Uses

Progesterone is a type of female hormone (progestin). This medication is similar to the progesterone that your body naturally makes and is given to replace the hormone when your body is not making enough of it. In women who are not pregnant and not going through menopause, this medication is used to restore normal menstrual periods that have stopped for several months (amenorrhea).

Progesterone is also used as part of combination hormone replacement therapy with estrogens to reduce menopause symptoms (such as hot flashes). Progesterone is added to estrogen replacement therapy to reduce the risk of cancer of the uterus.

This medication is not for use in children.

Progesterone must not be used to test for pregnancy.

Other Uses

This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional.

This drug may also be used to maintain pregnancy.

How To Use

Read the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start using this drug and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth, usually once a day at bedtime or as directed by your doctor. If you have trouble swallowing the pills, take with a full glass of water while standing up. Follow the dosing schedule carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy.

Inform your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.

Side Effects

Nausea, bloating, breast tenderness, headache, change in vaginal discharge, mood swings, blurred vision, dizziness, or drowsiness may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if any of these serious side effects occur:

• unusual vaginal bleeding (such as spotting, breakthrough bleeding)
• mental/mood changes (such as depression, memory loss)
• swelling of the hands/feet
• frequent/burning/painful urination
• breast lumps
• dark patches on the skin or face (melasma)
• yellowing eyes/skin
• stomach/abdominal pain
• persistent nausea/vomiting
• dark urine
• unusual tiredness

This medication may rarely cause very serious (possibly fatal) problems from blood clots (such as heart attack, stroke, blood clots in the lungs or legs, blindness). Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:

• chest/jaw/left arm pain
• weakness on one side of the body
• trouble speaking
• difficulty walking
• sudden vision changes (such as blurred/double vision, loss of vision, bulging eyes)
• confusion
• sudden severe headache
• severe dizziness
• fainting
• trouble breathing
• coughing up blood
• pain/redness/swelling/weakness of the arms/legs
• calf pain/swelling that is warm to the touch

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including:

• rash
• itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
• severe dizziness
• trouble breathing

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Precautions

Before taking progesterone, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients (such as peanut oil), which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have:

• history of blood clots
• history of bleeding in the brain
• liver disease
• cancer of the breast or other female organs
• vaginal bleeding of unknown cause
• a loss of pregnancy with some tissue remaining in the uterus ("missed abortion")
• recent stroke or heart attack (within 1 year)

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:

• family medical history (especially breast lumps and cancer)
• kidney disease
• obesity
• heart disease (such as past heart attacks, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure)
• high blood pressure
• seizures
• migraine headaches
• asthma
• high blood levels of cholesterol/fats
• depression
• diabetes
• strokes
• lupus

This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis).

Notify your doctor beforehand if you will be having surgery or will be confined to a chair/bed for a long time (such as on a long plane flight). You may need to stop the medication for a time or take special precautions because of the increased risk for blood clots. Ask your doctor for more details.

Do not smoke. Smoking combined with this medication further increases your risk for strokes, blood clots, high blood pressure, and heart attacks.

This medication may cause blotchy, dark areas on your face and skin (melasma). Sunlight may worsen this effect. Limit your time in the sun. Avoid tanning booths and sunlamps. Use sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.

This medication may be used during pregnancy only as directed by your doctor. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

This drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Drug Interactions

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.

Some products that may interact with this drug include:

• drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove progesterone from your body (such as rifampin, St. John's wort, azole antifungals including itraconazole, certain anti-seizure medicines including carbamazepine/phenobarbital/phenytoin)

This medication can affect the results of certain lab tests. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this medication.

Overdose

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 9-1-1. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include severe nausea and vomiting.

Notes

Do not share this medication with others.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. You should have a complete physical examination that includes blood pressure measurements and breast/pelvic examinations at regular intervals (such as once a year) or as directed by your doctor. Follow your doctor's instructions on how to examine your own breasts and report any lumps right away. You should also be regularly screened for cervical cancer (for example, by having a Pap test) and have periodic mammograms as determined by your doctor. Consult your doctor for more details.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Storage

Store at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.