OB Medication Sheet

Medications: Postpartum

Classification, Action, & Use

Dose & Route

Side Effects & Adverse Reactions

Contraindications & Precautions

Nursing Considerations & Patient Teaching

DepoProvera

Progestin contraceptives. Provides highly effective birth control for three months when administered every 3 months.

IM injection of  150 mg

Menstrual irregularities, headache, weight gain, breast tenderness, depression, severe chest pain, leg pain, abdominal pain. Return of fertility may be delayed for  an average of nine months.

Do not use if pregnant and caution with  breastfeeding. Undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding; history of or current thrombophlebitis thrombophlebitis or  venous thromboembolic disorders (including DVT, PE); active or  recent (within 1 year) arterial thromboembolic disease (eg, stroke, MI); carcinoma of the breast; estrogen-dependent tumor; hepatic dysfunction or disease;  pregnancy

 Nurse makes sure sure that patient has chosen the best method of contraception. Provide accurate accurate information in a non judgmental way, focus on open discussion, provide written handout identifying the warning signs and the actions a women should take. Teach to get injection every 3 months. Depo does not protect against STD’s - need to use a barrier method for STD protection. Prolonged use may result in the loss of bone mineral density (BMD). The warning specifically applies to the use of  medroxyprogesterone medroxyprogesterone contraceptive injection. Bone density loss is related to the duration of use, and may not be completely reversible on discontinuation of the drug. The impact on peak   bone mass in adolescents, adolescents, as well well as the loss of  BMD which accompanies pregnancy and lactation, should be considered in treatment decisions. Longterm use (ie, >2 years) should be limited to situations where other birth control methods are inadequate.