DEPO-PROVERA® CI What are the possible side effects of Depo-Provera CI?

(medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension, for intramuscular use)

What are the possible side effects of Depo-Provera CI?

Depo-Provera CI can cause serious side effects, including:

  • Effect on the bones: See "What is the most important information I should know about Depo-Provera CI?".
    Teenage years are the most important years to gain bone strength. The decrease in calcium in your bones is of most concern if you are a teenager or have the following problems:
    • bone disease
    • an eating disorder (anorexia nervosa)
    • a strong family history of osteoporosis
    • you take a drug that can lower the amount of calcium in your bones (drugs for epilepsy or steroid drugs)
    • you drink a lot of alcohol (more than 2 drinks a day)
    • you smoke

    If you need a birth control method for more than 2 years, your healthcare provider may switch you to another birth control method instead of using Depo-Provera CI. If you continue using Depo-Provera CI, your healthcare provider may ask you to have a bone test, especially if you have other risks for weak bones.

    When Depo-Provera CI is stopped, your bones may start to regain calcium. However, in a study of teenage girls who used Depo-Provera CI for more than 2 years, their hip bones did not completely recover by 5 years after they stopped using Depo-Provera CI. Taking calcium and Vitamin D and exercising daily may lessen the loss of calcium from your bones.

  • possible increased risk of breast cancer. Women who use Depo-Provera CI may have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer compared to non-users.
  • blood clots in your arms, legs, lungs, and eyes
  • stroke
  • a pregnancy outside of your uterus (ectopic pregnancy). Ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency that often requires surgery. Ectopic pregnancy can cause internal bleeding, infertility, and even death.
  • allergic reactions. Severe allergic reactions have been reported in some women using Depo-Provera CI.
  • loss of vision or other eye problems
  • migraine headaches
  • depression
  • convulsions or seizures
  • liver problems

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have:

  • sharp chest pain, coughing up blood, or sudden shortness of breath (indicating a possible clot in the lung)
  • sudden severe headache or vomiting, dizziness or fainting, problems with your eyesight or speech, weakness, or numbness in an arm or leg (indicating a possible stroke)
  • severe pain or swelling in the calf (indicating a possible clot in the leg)
  • sudden blindness, partial or complete (indicating a possible clot in the blood vessels of the eye)
  • unusually heavy vaginal bleeding
  • severe pain or tenderness in the lower abdominal area
  • persistent pain, pus, or bleeding at the injection site
  • yellowing of the eyes or skin
  • hives
  • difficulty breathing
  • swelling of the face, mouth, tongue or neck

The most common side effects of Depo-Provera CI include:

  • irregular vaginal bleeding, such as lighter or heavier menstrual bleeding, or continued spotting
  • weight gain. You may experience weight gain while you are using Depo-Provera CI. About two-thirds of the women who used Depo-Provera CI in the clinical trials reported a weight gain of about 5 pounds during the first year of use. You may continue to gain weight after the first year. Women who used Depo-Provera CI for 2 years gained an average of 8 pounds over those 2 years.
  • abdominal pain
  • headache
  • weakness
  • tiredness
  • nervousness
  • dizziness

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of Depo-Provera CI. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1- 800-FDA-1088.

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What are the possible side effects of Depo-Provera CI?

What are the possible side effects of Depo-Provera CI?

Depo-Provera CI can cause serious side effects, including:

  • Effect on the bones: See "What is the most important information I should know about Depo-Provera CI?".
    Teenage years are the most important years to gain bone strength. The decrease in calcium in your bones is of most concern if you are a teenager or have the following problems:
    • bone disease
    • an eating disorder (anorexia nervosa)
    • a strong family history of osteoporosis
    • you take a drug that can lower the amount of calcium in your bones (drugs for epilepsy or steroid drugs)
    • you drink a lot of alcohol (more than 2 drinks a day)
    • you smoke

    If you need a birth control method for more than 2 years, your healthcare provider may switch you to another birth control method instead of using Depo-Provera CI. If you continue using Depo-Provera CI, your healthcare provider may ask you to have a bone test, especially if you have other risks for weak bones.

    When Depo-Provera CI is stopped, your bones may start to regain calcium. However, in a study of teenage girls who used Depo-Provera CI for more than 2 years, their hip bones did not completely recover by 5 years after they stopped using Depo-Provera CI. Taking calcium and Vitamin D and exercising daily may lessen the loss of calcium from your bones.

  • possible increased risk of breast cancer. Women who use Depo-Provera CI may have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer compared to non-users.
  • blood clots in your arms, legs, lungs, and eyes
  • stroke
  • a pregnancy outside of your uterus (ectopic pregnancy). Ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency that often requires surgery. Ectopic pregnancy can cause internal bleeding, infertility, and even death.
  • allergic reactions. Severe allergic reactions have been reported in some women using Depo-Provera CI.
  • loss of vision or other eye problems
  • migraine headaches
  • depression
  • convulsions or seizures
  • liver problems

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have:

  • sharp chest pain, coughing up blood, or sudden shortness of breath (indicating a possible clot in the lung)
  • sudden severe headache or vomiting, dizziness or fainting, problems with your eyesight or speech, weakness, or numbness in an arm or leg (indicating a possible stroke)
  • severe pain or swelling in the calf (indicating a possible clot in the leg)
  • sudden blindness, partial or complete (indicating a possible clot in the blood vessels of the eye)
  • unusually heavy vaginal bleeding
  • severe pain or tenderness in the lower abdominal area
  • persistent pain, pus, or bleeding at the injection site
  • yellowing of the eyes or skin
  • hives
  • difficulty breathing
  • swelling of the face, mouth, tongue or neck

The most common side effects of Depo-Provera CI include:

  • irregular vaginal bleeding, such as lighter or heavier menstrual bleeding, or continued spotting
  • weight gain. You may experience weight gain while you are using Depo-Provera CI. About two-thirds of the women who used Depo-Provera CI in the clinical trials reported a weight gain of about 5 pounds during the first year of use. You may continue to gain weight after the first year. Women who used Depo-Provera CI for 2 years gained an average of 8 pounds over those 2 years.
  • abdominal pain
  • headache
  • weakness
  • tiredness
  • nervousness
  • dizziness

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of Depo-Provera CI. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1- 800-FDA-1088.
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Health Professional Information

What are the possible side effects of Depo-Provera CI?

What are the possible side effects of Depo-Provera CI?

Depo-Provera CI can cause serious side effects, including:

  • Effect on the bones: See "What is the most important information I should know about Depo-Provera CI?".
    Teenage years are the most important years to gain bone strength. The decrease in calcium in your bones is of most concern if you are a teenager or have the following problems:
    • bone disease
    • an eating disorder (anorexia nervosa)
    • a strong family history of osteoporosis
    • you take a drug that can lower the amount of calcium in your bones (drugs for epilepsy or steroid drugs)
    • you drink a lot of alcohol (more than 2 drinks a day)
    • you smoke

    If you need a birth control method for more than 2 years, your healthcare provider may switch you to another birth control method instead of using Depo-Provera CI. If you continue using Depo-Provera CI, your healthcare provider may ask you to have a bone test, especially if you have other risks for weak bones.

    When Depo-Provera CI is stopped, your bones may start to regain calcium. However, in a study of teenage girls who used Depo-Provera CI for more than 2 years, their hip bones did not completely recover by 5 years after they stopped using Depo-Provera CI. Taking calcium and Vitamin D and exercising daily may lessen the loss of calcium from your bones.

  • possible increased risk of breast cancer. Women who use Depo-Provera CI may have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer compared to non-users.
  • blood clots in your arms, legs, lungs, and eyes
  • stroke
  • a pregnancy outside of your uterus (ectopic pregnancy). Ectopic pregnancy is a medical emergency that often requires surgery. Ectopic pregnancy can cause internal bleeding, infertility, and even death.
  • allergic reactions. Severe allergic reactions have been reported in some women using Depo-Provera CI.
  • loss of vision or other eye problems
  • migraine headaches
  • depression
  • convulsions or seizures
  • liver problems

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have:

  • sharp chest pain, coughing up blood, or sudden shortness of breath (indicating a possible clot in the lung)
  • sudden severe headache or vomiting, dizziness or fainting, problems with your eyesight or speech, weakness, or numbness in an arm or leg (indicating a possible stroke)
  • severe pain or swelling in the calf (indicating a possible clot in the leg)
  • sudden blindness, partial or complete (indicating a possible clot in the blood vessels of the eye)
  • unusually heavy vaginal bleeding
  • severe pain or tenderness in the lower abdominal area
  • persistent pain, pus, or bleeding at the injection site
  • yellowing of the eyes or skin
  • hives
  • difficulty breathing
  • swelling of the face, mouth, tongue or neck

The most common side effects of Depo-Provera CI include:

  • irregular vaginal bleeding, such as lighter or heavier menstrual bleeding, or continued spotting
  • weight gain. You may experience weight gain while you are using Depo-Provera CI. About two-thirds of the women who used Depo-Provera CI in the clinical trials reported a weight gain of about 5 pounds during the first year of use. You may continue to gain weight after the first year. Women who used Depo-Provera CI for 2 years gained an average of 8 pounds over those 2 years.
  • abdominal pain
  • headache
  • weakness
  • tiredness
  • nervousness
  • dizziness

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of Depo-Provera CI. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1- 800-FDA-1088.

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