The use of Provera has also been linked with an increase in certain issues like bone loss, heart attacks, stroke, blood clots, and certain types of cancers, such as breast cancer. Since Provera has these risks, your healthcare provider may prescribe the lowest effective dose of this medication for the shortest amount of time possible.
Provera is in the progestin drug class. This means that Provera and other medications in the progestin drug class are made from progesterone, a naturally occurring hormone in your body.
Provera is available in tablet form to take by mouth.
What Is Provera Used For?
Provera is approved for the following uses:
Brand Name(s): Provera
Drug Availability: Prescription
Administration Route: Oral
Therapeutic Classification: Progestin
Available Generically: Yes
Controlled Substance: N/A
Active Ingredient: Medroxyprogesterone
Dosage Form(s): Tablet
Secondary amenorrhea (the absence of three or more periods in a row) Abnormal bleeding from your uterus due to a hormonal imbalance Prevention of endometrial hyperplasia (an overgrowth of your endometrial cells)
How to Take Provera
You should always follow directions from your healthcare provider on how to take Provera. There is no general dosing schedule with Provera, as the dose and how often it’s taken will change depending on what you are taking it for.
Storage
Store Provera in a cool, dry place. In general, medications should be kept away from areas of high heat, like above your stove, or in humid places, like your bathroom. These environments can impact how well medications work.
It is also essential to keep your medications out of reach of children and pets.
Off-Label Uses
Healthcare providers may prescribe medroxyprogesterone for off-label uses, meaning for conditions not specifically indicated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Some examples of off-label uses for medroxyprogesterone are:
Acute abnormal uterine bleeding (that your healthcare provider thinks requires immediate intervention) Treatment of endometrial hyperplasia Suppression of menstrual cycles in transgender men
What Are the Side Effects of Provera?
This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. A healthcare provider can advise you on side effects. If you experience other effects, contact your pharmacist or a healthcare provider. You may report side effects to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at www.fda.gov/medwatch or 800-FDA-1088.
Common Side Effects
The most common side effects of Provera include the following:
Change in menstrual flow Breast tenderness Nausea Acne
If your healthcare provider thinks you need to be on the dose you are currently on, and you’re experiencing nausea, they may want you to be on a prescription anti-nausea, such as Zofran ODT (ondansetron).
Severe Side Effects
Call your healthcare provider immediately if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Rare but serious side effects can include the following:
Heart issues, such as strokes, blood clots, and heart attacksCertain types of cancer, such as breast, endometrial, and uterine cancerDementiaLoss of vision
Long-Term Side Effects
Once you stop taking Provera, you may experience long-term side effects. Examples may include:
High cholesterol or other fats Breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers
Dosage: How Much Provera Should I Take?
Modifications
If you are a healthy adult, the dose of Provera generally won’t change. This drug should not be used if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or if you are a child, as the FDA has not approved it for these populations.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your healthcare provider may send a report to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program or by phone (800-332-1088).
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
For oral dosage form (tablets): For prevention endometrial hyperplasia: Adults—At first, 5 milligrams (mg) per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, dose is usually not more than 10 mg per day. It is usually taken everyday for 12 to 14 consecutive days per month. Children—Use is not recommended. For treatment of amenorrhea and abnormal uterine bleeding: Adults—At first, 5 milligrams (mg) per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed. However, dose is usually not more than 10 mg per day. It is usually taken everyday for 5 to 10 days. Children—Use is not recommended.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of Provera, take it as soon as you remember. If you are close to the next dose, then skip the missed dose and take only the next scheduled dose. Do not take more than one dose at a time. If you miss a dose of Provera, your symptoms may not improve.
Overdose: What Happens If I Take Too Much Provera?
If you take too much Provera, you will be more likely to experience the side effects of medroxyprogesterone, such as acne, nausea, or a change in menstrual flow.
There is no available antidote for a Provera overdose. Treatment for an accidental overdose will involve treating the symptoms. For example, if you are experiencing nausea, you may find relief by taking ginger.
Precautions
What Are Reasons I Shouldn’t Take Provera?
Provera should not be taken if you have any of the following:
If someone collapses or isn’t breathing after taking Provera, call 911 immediately.
Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.
Check with your doctor right away if you have pain in the chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves, difficulty with breathing, a sudden, severe headache, slurred speech, a sudden, unexplained shortness of breath, a sudden loss of coordination, or vision changes while using this medicine.
Using this medicine may increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots, dementia, breast cancer, or uterine cancer. Talk with your doctor about these risks.
Your risk of heart disease or stroke from this medicine is higher if you smoke. Your risk is also increased if you have diabetes or high cholesterol, or if you are overweight. Talk with your doctor about ways to stop smoking. Keep your diabetes under control. Ask your doctor about diet and exercise to control your weight and blood cholesterol level.
Check with your doctor right away if a severe headache or a sudden loss of vision or any change in vision occurs while you are using this medicine. Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).
Pancreatitis may occur while you are using this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have sudden and severe stomach pain, chills, constipation, nausea, vomiting, fever, or lightheadedness.
Tell the medical doctor or dentist in charge that you are using this medicine before any kind of surgery (including dental surgery) or emergency treatment. Your doctor will decide whether you should continue using this medicine.
Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are taking this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.
Known, suspected, or history of cancerKnown or suspected pregnancyAbnormal liver functionHeart issues, such as a history of blood clots, strokes, or heart attack
What Other Medications Interact With Provera?
Provera can interact with certain medications due to how it is converted in the body.
Once it enters the body, Provera is converted through proteins known as CYP enzymes. The main CYP enzyme that Provera interacts with to be cleared from your body is called CYP3A4.
Provera may be cleared from your body more quickly when taken with the following products due to their effect on CYP3A4:
Phenobarbital Dilantin (phenytoin) St. John’s wort
It may also be cleared from your body more slowly due to CYP3A4 being inhibited by the following products:
Biaxin XL (clarithromycin) Cardizem (diltiazem) Grapefruit juice
The examples above are not inclusive of all products that affect CYP3A4. Tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you take or plan to take, including over-the-counter (OTC) nonprescription products, vitamins, herbs, supplements, and plant-based medicines.
What Medications Are Similar?
An example of another medication in the progestin drug class is levonorgestrel, also referred to as the morning-after pill, or Plan B.
Although medroxyprogesterone and levonorgestrel are both progestins, their uses are different. Plan B is primarily used as an emergency contraceptive for preventing pregnancy following unprotected intercourse or suspected contraceptive failure.
How Can I Stay Healthy While Taking Provera?
To stay healthy while taking Provera, take it as your healthcare provider advises. It may be challenging to take it consistently initially, but you must be consistent to treat your symptoms effectively.
It is also always important to get plenty of rest, stay hydrated, and eat a healthy diet as instructed by your healthcare provider.
The author like to recognize and thank Chong Yol Gacasan Kim for contributing to this article.
