps
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Hair loss
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
Do not use Medroxyprogesterone Acetate if you are allergic to medroxyprogesterone acetate, or any other similar hormonal medicines, if you have/had breast cancer, venous/arterial thrombosis, liver problems, porphyria, if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant. Tell your doctor before using Medroxyprogesterone Acetate if you have had a heart attack, stroke, blood clot, liver problems, kidney problems, asthma (wheezing), epilepsy (seizures), diabetes, migraine, endometriosis, lupus, heart problems, thyroid, or have high calcium levels in your blood. Be cautious while driving as Medroxyprogesterone Acetate may cause dizziness.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Medroxyprogesterone Acetate may have an interaction with medicines, including anticonvulsants (e.g. Acetazolamide, Carbamazepine), anti-infectives (e.g. Metronidazole, Clindamycin), and herbal preparation (e.g. Ginkgo Biloba and St. John’s wort plant).
Drug-Food Interactions: Medroxyprogesterone Acetate may interact with grapefruit.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform your doctor if you have abnormal genital bleeding, low level of bone mineral, breast cancer, liver disease, and thromboembolism (blood clot problem).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionThere is not enough scientific data available for Medroxyprogesterone Acetate interaction with alcohol. Hence it is best to consult a doctor.
Pregnancy
unsafeAvoid taking Medroxyprogesterone Acetate if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant as Medroxyprogesterone Acetate might affect the developing baby.
Breast Feeding
unsafeAvoid breastfeeding while taking Medroxyprogesterone Acetate. Consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
Driving
cautionIt is advised to drive with caution after taking Medroxyprogesterone Acetate as it may cause dizziness.
Liver
unsafeMedroxyprogesterone Acetate is not recommended for people with liver problems. Consult a doctor if you have any concerns.
Kidney
cautionThere is not enough scientific data available regarding the use of Medroxyprogesterone Acetate in people with kidney problems. Hence it is best to consult a doctor.
Children
unsafeMedroxyprogesterone Acetate is not recommended for children below 12 years of age.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Do regular exercise and physical activity to minimize hot flushes and improve sleep. Besides this, weight-bearing exercises can help in making your bone strong. Aerobics, yoga, and activities like tai chi may help relax the body and mind.
- Try to wear loose clothes before going to bed and sleep in a cool, well-ventilated room. Doing this can prevent symptoms of hot flushes and night sweats. Take minimum sleep of 8 hours.
- Avoid or limit intake of caffeine-containing beverages, alcohol, and spicy food, as these are known triggering agents for hot flushes.
- Try to be stress-free to improve your mood swings due to hormonal fluctuations.
- Quit smoking as it will help to reduce hot flushes and your risk of developing chronic conditions like heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
Special Advise
- Try to have a yearly pelvic exam, breast exam and mammogram (breast X-ray) if any family members have had breast cancer, breast lumps or an abnormal mammogram. Your doctor may ask you to have breast exams more often.
- Before using Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, let your doctor know if you have high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia), diabetes, or obesity (BMI more than 25).
- If you are using Medroxyprogesterone Acetate before any lab tests or biopsies, tell your doctor about this, as it can affect the report values. Diagnostic tests of blood coagulation, thyroid, cholesterol, and glucose metabolism results might be affected in people using Medroxyprogesterone Acetate.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Endometriosis: Endometriosis is a painful disorder in which the tissue that generally lines the endometrium (inside the uterus) grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis generally occurs when the endometrial tissue grows on the ovaries, pelvis lining, and fallopian tubes. Symptoms include pelvic pain, painful periods, pain in the abdomen during and before menstruation, heavy menstrual bleeding, discomfort during bowel movements, lower back pain during menstruation, pain during sexual intercourse, and cramps 1-2 weeks around menstruation.
Endometrial hyperplasia: It is a condition in which the lining of the endometrium (uterus) becomes thick due to the unusual overgrowth of cells.
FAQs
Medroxyprogesterone Acetate contains medroxyprogesterone acetate that works by replacing or supplementing the naturally produced female sex hormone called progesterone.
Abnormal uterine bleeding, irregular or missed periods (amenorrhea), abdominal pain during pregnancy, and frequent miscarriages are the signs of low progesterone. Additionally, low progesterone levels lead to high estrogen levels, and women can have decreased sex drive, weight gain, or gallbladder problems.
Yes, Medroxyprogesterone Acetate may cause weight gain. Eat healthy food and exercise regularly. If you feel that you are gaining a lot of weight while taking Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, please consult your doctor.
Do not use Medroxyprogesterone Acetate if you are allergic to medroxyprogesterone acetate, or any other similar hormonal medicines, if you have/had breast cancer, venous/arterial thrombosis, liver problems, porphyria, if you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
Continue taking Medroxyprogesterone Acetate for as long as it has been prescribed by the doctor. If you experience any difficulty while taking Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, consult a doctor.
