(medroxyprogesterone acetate)
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
Secondary Amenorrhea
PROVERA tablets may be given in dosages of 5 or 10 mg daily for 5 to 10 days. A dose for inducing an optimum secretory transformation of an endometrium that has been adequately primed with either endogenous or exogenous estrogen is 10 mg of PROVERA daily for 10 days. In cases of secondary amenorrhea, therapy may be started at any time. Progestin withdrawal bleeding usually occurs within three to seven days after discontinuing PROVERA therapy.
Abnormal Uterine Bleeding Due to Hormonal Imbalance in the Absence of Organic Pathology
Beginning on the calculated 16th or 21st day of the menstrual cycle, 5 or 10 mg of PROVERA may be given daily for 5 to 10 days. To produce an optimum secretory transformation of an endometrium that has been adequately primed with either endogenous or exogenous estrogen, 10 mg of PROVERA daily for 10 days beginning on the 16th day of the cycle is suggested. Progestin withdrawal bleeding usually occurs within three to seven days after discontinuing therapy with PROVERA. Patients with a past history of recurrent episodes of abnormal uterine bleeding may benefit from planned menstrual cycling with PROVERA.
Reduction of Endometrial Hyperplasia in Postmenopausal Women Receiving Daily 0.625 mg Conjugated Estrogens
When estrogen is prescribed for a postmenopausal woman with a uterus, a progestin should also be initiated to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer. A woman without a uterus does not need progestin. Use of estrogen, alone or in combination with a progestin, should be with the lowest effective dose and for the shortest duration consistent with treatment goals and risks for the individual woman. Patients should be re-evaluated periodically as clinically appropriate (for example, 3 to 6 month intervals) to determine if treatment is still necessary (see WARNINGS). For women who have a uterus, adequate diagnostic measures, such as endometrial sampling, when indicated, should be undertaken to rule out malignancy in cases of undiagnosed persistent or recurring abnormal vaginal bleeding.
PROVERA tablets may be given in dosages of 5 or 10 mg daily for 12 to 14 consecutive days per month, in postmenopausal women receiving daily 0.625 mg conjugated estrogens, either beginning on the 1st day of the cycle or the 16th day of the cycle.
Patients should be started at the lowest dose.
The lowest effective dose of PROVERA has not been determined.
PATIENT INFORMATION
PATIENT INFORMATION
PROVERA
(pro-VE-rah)
(medroxyprogesterone acetate tablets, USP)
Read this Patient Information before you start taking PROVERA and read what you get each time you refill your PROVERA prescription. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or your treatment.
What is the most important information I should know about PROVERA (a progestin hormone)?
- •
- Do not use estrogens with progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, or dementia (decline in brain function).
- •
- Using estrogens with progestins may increase your chance of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots.
- •
- Using estrogens with progestins may increase your chance of getting dementia, based on a study of women age 65 years or older.
- •
- You and your healthcare provider should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with PROVERA.
What is PROVERA?
PROVERA is a medicine that contains medroxyprogesterone acetate, a progestin hormone.
What is PROVERA used for?
PROVERA is used to:
- •
- Treat menstrual periods that have stopped or to treat abnormal uterine bleeding. Women with a uterus who are not pregnant, who stop having regular menstrual periods or who begin to have irregular menstrual periods may have a drop in their progesterone level. Talk with your healthcare provider about whether PROVERA is right for you.
- •
- Reduce your chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). In postmenopausal women with a uterus who use estrogens, taking progestin in combination with estrogen will reduce your chance of getting cancer of the uterus (womb).
Who should not take PROVERA?
Do not start taking PROVERA if you:
- •
- have unusual vaginal bleeding
- •
- currently have or have had certain cancers
Estrogen plus progestin may increase your chance of getting certain types of cancers, including cancer of the breast. If you have or have had cancer, talk with your healthcare provider about whether you should use PROVERA. - •
- had a stroke or heart attack
- •
- currently have or have had blood clots
- •
- currently have or have had liver problems
- •
- are allergic to PROVERA or any of its ingredients
See the list of ingredients in PROVERA at the end of this leaflet. - •
- think you may be pregnant
PROVERA is not for pregnant women. If you think you may be pregnant, you should have a pregnancy test and know the results. Do not use PROVERA if the test is positive and talk to your healthcare provider. There may be an increased risk of minor birth defects in children whose mothers take PROVERA during the first 4 months of pregnancy.
PROVERA should not be used as a test for pregnancy.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking PROVERA? Before you take PROVERA, tell your healthcare provider if you:
- •
- have any other medical problems
Your healthcare provider may need to check you more carefully if you have certain conditions such as asthma (wheezing), epilepsy (seizures), diabetes, migraine, endometriosis (severe pelvic pain), lupus, or problems with your heart, liver, thyroid, kidneys, or have high calcium in your blood. - •
- are going to have surgery or will be on bed rest
Your healthcare provider will let you know if you need to stop taking PROVERA. - •
- are breast feeding
The hormone in PROVERA can pass into your breast milk.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may affect how PROVERA works. PROVERA may also affect how other medicines work.
How should I take PROVERA?
Start at the lowest dose and talk to your healthcare provider about how well that dose is working for you. The lowest effective dose of PROVERA has not been determined. You and your healthcare provider should talk regularly (every 3 to 6 months) about the dose you are taking and whether you still need treatment with PROVERA.
- 1.
- Absence of menstrual period: PROVERA may be given in doses ranging from 5 to 10 mg daily for 5 to 10 days.
- 2.
- Abnormal Uterine Bleeding: PROVERA may be given in doses ranging from 5 to 10 mg daily for 5 to 10 days.
- 3.
- Overgrowth of the lining of the uterus: When used in combination with oral conjugated estrogens in postmenopausal women with a uterus, PROVERA may be given in doses ranging from 5 or 10 mg daily for 12 to 14 straight days per month.
What are the possible side effects of PROVERA?
The following side effects have been reported with the use of PROVERA alone:
- •
- breast tenderness
- •
- breast milk secretion
- •
- breakthrough bleeding
- •
- spotting (minor vaginal bleeding)
- •
- irregular periods
- •
- amenorrhea (absence of menstrual periods)
- •
- vaginal secretions
- •
- headaches
- •
- nervousness
- •
- dizziness
- •
- depression
- •
- insomnia, sleepiness, fatigue
- •
- premenstrual syndrome-like symptoms
- •
- thrombophlebitis (inflamed veins)
- •
- blood clot
- •
- itching, hives, skin rash
- •
- acne
- •
- hair loss, hair growth
- •
- abdominal discomfort
- •
- nausea
- •
- bloating
- •
- fever
- •
- increase in weight
- •
- swelling
- •
- changes in vision and sensitivity to contact lenses
Call your healthcare provider right away if you get hives, problems breathing, swelling of the face, mouth, tongue or neck
The following side effects have been reported with the use of PROVERA with an estrogen.
Side effects are grouped by how serious they are and how often they happen when you are treated.
Serious, but less common side effects include:
- •
- heart attack
- •
- stroke
- •
- blood clots
- •
- dementia
- •
- breast cancer
- •
- cancer of the uterus
- •
- cancer of the ovary
- •
- high blood pressure
- •
- high blood sugar
- •
- gallbladder disease
- •
- liver problems
- •
- changes in your thyroid hormone levels
- •
- enlargements of benign tumors ("fibroids")
Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following warning signs or any other unusual symptoms that concern you:
- •
- new breast lumps
- •
- unusual vaginal bleeding
- •
- changes in vision and speech
- •
- sudden new severe headaches
- •
- severe pains in your chest or legs with or without shortness of breath, weakness and fatigue
- •
- memory loss or confusion
Less serious, but common side effects include:
- •
- headache
- •
- breast pain
- •
- irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting
- •
- stomach or abdominal cramps, bloating
- •
- nausea and vomiting
- •
- hair loss
- •
- fluid retention
- •
- vaginal yeast infection
These are not all the possible side effects of PROVERA with or without estrogen. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for advice about side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have side effect that bothers you or does not go away. You may report side effects to Pfizer at 1-800-438-1985 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What can I do to lower my chances of a serious side effect with PROVERA?
- •
- Talk with your healthcare provider regularly about whether you should continue taking PROVERA. The addition of a progestin is generally recommended for women with a uterus to reduce the chance of getting cancer of the uterus (womb).
- •
- See your healthcare provider right away if you get vaginal bleeding while taking PROVERA.
- •
- Have a pelvic exam, breast exam and mammogram (breast X-ray) every year unless your healthcare provider tells you something else. If members of your family have had breast cancer or if you have ever had breast lumps or an abnormal mammogram, you may need to have breast exams more often.
- •
- If you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol (fat in the blood), diabetes, are overweight, or if you use tobacco, you may have a higher chance of getting heart disease. Ask your healthcare provider for ways to lower your chance of getting heart disease.
General information about safe and effective use of PROVERA
- •
- Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaflets.
- •
- Do not take PROVERA for conditions for which it was not prescribed.
- •
- Do not give PROVERA to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them.
Keep PROVERA out of the reach of children.
This leaflet provides a summary of the most important information about PROVERA. If you would like more information, talk with your health care provider or pharmacist. You can ask for information about PROVERA that is written for health professionals. You can get more information by calling the toll-free number, 1-800-438-1985.
What are the ingredients in PROVERA?
Each PROVERA tablet for oral administration contains 2.5 mg, 5 mg or 10 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate and the following inactive ingredients:
Calcium stearate, corn starch, lactose, mineral oil, sucrose and talc.
The 2.5 mg tablets also contain: FD&C Yellow No. 6.
The 5 mg tablets also contain: FD&C Blue No.2 – Aluminum Lake.
This product's labeling may have been updated. For the most recent prescribing information, please visit www.pfizer.com.
Rx only
LAB-0365-9.0
Revised March 2024
Additional Resources
Chat online with Pfizer Medical Information regarding your inquiry on a Pfizer medicine or vaccine.
Speak with a Pfizer Medical Information Professional regarding your Pfizer medicine or vaccine inquiry.
Available 9AM-5PM ET Monday to Friday; excluding holidays.
Submit a medical question for a Pfizer medicine or a vaccine.
The submission will be reviewed during our standard business hours.
To report an adverse event related to a Pfizer product and you are not part of a clinical trial* for this medication, click the link below to submit your information:
Pfizer Safety Reporting Site
*If you are involved in a clinical trial for either product, adverse events should be reported to your coordinating study site.
If you cannot use the above website to report an adverse event related to a Pfizer medication, please call (800) 438-1985.
You may also contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) directly to report adverse events or product quality concerns either online at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling (800) 332-1088.