What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
-Asthma
-Blood clots
-Breast cancer or family history of breast cancer
-Depression
-Diabetes
-Eating disorder (anorexia nervosa)
-Frequently drink alcohol
-Heart attack
-High blood pressure
-HIV infection or AIDS
-Kidney disease
-Liver disease
-Migraine headaches
-Osteoporosis, weak bones
-Seizures
-Stroke
-Tobacco use
-Vaginal bleeding
-An unusual or allergic reaction to medroxyprogesterone, other medications, foods, dyes, or preservatives
-Pregnant or trying to get pregnant
-Breast-feeding
What may interact with this medication?
-Antibiotics or medications for infections, especially rifampin and griseofulvin
-Antivirals for HIV or hepatitis
-Aprepitant
-Armodafinil
-Bexarotene
-Bosentan
-Medications for seizures, such as carbamazepine, felbamate, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, primidone, topiramate
-Mitotane
-Modafinil
-St. John's Wort
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medication?
This medication does not protect you against HIV infection (AIDS) or other sexually transmitted diseases.
Use of this product may cause you to lose calcium from your bones. Loss of calcium may cause weak bones (osteoporosis). Only use this product for more than 2 years if other forms of birth control are not right for you. The longer you use this product for birth control the more likely you will be at risk for weak bones. Ask your care team how you can keep strong bones.
You may have a change in bleeding pattern or irregular periods. Many females stop having periods while taking this medication.
If you have received your injections on time, your chance of being pregnant is very low. If you think you may be pregnant, see your care team as soon as possible.
Tell your care team if you want to get pregnant within the next year. The effect of this medication may last a long time after you get your last injection.
What are the most serious risks of this medication?
Use of this birth control injection may cause you to lose calcium in your bone, which may cause weak bones (osteoporosis) later in life. The risk of weak bones increases if you use this method of birth control for more than 2 years. Your bones may not recover their strength completely. It is recommended that you do not use this type of birth control for more than 2 years.