DEPO-SUBQ PROVERA SIDE EFFECTS

SIDE EFFECTS

The following important adverse reactions are described in more detail in other sections of the prescribing information:

• Loss of bone mineral density.
• Arterial and venous thromboembolic disorders.
• Anaphylaxis.
• Fluid retention.
• Delayed return of ovulation or fertility.
• Depression.
• Injection site reactions.
• Bleeding irregularities.

Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

The data described below reflect exposure to depo-subQ provera 104 in five clinical trials involving 2325 women including 2043 women who received treatment for contraception (1780 treated up to 1 year and 263 treated for up to 2 years) and 282 women for endometriosis for up to 6 months. In these pooled trials, 9% of women discontinued treatment due to an adverse reaction and the most common reason for discontinuation was dysfunctional uterine bleeding (3%).

Adverse Reactions In The Contraception Adult Studies

Table 1 presents frequently reported adverse reactions (>1%) in the contraception pooled studies. In these studies, the most frequently reported adverse reactions (>5%) were dysfunctional uterine bleeding (e.g., irregular, increased, decreased, or spotting), headache, increased weight, amenorrhea, and injection site reactions (e.g., pain/tenderness, nodule/lump, persistent atrophy/indentation/dimpling or lipodystrophy).

The frequency reported is based on the all-causality incidence in the pooled results of the three contraception studies. Closely related “Adverse Reaction” terms were grouped but individual patients reporting two or more grouped events were only counted once.

Table 1: Frequently Reported Adverse Reactions in the Contraception Studies (>1%)

Weight Gain

In three large clinical trials, the mean weight gain in depo-subQ provera 104 treated patients was 3.5 lb (1.6 kg) in the first year of use. Half (50%) of women remained within 4.9 lb (2.2 kg) of their initial body weight; 12% of women lost more than 4.9 lb (2.2 kg), and 38% of women gained more than 5.1 lb (2.3 kg). In a small, 2-year study comparing depo-subQ provera 104 to DMPA-IM, the mean weight gain observed for women using depo-subQ provera 104 [7.5 lb (3.4 kg)] was similar to the mean weight gain for women using DMPA-IM [7.7 lb (3.5 kg)].

Other Adverse Reactions Observed In Contraception Clinical Trials With depo-subQ provera 104

Other adverse reactions occurring at an incidence of <1% in women who received depo-subQ provera 104 were as follows:

• Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (including cysts and polyps): breast lump
• Blood and lymphatic system disorders: anemia
• Immune system disorders: drug hypersensitivity
• Metabolism and nutrition disorders: weight decreased, fluid retention
• Nervous system disorders: facial palsy, syncope, paresthesia, somnolence
• Cardiac disorders: tachycardia
• Vascular disorders: hot flushes
• Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: asthma, dyspnea
• Gastrointestinal disorders: diarrhea, abdominal distension
• Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: urticaria, pruritus, dry skin
• Reproductive system and breast disorders: dysmenorrhea, galactorrhea, dyspareunia
• General disorders and administration site conditions: chest pain

Adverse Reactions In The Endometriosis Adult Studies

The safety profile of depo-subQ provera 104 in endometriosis clinical trials was similar to the safety profile of depo-subQ provera 104 in the contraception studies with the exception of the following adverse reactions which were more frequently reported in patients with endometriosis: abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and back pain.

In endometriosis studies, subjects recorded daily the occurrence and severity of hot flushes. Of the depo-subQ provera 104 users, 29% reported experiencing moderate or severe hot flushes at baseline, 36% at Month 3, and 27% at Month 6. Of the leuprolide users, 33% reported experiencing moderate or severe hot flushes at baseline, 74% at Month 3, and 69% at Month 6.

Adverse Reactions In The Adolescent Contraception Study

Depo-sub-Q provera 104 and DMPA-IM clinical trials reported similar safety profiles in adult study populations (see Table 1 above). Accordingly, a similar safety profile is expected for adolescents receiving depo-subQ provera 104 as for adolescents receiving DMPA-IM.

The safety profile of DMPA-IM for prevention of pregnancy in adolescents was observed to be generally similar to the safety profile of adult women using DMPA-IM for prevention of pregnancy, with the exception of the following adverse reactions which were reported more frequently by adolescents: abdominal pain, diarrhea, back pain, weight increased, depression, headache, and dysmenorrhea.

Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of DMPA-IM. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure:

• Immune system disorders: anaphylactic reaction, anaphylactoid reaction, angioedema
• Vascular disorders: pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, thrombophlebitis
• Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: osteoporosis (including osteoporotic fractures)
• Reproductive system and breast disorders: prolonged anovulation, unexpected pregnancy, uterine hyperplasia
• Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: hoarseness
• Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: increased body odor
• Gastrointestinal disorders: gastrointestinal disturbances
• General disorders and administration site conditions: axillary swelling, chills, thirst