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What
your doctor may not tell you about Provera - DANGERS Provera or The Toxic drug according to Dr. Lee According to the Physician’s Desk Reference Why is this drug prescribed? Provera is derived from the female hormones progesterone. You may be give Provera if your menstrual periods have stopped or a female hormones imbalance is causing your uterus to bleed abnormally. Other forms of medroxyprogesterone, such a Depo-Provera, are used as a contraceptive injection and prescribed in the treatment of endometrial cancer. Some doctors prescribe Provera to treat endometriosis, menopausal symptoms, premenstrual tension, sexually aggressive behavior in men, and sleep apnea, (temporary failure to breathe while sleeping). Most important fact about this drug you should never take Provera during the first 4 months of pregnancy. During this formative period, even a few days of treatment with Provera might put your unborn baby at increased risk for birth defects. If you take Provera and later discover that you were pregnant when you took it, discuss this with your doctor right away. How should you take his medication? Provera may be taken with or between meals. Do not change from one brand to another without consulting your doctor pharmacist. Your doctor will probably have you take Provera for 5-10 days and hen stop; you should have your period within 3-7 days after the lst dose. If you are being treated for lack of regular menstrual periods, your doctor may have you start taking Provera at any time. If you are being treated for abnormal uterine bleeding due to a female-hormone imbalance, your doctor will probably have you start taking Provera on day 16-21 of your menstrual cycle (ie 16-21 days after the start of your last period). You should have your period within 3-7 days after the last dose. What side effects may occur? Acne, anaphylaxis (life-threatening allergic reaction), blood clot in a vein lungs, or brain, breakthrough bleeding (between menstrual periods), breast tenderness or sudden or excessive flow of milk, cervical erosion or changes in secretions, depression, excessive growth of hair, fever, fluid retention, hair loss, headache, hives, insomnia, itching, lack of menstruation, menstrual flow changes, spotting, nausea, rash, skin discoloration, sleepiness, weight gain or loss, yellowed eyes and skin. Why should this drug not be prescribed? Do not take Provera if you are sensitive to it or have ever had an allergic reaction to it. If you suspect you may have become pregnant, do not take Provera as a test for pregnancy. Doctors once prescribed Provera for this purpose, but no longer do so for 2 reasons:
Do not take Provera if you have:
Special warnings for this medication Before you start to take Provera, your doctor will give you a complete physical exam, including examination of your breast and pelvic organs. You should also have a cervical smear. (pap test.) Provera may cause some degree of fluid retention. If you have a medical condition that could be made worse by fluid retention - such as epilepsy, migraine, asthma, or a heart of or kidney problem - make sure your doctor knows about it. Provera may mask the onset of menopause. In other words, while taking Provera you may continue to experience regular menstrual bleeding even if your menopause has started. Provera may make you depressed, especially if you have suffered from depression in the past. If you become seriously depressed, tell your doctor; you probably stop taking Provera. It you are diabetic, Provera could make your diabetes worse; your doctor will want to watch you closely while you are taking this drug. There is some concern that Provera, like birth controls pills, may increase your risk of blood clots in a vein. If you experience any symptoms that might suggest the onset of such a condition - pain with swelling, warmth, and redness in a leg vein, coughing or shortness of breath, vision problems, migraine, or weakness or numbness in an arm or leg - see your doctor immediately. Tell your doctor right away if you lose some or all of your vision or your start seeing double. You may have to stop taking the medication. Special Information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding You should not take Provera during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. Provera appears in breast milk. If you are a new mother, you may need to choose between taking Provera and breastfeeding your baby. For more info on natural alternatives to Provera read the first four articles under Progesterone Articles Dr. Lee's Books in the Bookstore |
