Medroxyprogesterone (Provera, Depo-Provera): Label
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[Prescription · Compound guide]

Medroxyprogesterone Acetate: tablets, the 3-month shot and half-life

Forms and strengths · Approval status · Half-life ~12 hours (tablets); about 50 days (Depo-Provera shot)

Short answer: Medroxyprogesterone has a half-life of about 12 hours (tablets); about 50 days (Depo-Provera shot). Levels peak about 2 to 3 hours (tablets); about 3 weeks (shot) after a dose. People vary, so treat these as estimates.

What is medroxyprogesterone?

Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) is a progestin, a man-made form of the hormone progesterone. As Provera tablets (Pfizer) it treats missed or abnormal periods and protects the uterine lining in women taking estrogen; as Depo-Provera CI (Pfizer) it is a birth control shot given every 3 months.

Also known as: Provera, Depo-Provera, Depo-Provera CI, MPA.

Forms and strengths

Provera comes as 2.5 mg, 5 mg and 10 mg scored tablets. Depo-Provera CI is 150 mg/mL in a 1 mL vial or prefilled syringe, injected deep into the buttock or upper arm muscle by a healthcare professional.

Approval status and how it is used

The Provera label approves the tablets for periods that have stopped (secondary amenorrhea) and abnormal uterine bleeding from hormone imbalance, and to lower the risk of uterine lining overgrowth in women after menopause taking daily conjugated estrogens 0.625 mg. Label dosing is 5 or 10 mg a day for 5 to 10 days for missed periods, or 5 or 10 mg a day for 12 to 14 days a month with estrogen. Its boxed warning is titled "Cardiovascular disorders, breast cancer and probable dementia for estrogen plus progestin therapy", from the Women's Health Initiative.

The Depo-Provera CI label approves the shot to prevent pregnancy: 150 mg every 3 months (13 weeks), first given in the first 5 days of a normal period or within 5 days after birth. If more than 13 weeks pass, pregnancy is ruled out first. Its boxed warning is titled "Loss of bone mineral density": bone loss grows with use and may not fully reverse, so it is not recommended for longer than 2 years unless other methods are inadequate. Other warnings include blood clots, meningioma, ectopic pregnancy and bleeding changes; at 12 months, 55% had no periods. Full numbers are on the Provera side effects, Provera dosing schedule, Depo-Provera side effects, Depo-Provera dosing schedule, late Depo-Provera shot and Depo-Provera storage pages, and Depo-Provera vs Provera compares the two forms.

Medroxyprogesterone half-life and time to peak

  • Half-lifeabout 12 hours (tablets); about 50 days (Depo-Provera shot)
  • Time to peak (Tmax)about 2 to 3 hours (tablets); about 3 weeks (shot)

The Provera label gives a time to peak of about 2.2 to 2.7 hours and a half-life of about 12 hours after a single 20 mg dose (16.6 hours after 7 days of 10 mg). The Depo-Provera CI label says levels rise for about 3 weeks after a 150 mg shot to peak at 1 to 7 ng/mL, with an apparent half-life of about 50 days. The slow release from the muscle, not the tablet half-life, is why one shot lasts 3 months.

Numbers shown are taken from the source above. Half-life varies from person to person.

How to track medroxyprogesterone in Dose Track

  1. Add medroxyprogesterone as a custom compound. Start typing its name and Dose Track fills in the details from its research library for you to check, and it sits next to everything else you take.
  2. Log each tablet or shot when you take it, so your history shows your cycle days or the date of every 13-week injection.
  3. Set reminders on your own schedule, whether that is daily, weekly or every few days.
  4. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

How Dose Track handles peptides · Reconstitution calculator · Half-life calculator

Progesterone (oral)Prometrium Conjugated EstrogensPremarin, Prempro (with medroxyprogesterone) · half-life about 26.7 hours (total estrone, 0.625 mg; 14.8 hours baseline-adjusted) Estradiol (oral tablets)Estrace, estradiol tablets

Frequently asked questions

What is the half-life of medroxyprogesterone?+
The Provera label gives a time to peak of about 2.2 to 2.7 hours and a half-life of about 12 hours after a single 20 mg dose (16.6 hours after 7 days of 10 mg). The Depo-Provera CI label says levels rise for about 3 weeks after a 150 mg shot to peak at 1 to 7 ng/mL, with an apparent half-life of about 50 days. The slow release from the muscle, not the tablet half-life, is why one shot lasts 3 months.
Are Provera and Depo-Provera the same drug?+
Yes, both are medroxyprogesterone acetate. Provera is a tablet for period problems and for use with estrogen; Depo-Provera CI is a 150 mg shot every 3 months for birth control.
Why is Depo-Provera limited to 2 years?+
Its boxed warning says it can cause significant bone loss that may not fully reverse, so the label does not recommend it as long-term (over 2 years) birth control unless other methods are inadequate.
Can I track medroxyprogesterone in Dose Track?+
Yes. Medroxyprogesterone is in Dose Track's research library, so when you add it as a custom compound its details are filled in for you to check. You can then log each dose next to your other compounds, set reminders on your own schedule, and see your history next to your lab results. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

Sources

  1. Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) tablets prescribing information (Pfizer): boxed warning, indications, contraindications, warnings, clinical pharmacology and dosage. DailyMed, June 2026.
  2. Depo-Provera CI (medroxyprogesterone acetate) injectable suspension prescribing information (Pfizer), boxed warning and sections 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 12.3. DailyMed, August 2026.

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