DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
Prevention of Pregnancy
Both the 1 mL vial and the 1 mL prefilled syringe of Depo-Provera CI should be vigorously shaken just before use to ensure that the dose being administered represents a uniform suspension.
The recommended dose is 150 mg of Depo-Provera CI every 3 months (13 weeks) administered by deep IM injection in the gluteal or deltoid muscle. Depo-Provera CI should not be used as a long-term birth control method (i.e. longer than 2 years) unless other birth control methods are considered inadequate. Dosage does not need to be adjusted for body weight [See
Clinical Studies
].
To ensure the patient is not pregnant at the time of the first injection, the first injection should be given ONLY during the first 5 days of a normal menstrual period; ONLY within the first 5-days postpartum if not breast-feeding; and if exclusively breast-feeding, ONLY at the sixth postpartum week. If the time interval between injections is greater than 13 weeks, the physician should determine that the patient is not pregnant before administering the drug. The efficacy of Depo-Provera CI depends on adherence to the dosage schedule of administration.
Switching from other Methods of Contraception
When switching from other contraceptive methods, Depo-Provera CI should be given in a manner that ensures continuous contraceptive coverage based upon the mechanism of action of both methods, (e.g., patients switching from oral contraceptives should have their first injection of Depo-Provera CI on the day after the last active tablet or at the latest, on the day following the final inactive tablet).
DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS
Sterile Aqueous suspension: 150mg/ml
Prefilled syringes are available packaged with 22-gauge × 1 1/2 inch Terumo® SurGuard™ Needles.
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