Progestins For Noncontraceptive Use (Systemic)

Proper Use of This Medicine

To make the use of a progestin as safe and reliable as possible, you should understand how and when to take it and what effects may be expected. Progestins usually come with patient directions. Read them carefully before taking or using this medicine.

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered . To do so may increase the chance of side effects. Try to take the medicine at the same time each day to reduce the possibility of side effects and to allow it to work better.

Progestins are often given together with certain medicines. If you are using a combination of medicines, make sure that you take each one at the proper time and do not mix them. Ask your health care professional to help you plan a way to remember to take your medicines at the right times.

Dosing - The dose of these medicines will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of tablets, injections, or suppositories that you take, receive, or use depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take or use each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take or use the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking progestins .

For hydroxyprogesterone
• For injection dosage form:
  • For controlling unusual and heavy bleeding of the uterus (dysfunctional uterine bleeding) or treating unusual stopping of menstrual periods (amenorrhea):
    • Adults and teenagers - 375 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle as a single dose.
  • For preparing the uterus for the menstrual period:
    • Adults and teenagers - 125 to 250 mg injected into a muscle as a single dose on Day 10 of the menstrual cycle (counting from the first day of the last menstrual cycle). May be repeated every seven days if needed.

For medrogestone
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For preparing the uterus for the menstrual period, controlling unusual and heavy bleeding of the uterus (dysfunctional uterine bleeding), preventing estrogen from thickening the lining of the uterus (endometrial hyperplasia) when taking estrogen for ovarian hormone therapy in postmenopausal women, or treating unusual stopping of menstrual periods (amenorrhea):
    • Adults and teenagers - 5 to 10 milligrams (mg) a day for ten to fourteen days each month as directed by your doctor.

For medroxyprogesterone
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For controlling unusual and heavy bleeding of the uterus (dysfunctional uterine bleeding) or treating unusual stopping of menstrual periods (amenorrhea):
    • Adults and teenagers - 5 to 10 milligrams (mg) a day for five to ten days as directed by your doctor.
  • For preparing the uterus for the menstrual period:
    • Adults and teenagers - 10 mg daily for five or ten days as directed by your doctor.
  • For preventing estrogen from thickening the lining of the uterus (endometrial hyperplasia) when taking estrogen for ovarian hormone therapy in postmenopausal women:
    • Adults - When taking estrogen each day on Days 1 through 25: Oral, 5 to 10 mg of medroxyprogesterone daily for ten to fourteen or more days each month as directed by your doctor. Or, your doctor may want you to take 2.5 or 5 mg a day without stopping. Your doctor will help decide the number of tablets that is best for you and when to take them.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For treating cancer of the kidneys or uterus:
    • Adults and teenagers - At first, 400 to 1000 milligrams (mg) injected into a muscle as a single dose once a week. Then, your doctor may lower your dose to 400 mg or more once a month.

For megestrol
• For oral dosage form (suspension):
  • For treating loss of appetite (anorexia), muscles (cachexia), or weight caused by acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS):
    • Adults and teenagers - 800 milligrams (mg) a day for the first month. Then your doctor may want you to take 400 or 800 mg a day for three more months.
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For treating cancer of the breast:
    • Adults and teenagers - 160 mg a day as a single dose or in divided doses for two or more months.
  • For treating cancer of the uterus:
    • Adults and teenagers - 40 to 320 mg a day for two or more months.
  • For treating loss of appetite (anorexia), muscles (cachexia), or weight caused by cancer:
    • Adults and teenagers - 400 to 800 milligrams (mg) a day.

For norethindrone
• For oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For controlling unusual and heavy bleeding of the uterus (dysfunctional uterine bleeding) or treating unusual stopping of menstrual periods (amenorrhea):
    • Adults and teenagers - 2.5 to 10 milligrams (mg) a day from Day 5 through Day 25 (counting from the first day of the last menstrual cycle). Or, your doctor may want you to take the medicine only for five to ten days as directed.
  • For treating endometriosis:
    • Adults and teenagers - At first, 5 mg a day for two weeks. Then, your doctor may increase your dose slowly up to 15 mg a day for six to nine months. Let your doctor know if your menstrual period starts. Your doctor may want you to take more of the medicine or may want you to stop taking the medicine for a short period of time.

For progesterone
• For oral dosage form (capsules):
  • For preventing estrogen from thickening the lining of the uterus (endometrial hyperplasia) when taking estrogen for ovarian hormone therapy in postmenopausal women:
    • Adults - 200 mg a day at bedtime during the last fourteen days of estrogen treatment each month. Although other schedules are possible, usually treatment begins either on Day 8 through Day 21 of a twenty-eight-day cycle or on Day 12 through Day 25 of a thirty-day cycle. Your doctor may ask you not to take progestins or estrogens for the last five to seven days of each month. Sometimes your doctor may increase your dose to 100 mg in the morning to be taken 2 hours after breakfast and 200 mg to be taken at bedtime.
  • For treating unusual stopping of menstrual periods (amenorrhea):
    • Adults - 400 mg a day in the evening for ten days.
• For vaginal dosage form (gel):
  • For treating unusual stopping of menstrual periods (amenorrhea):
    • Adults and teenagers - 45 mg (one applicatorful of 4% gel) once every other day for up to six doses. Dose may be increased to 90 mg (one applicatorful of 8% gel) once every other day for up to six doses if needed.
  • For use with infertility procedures:
    • Adults and teenagers - 90 mg (one applicatorful of 8% gel) one or two times a day. If pregnancy occurs, treatment can continue for up to ten to twelve weeks.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For controlling unusual and heavy bleeding of the uterus (dysfunctional uterine bleeding) or treating unusual stopping of menstrual periods (amenorrhea):
    • Adults and teenagers - 5 to 10 milligrams (mg) a day injected into a muscle for six to ten days. Or, your doctor may want you to receive 100 or 150 mg injected into a muscle as a single dose. Sometimes your doctor may want you first to take another hormone called estrogen. If your menstrual period starts, your doctor will want you to stop taking the medicine.
• For suppositories dosage form (vaginal):
  • For maintaining a pregnancy (at ovulation and at the beginning of pregnancy):
    • Adults and teenagers - 25 mg to 100 mg (one suppository) inserted into the vagina one or two times a day beginning near the time of ovulation. Your doctor may want you to receive the medicine for up to eleven weeks.

Missed dose - For all progestins, except for progesterone capsules for postmenopausal women: If you miss a dose of this medicine, take the missed dose as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

For progesterone capsules for postmenopausal women: If you miss a dose of 200 mg of progesterone capsules at bedtime, take 100 mg in the morning then go back to your regular dosing schedule. If you take 300 mg of progesterone a day and you miss your morning and evening doses, you should not take the missed dose. Return to your regular dosing schedule.

Storage - To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in any other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Keep the injectable form of this medicine from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.