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Depo Provera

Drug Description
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DEPO-PROVERA
(medroxyprogesterone acetate), Contraceptive Injection

Physician Information

Women who use Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection may lose significant bone mineral density. Bone loss is greater with increasing duration of use and may not be completely reversible.

It is unknown if use of Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection during adolescence or early adulthood, a critical period of bone accretion, will reduce peak bone mass and increase the risk for osteoporotic fracture in later life.

Depo-Provera Contraceptive Injection should be used as a long-term birth control method (e.g. longer than 2 years) only if other birth control methods are inadequate. (See WARNINGS.)

Patients should be counseled that this product does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases.

DRUG DESCRIPTION

DEPO-PROVERA Contraceptive Injection (CI) contains medroxyprogesterone acetate, a derivative of progesterone, as its active ingredient. Medroxyprogesterone acetate is active by the parenteral and oral routes of administration. It is a white to off-white; odorless crystalline powder that is stable in air and that melts between 200°C and 210°C. It is freely soluble in chloroform, soluble in acetone and dioxane, sparingly soluble in alcohol and methanol, slightly soluble in ether, and insoluble in water.

The chemical name for medroxyprogesterone acetate is pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, 17-(acetyloxy)-6-methyl-, (6α-).
The structural formula is as follows:

DEPO-PROVERA (medroxyprogesterone acetate) structural formula illustration

medroxyprogesterone acetate

DEPO-PROVERA CI for intramuscular (IM) injection is available in vials and prefilled syringes, each containing 1 mL of medroxyprogesterone acetate sterile aqueous suspension 150 mg/mL.

Each mL contains:

Medroxyprogesterone acetate
Polyethylene glycol 3350
Polysorbate 80
Sodium chloride
Methylparaben
Propylparaben
Water for injection
150 mg
28.9 mg
2.41 mg
8.68 mg
1.37 mg
0.150 mg
qs

When necessary, pH is adjusted with sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid, or both.


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You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.


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