Medroxyprogesterone Acetate

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Jul 14, 2022

Warnings

What are the risks of taking Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (Provera)?

Medroxyprogesterone acetate can cause serious health problems, especially in certain high-risk patients. Some of the risks of medroxyprogesterone therapy are described below.

BLOOD CLOTS: Taking medroxyprogesterone and estrogen together can increase the risk of blood clots, which can lead to a heart attack, stroke, or pulmonary embolism (a life-threatening blood clot in the lungs). Smoking, a personal or family medical history of blood clots, and medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can increase this risk even further. Give your healthcare provider a complete medical history before starting medroxyprogesterone. Call 911 or seek immediate medical attention if you have pain or swelling in one leg, heart attack symptoms like chest pain spreading to the shoulder or jaw, sudden severe headache, difficulty breathing, or sudden changes in vision or speech while taking medroxyprogesterone.
BREAST CANCER: Progestin medications like medroxyprogesterone taken along with estrogens can increase the risk of developing invasive breast cancer. The risk increases the longer you take this combination of medications. That's why doctors prescribe medroxyprogesterone and estrogen for the shortest possible time. Tell your healthcare provider if you or someone in your family has had breast cancer. Talk to your doctor about ways to protect yourself if you have been taking estrogen and progestin for more than a year.
FLUID RETENTION: Medroxyprogesterone can cause extra fluid to collect in the body, especially in the lower legs, ankles, and feet. People with heart failure or kidney problems are at increased risk of this adverse effect, and the extra fluid can worsen these medical conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have had problems with swelling or fluid build-up in the past. Call your doctor right away or get emergency medical help if you experience trouble breathing, unexplainable swelling, or rapid weight gain (over 3 pounds in a day or 5 pounds in one week).
VISION PROBLEMS: Taking progestins such as medroxyprogesterone and estrogens together can cause blood clots in the eye. This is a medical emergency and can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness. Call 911 or seek emergency medical attention if you experience blurred vision, double vision, sudden loss of vision, or bulging eyes.
DEMENTIA: Medroxyprogesterone and other progestins taken along with estrogen can increase the risk of developing dementia. The reasons are unclear, but the risk is highest if you start using this combination of medications for the first time after age 65.

If you are at a high risk of complications from medroxyprogesterone use, your doctor or pharmacist can help you find other treatment options for your condition.

What should I tell my doctor before starting Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (Provera)?

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had an allergic reaction to medroxyprogesterone, any of the active or inactive ingredients in medroxyprogesterone tablets, or other progestins (Provera, Depo-Provera), any other drugs, or corn. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your healthcare provider a complete medical history. Medroxyprogesterone may not be suitable for people with certain medical conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, or any hormone-related cancer of the female organs; missed abortion; unexplained vaginal bleeding; mini-strokes or blood clots in the brain, lungs, eyes, or legs; migraine headaches; seizures; heart disease; kidney disease; liver disease; diabetes; asthma; or mental depression.

Give your doctor a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid serious interactions between medroxyprogesterone and your other medicines.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Medroxyprogesterone should never be used to test for pregnancy or prevent miscarriage. This medication can be harmful to the fetus.

What precautions should I take while on Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (Provera)?

Keep all your appointments with your healthcare professional while on medroxyprogesterone. Your doctor may want to order certain medical tests, monitor you carefully for side effects, or change the dose or frequency of medroxyprogesterone based on your response.

Contact your doctor for medical advice if you experience heavy or unusual vaginal bleeding or notice any breast lumps while on medroxyprogesterone acetate. Seek emergency medical attention if you experience changes in vision, severe headache, leg pain and swelling, difficulty breathing, or chest pain.

Call your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while on medroxyprogesterone.

Tell your healthcare professionals you are taking medroxyprogesterone before undergoing any surgery, including dental surgery.

What drugs can interact with Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (Provera)?

Taking medroxyprogesterone acetate with some other medications can affect how the medications work. Drug interactions can also increase the risk of serious adverse effects. Your physician may choose a different medication for you, change the dose or frequency of one or both medicines, and/or closely monitor you for side effects if there are known interactions between medroxyprogesterone and your other medications.

There can be interactions between medroxyprogesterone and the following medications and supplements:

Aminoglutethimide (Cytadren)
St. John’s Wort
Rifampin
Antifungals like itraconazole
Certain antiseizure medications

This list does not describe all possible medroxyprogesterone interactions. Give your healthcare professionals a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products. Also, tell your health care provider if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription drugs.

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