DrugLib.com — Drug Information Portal

Rx drug information, pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, news, and more

Depo-Provera (Medroxyprogesterone) - Reviews, Ratings, Comments by Patients

 
 



Share your experience: submit a drug review

Below are Depo-Provera (Medroxyprogesterone) reviews, ratings, comments submitted by patients and caregivers. Based on a total of 13 ratings/reviews, Depo-Provera has an overall score of 5.31. The effectiveness score is 9.69 and the side effect score is 5.38. The scores are on ten point scale: 10 - best, 1 - worst. This information is not vetted and should not be cosidered as clinical evidence.
 

Depo-Provera review by 28 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Birth Control
Dosage & duration:   150mg/ml taken every 10-13 weeks for the period of for 9 years
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   OTC pain relievers
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I was taking this drug as birth control, and it has been extremely effective. (No children, yet!) The fact that you only need to take it four times a year is great, so it is difficult to miss a dose. (Unlike the pill, which you take everyday, and missing it even once alters it's effectiveness.) As an added bonus, I no longer have my period, which were extremely painful and disrupted my life for a whole week every month. I no longer suffer from PMS symptoms, either. I can not complain about this drug at all.
Side effects:   I have not experienced any side effects from this medication. Losing my period was an anticipated side effect, and although many feel that this is too much for them and discontinue use of this drug, it is a good side effect for me. Also there are studies that show bone mineral density is affected by this drug, but I have undergone a bone density scan, with normal results. This is great, considering I have been on Depo for nine years now, since I turned nineteen and for most of my twenties.
Comments:   This drug is administered into a muscle by injection four times a year, by a physician. The shot is given every ten to thirteen weeks. Besides being used as birth control, it is also used to treat other conditions.

 

Depo-Provera review by 29 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Birth Control
Dosage & duration:   150 mg taken (1) injection every 90 days for the period of Over 12 years total/break after 1st five
Other conditions:   none when first starting depo
Other drugs taken:   none when first starting depo
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   The main benefits were absolutely no pregnancy and no menstrual cycles.
Side effects:   The main side effects, which I noticed more predominately in the later stage of treatment was the contast hunger and weight gain as the result, moderate acne, and depression (I am still being treated for depression so this may not be due to depo, but it is actually one of the side effects).
Comments:   I started depo-provera when I was 15 years old and continued treatment for five years and then stopped treatment at the suggestion of my doctor to take a break from it. During the first ive years on depo, I had no adverse effects I maintained a constant weight of 112-1/2 pounds throughout the entire five years. I started depo again at the age of 23 and was fine and maintained a constant weight until they switched me to the generic version at the age of 27 from that point on I struggled with constant hunger rapid weight gain and struggling to keep it under control, acne is another of the side effects I experienced after the switch to generic and depression. The depression could be the result of fluxuating weight and acne or heredity. I stopped depo treatment and switched to the copper IUD in November of 2007 and since then the constant hunger has stopped, I have already lost 10 pounds without really trying and the acne is beginning to decrease. I still am receiving treatment for depression at the moment. Hopefully, this will help you in your birth control decision.

 

Depo-Provera review by 42 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   contraception
Dosage & duration:   1 shot every three months (dosage frequency: 8 times) for the period of 2 years
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   It was 100% effectiv as contraception, the mayor benefit is not having to rememeber to take the pill every day and that it has only one form of hormon, which is important for woman over 35, especially smokers.
Side effects:   The side effects were like a prevision of menopause - huge weight gain (20 pounds), incredible mood swings and severe bloating. My overall feeling was quite depressed and it took me a while to figure out that it had to do with the drug, not with what was going on in my personal life. I also thought that the weight gain was partially retlated to quiting smking.
Comments:   One shot in the upper arm every three months, that's it!

 

Depo-Provera review by 20 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Extremely Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Contraception
Dosage & duration:   1 shot every 3 months (dosage frequency: 1 shot every 3 months) for the period of 3 months
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I did not get pregnant while on the depo shot... but then again my sex life was shot due to the constant bleeding.
Side effects:   Side effects were horrific. I gained weight, developed horrible acne, and i was severely depressed the entire time. When choosing the depo shot i was excited to not have to worry about taking the pill, lightening or stopping my periods, and the guaruntee of contraception. Boy was i wrong. All of the previous side effects were bad enough, but after the first month on the shot, i continued to have my period for nearly 2 months straight. for some reason my period never stopped. The worst part about this contraceptive is that once you take the shot, there is no going back. I highly recommend a different birth control. I am now on the nuvaring and so far i am pleased with the results. Mild nausea at night the first week but that is my only complaint. Much better choice if you are looking to avoid pills. :)
Comments:   I recieved the shot at family planning about 3 years ago. Please do yourself a favor and look to other options before choosing this drug. My experience was the hardest 3 months of my life both emotionally and physically.

 

Depo-Provera review by 21 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   birth control
Dosage & duration:   shot once every 3 months (dosage frequency: 3 shots/ 9 months) for the period of 3 shots/ 9 months
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   did not get pregnant
Side effects:   HUGE weight gain of 20 pounds, moody, loss of sexual desire, periods that lasted two weeks, tons of breakthrough bleeding. On top of all that I had tons of body issues due to the weight gain. 20 pounds is very noticeable on my 120 pound frame! I would not recommend this to anyone!
Comments:   get the shot every 3 months

 

Depo-Provera review by 24 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Birth Control
Dosage & duration:   One injection (dosage frequency: every 3 months) for the period of 6 months
Other conditions:   None
Other drugs taken:   None
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Birth Control
Side effects:   Massive weight gain, 22kgs (?48pounds) in the first 3months. Massive mood changes, bacame very depressed (weight gain didnt help that one) Was emotional about the smallest things. Anxiety attacks. Angry over small things. Nightmares and sleep walking and talking ? if these are side effect of that drug but there was a definate increase in both (esp sleep talking) when i was on the drug. Increased appitite (the weight didnt come from nowhere) was warned about pos weight gain but was told that if you controlled your eating youd be fine but my hunger was crazy i would eat a main meal and 1/2 hour later be starving like i hadnt eaten all day. I found it really hard to control my intake due to my excessive hunger. I also had heavy spotting the whole time i was on it and for about 5 months after i stopped the injections. I guess it was a very effective birth control as i had become depressed, overweight, had my period the whole time and was more interested in food than sex. Over all was not worth taking it, i actually regret taking it, was devestating for a 18year old at the time to go through. I also found it very hard to loose the weight during or afterwards, continued to gain weight for 6months after the last injection before any changes occured despite exercise and diet changes.
Comments:   Birth control, 2x doses over 6months before i decided to stop treatment.

 

Depo-Provera review by 29 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Considerably Effective
Side effects:   Extremely Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   contraception pill
Dosage & duration:   1 injection every 3 months (dosage frequency: as above) for the period of 6 months
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   prevented pregnancy as it is a form of contraceptive but unfortunately it takes away your libido and sex drive
Side effects:   weight gain:25kg in 3 weeks,never recovered my original weight and it has been 9 years now.it blocks your sex drive not to say it cuts it off completely,depression
Comments:   one injection and my life turned to hell as started to bloat like a milking cow,lost self esteem and fiance,lost friends,lost will to live,no sex drive,no self love

 

Depo-Provera review by 49 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   pregnancy prevention
Dosage & duration:   150 ml IM injecton (dosage frequency: every 3 months) for the period of 18 yeas
Other conditions:   smoker
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   No pregnancy,no periods for 18 years, no menopause, estrogen production stopped, convenience
Side effects:   prolonged but very minimal menopausal symptoms....joint pain, headaches, vaginal dryness. no significant weight gain, no significant rise in cholesterol levels or blood pressure
Comments:   IM injection once every 3 months. Prescribed at the age of 30 because of being a smoker and should not use the oral birth control. Zinged through menopause and didn't even know it. After 18 years, stopped injections and did not re-start menstrual flow at all. It's been over 1.5 years since last injection and no side effects or withdrawal symptoms.

 

Depo-Provera review by 20 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   preventing pregnancy
Dosage & duration:   one shot (dosage frequency: once every three months) for the period of one year
Other conditions:   N/A
Other drugs taken:   None
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   In one year, I only had two periods. My periods before Depo were 2-3 days and very light, on Depo they were longer and heavier. It is so convenient not having to remember to take a pill everyday at the same day. It was also 100% effective with preventing pregnancy for me.
Side effects:   The first side effect I noticed was my complete lack of sex drive. After this came the ridiculous mood swings that caused fights with my boyfriend over nothing. I would just cry for no reason at all and I felt like I was going insane. Breast tenderness was also becoming an annoyance because it would last for months. While these side effects were severe to me, the worst is the huge concave I now have in my thigh. While I had a total of four injections, only one caused a huge dimple. It's really embarassing and extremely noticable and I'm not sure why it happened. The doctor said it has happened to a few other patients including discoloration of the injection site. This is when I got off Depo and switched to Seasonique... Hopefully, this will work out better.
Comments:   If you don't like receiving shots, this is definitely not the right method. It is a pretty large injection. However, you only have to endure it four times a month and it's not painful.

 

Depo-Provera review by 25 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   birth control
Dosage & duration:   1 shot per 3 months (dosage frequency: every three months) for the period of one year
Other conditions:   Depression, anxiety
Other drugs taken:   celexa
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   It effectively prevented a pregnancy. And periods stopped immediately with rare and light spotting.
Side effects:   I had a few side effects. I got bad acne (which I haven't had since I was a teenager), and hair loss. I had lost 40 lbs before I began taking the shot. After my second shot I started gaining weight. I didn't change my eating habits in any negative way, and ended up gaining 20 lbs!
Comments:   I received the shot once every three months for a total of a year. The side effects outweigh the benefits in my opinion. I don't plan on taking this drug in the future, or recommending it to anybody else. I am definitely doing more research before I take another birth control again.

 

Depo-Provera review by 18 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   birth control
Dosage & duration:   1 shot (dosage frequency: once every 4 mnths) for the period of currently
Other conditions:   N/a
Other drugs taken:   n/a
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   it's admittedly very good at preventing pregnancy... because well...it kinda stops the urge to have it.
Side effects:   constant back and stomach cramps,breakthrough bleeding(really often),it made my interest in sex really really low because I developed dyspareunia(painful intercourse) and it made me avoid sex which made me considerably depressed..and depression may or may not be a side effect..but it definitely was a thing.
Comments:   one shot every 4 months,it's fairly painless... it's a great form of contraceptive. because it basically makes you abstinent..the side effects just aren't worth it.

 

Depo-Provera review by 33 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Severe PMS and Menstrual Pain
Dosage & duration:   standard 3 mo. injection (dosage frequency: every 3 months) for the period of 8 years
Other conditions:   None
Other drugs taken:   None
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   No more painful debilitating monthly cycles, complete with life destroying rollercoaster like mood swings. Seems to work great for people with these particular problems (my sister has amenorrhea and had a horrible reaction, the never ending monthly cycle). For me it’s life altering. I actually kept a job for 8 years instead of two months. I can not imaging my life without taking the depot injection. I only wish I could learn more about why this balance of hormones actually helped with what seemed to be a debilitating mental disorder, and could slight alterations help with my depression (which I had well before I ever took this drug)
Side effects:   I do not experience any side effects while on the depot, but if I do not take it on time, I have some mild side effects untill I recieve my injection. I took the generic form for 6 months but noticed some undesireable changes to my mood (more anxious and irritable). Despite the more favorable price I will never take the generic again.
Comments:   One injection every three month. Yearly exam and occasional bone density test. I eat or supplement approximately 1,800 I.U. vitamin D and 1,500 mg calcium. Weight training at least 3x a week.

 

Depo-Provera review by 26 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Hormonal imbalances and pregnancy prevention
Dosage & duration:   1 shot every 3 months (dosage frequency: every 3 months, administered by a nurse) for the period of 3 years
Other conditions:   None
Other drugs taken:   None
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   After the first two shots I had no more periods until after being off Depo Provera for nearly 3 months. Also I didn't get pregnant, which was the goal. Before getting on birth control I had been a very moody person, fighting often with people who were important to me and whom I really didn't want to fight. On the shot I still had mood swings but they were not nearly as strong.
Side effects:   After getting off the shot it took nearly 2 years to get pregnant with our second child; however that was to be expected as it took over a year to get pregnant with my first (Depo was my first experience with birth control). There was mild weight gain, once I started dieting and exercising I was able to deal with it though. Some mild acne but nothing anyone besides me ever noticed.
Comments:   I'd visit the doctor's office once a month. At my original clinic, I would simply walk in and a nurse would inject me; after we moved to another state I learned I would have to wait 1.5-2 hours for a doctor to see and inject me, even with an appointment it could take a while. Once I had received it though I was good to go for 3 more months.
 


Share your experience: submit a drug review

-- advertisement -- The American Red Cross
 
Home | About Us | Contact Us | Site usage policy | Privacy policy

All Rights reserved - Copyright DrugLib.com, 2006-2017