Short answer: The Depo-Provera CI label has one rule for a late shot, in section 2.1: if the time between injections is greater than 13 weeks, the physician should determine that the patient is not pregnant before giving the drug. The dose is 150 mg every 3 months (13 weeks), and the label says its effectiveness depends on keeping to that schedule.
| Situation | What the label says |
|---|---|
| Schedule | 150 mg every 3 months (13 weeks), deep injection into the buttock or upper arm muscle (2.1) |
| More than 13 weeks since the last shot | The physician should determine that the patient is not pregnant before giving it (2.1) |
| Effectiveness | Depends on adherence to the dosing schedule (2.1) |
| First shot | Only in the first 5 days of a normal period or the first 5 days after giving birth; during or after week 6 after birth if exclusively breastfeeding (2.1) |
| Who gives it | A healthcare professional (Patient Information) |
Section 2.1: "If the time interval between injections is greater than 13 weeks, the physician should determine that the patient is not pregnant before administering the drug. The efficacy of Depo-Provera CI depends on adherence to the dosage schedule of administration."
The Patient Information says the shot is given 1 time every 3 months, and that at the end of the 3 months you return to your healthcare professional for your next injection to continue your protection against pregnancy.
Only for drug interactions. Section 17 and the Patient Information mention a back-up or other method of birth control when medicines that may make Depo-Provera CI less effective (enzyme inducers) are taken. The label does not give a back-up rule for a late shot; ask your healthcare professional.
Section 2.1 says the first injection is given only during the first 5 days of a normal menstrual period or within the first 5 days after giving birth, and during or after the sixth week after birth in mothers who exclusively breastfeed. The Patient Information adds that it may be given at other times, but a pregnancy test will likely be needed first.
This page summarizes FDA labeling. It is not personalized medical advice; confirm what to do with your prescriber or pharmacist.