The members' enquiry service: frequently asked questions

Pharmacokinetic interactions between depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and combination antiretroviral therapy

“…Thus, it is unlikely that drugs that induce hepatic enzymes would significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of DMPA (12,22,23). Although our values of the clearance were lower than described (23), this could be owing to different assay methodology.…”

“…In a recent report from West Africa, progestin injectables were the contraceptive method used by 65% of 740 HIV-infected women using AZT-3TC-EFV therapy (9). Studies have shown effects on the pharmacokinetic of oral but not IV MPA with aminoglutethimide and other drugs that affect hepatic enzyme activity (10,11), and in clinical practice depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is often given every 10 weeks to women using liver enzyme inducers (12,13).…”

Gender-Specific Challenges in the Management of Epilepsy in Women

“…Some experts have recommended that DepoProvera injections may need to be given at an increased frequency of every 10 weeks versus the usual 12 weeks. 41,42 It should be noted that DepoProvera carries a ''black box'' warning for accelerated loss of bone density, an issue that may be particularly problematic for women taking enzyme-inducing AEDs (see ''Osteoporosis'' section, below). The hormone-secreting intrauterine device (Mirena; Berlex, Montville, NJ) is a highly effective contraceptive not adversely affected by enzyme-inducing AEDs but is the choice of only 2% of U.S. women.…”