INN monograph
Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class) · POM
Verified · Updated 01 Aug 2026 · Source: Local active-ingredient clinical extract; Professional class pharmacology (Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class))
Kenya market
Wholesale / list prices where loaded
Risk first
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to the active substance or excipients.
- Additional absolute contraindications are indication- and product-specific — consult SmPC.
Precautions
- Obtain allergy and medication history.
- Adjust for renal/hepatic impairment, pregnancy, lactation, extremes of age and interacting drugs.
- Use the lowest effective dose for the shortest appropriate duration.
- Monitor for expected class adverse effects.
Point of care
Dosing
Adult
Tablets: Secondary amenorrhea: abnormal uterine bleeding due to hormonal imbalance in the absence of organic pathology, such as fibroids or uterine cancer: 5-10mg daily from 16th-21st day of the cycle for 5-10 days. Endometriosis: 10mg TID from day one of the cycle for 90 days. Primary and secondary amenorrhoea: 5-10mg daily for 10 days. Menopause: 10mg-20mg daily continuously. Hormone replacement therapy with oestrogen: 5-10mg daily from 16th - 21st day of estrogen therapy. Sterile Aqueous Suspension: Adjunctive therapy and palliative treatment of inoperable, recurrent, and metastatic endometrial or renal carcinoma. Contraceptive Injection: Medroxyprogesterone acetate contraceptive injection is indicated only for the prevention of pregnancy. It is administered at 3-month [13-week] intervals -150mg.
Paediatric
See label paediatric section if present; otherwise use paediatric formulary — do not extrapolate adult doses.
Renal
Review renal impairment dosing; many agents need CrCl/eGFR adjustment.
- CrCl 0–120: Confirm renal dosing in product SmPC / primary label.
Hepatic
Review hepatic impairment dosing; monitor LFTs if agent is hepatically cleared or hepatotoxic.
Safety
Drug interactions
- Professional use: confirm indication, dose, duration, monitoring and patient counselling points against current Kenya STG / EML and the product SmPC.
- Document allergy status and key interactions.
Safety
Adverse effects
- Hypersensitivity reactions
- changes in libido
- GI disturbances
- weight gain
- breakthrough bleeding
- breast changes
- mental depression
- and fluid retention.
Use
Indications
- Secondary amenorrhea, abnormal uterine bleeding due to hormonal imbalance in the absence of organic pathology such as fibroids or uterine cancer, endometriosis primary and secondary amenorrhea, menopause and hormone replacement therapy with oestrogen.
- 150mg injection used as progesterone-only contraceptive
Pharmacology
Mode of action
Progesterone or its derivatives Mechanism is agent-specific.
Full mechanism text
Progesterone or its derivatives Mechanism is agent-specific. At receptor, enzyme, ion channel, transporter or microbial target level, the drug alters a physiological or pathological pathway to produce its therapeutic effect. Confirm precise molecular mechanism in current SmPC / pharmacology reference for this INN before high-stakes decisions.
ADME
Pharmacokinetics & PD
| Onset | Product-specific |
|---|---|
| Duration | Product-specific |
| Route | See product SmPC |
| Elimination | are product-specific. Consider food effects, protein binding, hepatic CYP/UGT |
| Half-life | when adjusting for organ impairment, age and drug interactions. Verify parameters in the current SmPC. |
Full PK/PD text
Absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion are product-specific. Consider food effects, protein binding, hepatic CYP/UGT metabolism, renal clearance and half-life when adjusting for organ impairment, age and drug interactions. Verify parameters in the current SmPC.
Kenya
Brands & prices
| Brand | Company | Pack | KES |
|---|---|---|---|
| DB 5 | Unicure Remedies PVT Ltd. | Standard Commercial Pack | — |
Special populations
Pregnancy & lactation
Pregnancy
Use only if potential benefit justifies potential risk; prefer agents with better reproductive data when alternatives exist.
Lactation
Assess infant risk vs benefit of maternal therapy; prefer agents with lactation data.
Diet
Food & alcohol
- Food
- Food
Trust
Sources & disclaimer
Source: Local active-ingredient clinical extract; Professional class pharmacology (Therapeutic agent (verify pharmacological class))
Last reviewed: 01 Aug 2026
Decision support only — not a substitute for clinical judgment, product SmPC, or Kenya STG/EML.