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Prescription medication · Progestogen

medroxyprogesterone

Also sold as Provera, Depo-Provera. This medicine is used to prevent pregnancy in women who are able to have children.

Data updated 2026-05-15

26,589
FDA reports
11
InteractionsSeveral interactions
99% less
Generic vs brandHuge savings
2
Recall records

What the data shows

medroxyprogesterone (Provera) is a prescription Progestogen, with 26,589 FDA adverse-event reports on file, whose generic costs a fraction of the brand (about 99% less).

Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.

medroxyprogesterone (Provera) is a prescription Progestogen. This medicine is used to prevent pregnancy in women who are able to have children.

Medroxyprogesterone acetate injection is a medicine used to prevent pregnancy in women. It is given as a shot every 3 months.

Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →

Drug Pricing (NADAC)

Brand Price

$53.04/unit

Generic Price

$0.13/unit

Generic Savings

99%

Generic Available

Yes (10 manufacturers)

Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →

View Alternatives → Compare with Another Drug →

What it does

This medicine is used to prevent pregnancy in women who are able to have children.

Common side effects

Irregular periods or spotting, No periods, Abdominal pain or discomfort

Key warnings

This medicine can cause you to lose bone mineral density.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from medroxyprogesterone's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

How It Works

This medicine is a progestin, a synthetic form of the natural hormone progesterone. It prevents pregnancy mainly by stopping the release of an egg from your ovary. It also changes the lining of the uterus, making it harder for a fertilized egg to implant.

How to Take It

You will receive a 150 mg injection of this medicine every 3 months (13 weeks). The shot is given into a muscle, either in your buttock or upper arm. Make sure to shake the syringe well before the injection. To prevent pregnancy, get your first shot within the first 5 days of your period.

This is a plain-language summary of medroxyprogesterone's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

You should not use this medicine if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. Small amounts of this medicine can pass into breast milk.

This is a plain-language summary of medroxyprogesterone's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.

Missed Dose

If you miss a scheduled injection, contact your doctor as soon as possible to reschedule. If you are late for your injection by more than 13 weeks, your doctor should make sure you are not pregnant before giving you the injection.

This is a plain-language summary of medroxyprogesterone's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.

Storage

Store at room temperature between 68° to 77°F.

Side Effects (from patient reports)

Based on 26,589 FDA adverse event reports.

Most-reported reactions

Adverse reactions in FAERS for medroxyprogesterone, by number of reports

reports

What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.

Source FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS)

Serious Warnings

This medicine can cause you to lose bone mineral density. The longer you use it, the more bone density you may lose. It is not known if this bone loss can be fully reversed. Using this medicine as a teenager or young adult may reduce your peak bone mass and increase your risk of osteoporosis later in life. Because of this risk, it is not recommended for long-term use (longer than 2 years) unless other birth control options are not adequate.

Known Drug Interactions

major theophylline

albuterol, systemic and inhaled mebendazole amoxicillin medroxyprogesterone ampicillin, with or without sulbactam methylprednisolone atenolol metronidazole azithromycin metoprolol caffeine, dietary ingestion nadolol cefaclor nifedipine co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) nizatidine diltiazem norfloxacin dirithromycin ofloxacin enflurane omeprazole famotidine prednisone, prednisolone felodipine ranitidine finasteride rifabutin hydrocortisone roxithromycin isoflurane Sorbitol (purgative doses do not inhibit theophylline absorption) isoniazid sucralfate isradipine terbutaline,...

Mechanism: Medroxyprogesterone is a hormone that can change the speed at which your liver clears theophylline from your system.

What to do: Your doctor may need to adjust your theophylline dosage when you start or stop taking this hormone medication.

minor estradiol

The following laboratory tests may be affected by progestins including medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension: (a) Plasma and urinary steroid levels are decreased (e.g., progesterone, estradiol, pregnanediol, testosterone, cortisol).

Mechanism: Medroxyprogesterone can lower the amount of estradiol found in your blood and urine.

What to do: Your doctor should keep this in mind when checking your hormone levels or reading lab reports.

minor topiramate

John’s wort topiramate HIV protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors : Significant changes (increase or decrease) in the plasma levels of progestin have been noted in some cases of coadministration of HIV protease inhibitors.

Mechanism: Topiramate can cause the levels of medroxyprogesterone in your blood to change significantly.

What to do: You should use a backup form of birth control to prevent pregnancy while taking these drugs together.

minor progesterone

Counsel patients to use a back-up method or alternative method of contraception when enzyme inducers are used with medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension. The following laboratory tests may be affected by progestins including medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension: (a) Plasma and urinary steroid levels are decreased (e.g., progesterone, estradiol, pregnanediol, testosterone, cortisol). (g) The effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate on lipid metabolism are inconsistent.

Mechanism: Medroxyprogesterone can reduce the levels of progesterone measured in your body.

What to do: Your doctor should be aware of this interaction when testing your hormone levels.

minor testosterone

The following laboratory tests may be affected by progestins including medroxyprogesterone acetate injectable suspension: (a) Plasma and urinary steroid levels are decreased (e.g., progesterone, estradiol, pregnanediol, testosterone, cortisol).

Mechanism: Medroxyprogesterone can lower the amount of testosterone found in your blood and urine.

What to do: Your doctor may need to monitor your hormone levels or adjust your dosage if you take these together.

Check all your medications →

This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.

Common Questions

How often do I get the injection?
You will receive an injection every 3 months (13 weeks).
Where is the injection given?
The injection is given into a muscle in your buttock or upper arm.
What should I do if I miss my injection appointment?
Contact your doctor as soon as possible to reschedule.
Can I use this medicine long-term?
It is not recommended for long-term use (more than 2 years) unless other birth control options are not adequate.
What are the most common side effects?
The most common side effects are irregular periods, weight gain, headache, and dizziness.
Can this medicine affect my bones?
Yes, this medicine can cause bone loss, especially with long-term use.
Is it safe to use while breastfeeding?
Small amounts of the drug can pass into breast milk.
What if I become pregnant while using this medicine?
This medicine should not be used during pregnancy.
Can other medicines affect this injection?
Yes, some medicines can make this injection less effective. Tell your doctor about all medicines you take.
What if I have liver problems?
You should not use this medicine if you have significant liver disease.
What are the common side effects of medroxyprogesterone?
The most commonly reported side effects of medroxyprogesterone include Irregular periods or spotting, No periods, Abdominal pain or discomfort, Weight gain (more than 10 pounds), Dizziness. Based on 26,589 FDA adverse event reports. Always consult your healthcare provider about potential side effects.
Does medroxyprogesterone interact with other medications?
Yes, medroxyprogesterone has 11 known drug interactions. Notable interactions include theophylline, estradiol, topiramate. Always inform your doctor about all medications you are taking.
What drug class is medroxyprogesterone?
medroxyprogesterone belongs to the Progestogen drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). This medicine is used to prevent pregnancy in women who are able to have children.
Is there a generic version of medroxyprogesterone?
Yes, generic medroxyprogesterone is available from 10 manufacturers. The generic costs $0.13 per unit compared to $53.04 for the brand version, saving approximately 99%. Pricing is based on NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) data from CMS.
Is medroxyprogesterone safe during pregnancy?
You should not use this medicine if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. Small amounts of this medicine can pass into breast milk. Always consult your healthcare provider before using any medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Has medroxyprogesterone been recalled?
There are 2 recalls associated with medroxyprogesterone products. Lack of Assurance of Sterility: FDA inspection found the recalled products were produced in a manner than cannot guarantee the sterility of the products purported to be sterile. Check the recalls section below for full details and affected products.

Active Recalls

Class II October 7, 2022

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: FDA inspection found the recalled products were produced in a manner than cannot guarantee the sterility of the products purported to be sterile.

Pharmacy Plus, Inc. dba Vital Care Compounder

Class II May 29, 2013

Lack of Assurance of Sterility: FDA inspection findings resulted in concerns regarding quality control processes

Lowlite Investments, Inc. D/B/A Olympia Pharmacy

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bazedoxifene/conjugated estrogens

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clomiphene

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What the FDA Data Shows for medroxyprogesterone

The FDA label for medroxyprogesterone (sold under brand names such as Provera, Depo-Provera) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Progestogen class. This medicine is used to prevent pregnancy in women who are able to have children. Official labeling lists 8 commonly reported side effects, including Irregular periods or spotting, No periods, Abdominal pain or discomfort.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 26,589 voluntary reports. The database also lists 11 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.13 versus $53.04 for the brand - a 99% generic savings.

Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 2 recall records on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.

Data Sources

Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).

FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.

Last updated: December 14, 2022

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.

All federal data sources used on this page