Proluton Depot 500mg/2ml (Hydroxyprogesterone)

Proluton Depot general information

What is Proluton Depot used for?

Proluton Depot injection 500mg is used to treat habitual and threatened abortion to help prevent preterm delivery in women who have had a premature baby in the past.  Proluton Depot injection should not be used for women carrying more than one baby or to prevent premature labour that has already begun.  Preterm delivery is often the result of insufficient progesterone production by the body to maintain the pregnancy, due to a disruption on the normal hormonal cycle known as a luteal phase defect.  Proluton Depot injection 500mg helps correct this imbalance and reduces the risk of miscarriage.  Adding a progestogen with an oestrogen is thought to help the feminisation process for male to female transsexuals by suppressing endogenous testosterone production.  Proluton Depot injection 500mg can be used as a component of transgender hormone therapy, to help stimulate breast development and reduce the production of testosterone.

How does Proluton Depot work?

Proluton Depot injection contains hydroxyprogesterone (500mg), a synthetic derivative of natural progesterone and works in a similar way but is more potent and long-acting when injected.  Progesterone is a hormone that is involved in regulating the normal menstrual cycle and is naturally produced by the ovaries during the second phase or luteal phase of the cycle.  It acts on the endometrium (lining of the uterus) converting the proliferating phase to the secretory phase to prepare the uterus for a pregnancy.  This causes the endometrium, which has thickened in response to oestrogen during the first half of the cycle, to stop growing and start secreting hormones and other proteins needed to maintain a pregnancy, if conception occurs; if not, levels of oestrogen and progesterone fall and the endometrium is shed (menstruation).  Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum in the ovary for the first few weeks of pregnancy (8-12 weeks) and once the fertilised egg has successfully implanted into the endometrium, progesterone is produced by the developing placenta to continue the pregnancy.  Proluton Depot injection 500mg helps maintain progesterone at levels that are sufficient to maintain a pregnancy and reduce risk of miscarriage or preterm delivery.

What does Proluton Depot contain?

Proluton Depot injection 500mg contains the active ingredient hydroxyprogesterone caproate, a long-acting synthetic progestogen, used to help prevent preterm delivery.  It also contains castor oil and benzyl benzoate.

Treating preterm delivery with Proluton Depot

Proluton Depot injection 500mg contains hydroxyprogesterone, a synthetic derivative of the female sex hormone progesterone, which works in a similar way as natural progesterone.  Proluton Depot injection 500mg is used to help prevent preterm delivery, which is often the result of insufficient progesterone production by the body to maintain the pregnancy, due to a disruption on the normal hormonal cycle known as a luteal phase defect.  Proluton Depot injection helps correct this imbalance and reduce the risk of miscarriage.  Progesterone is a hormone that is involved in regulating the normal menstrual cycle and is naturally produced by the ovaries during the second phase or luteal phase of the cycle.  It acts on the endometrium (lining of the uterus) converting the proliferating phase to the secretory phase to prepare the uterus for a pregnancy.  This causes the endometrium, which has thickened in response to oestrogen during the first half of the cycle, to stop growing and start secreting hormones and other proteins needed to maintain a pregnancy.  Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum in the ovary for the first few weeks of pregnancy (8-12 weeks) and once the fertilised egg has successfully implanted into the endometrium, progesterone is produced by the developing placenta to continue the pregnancy.  Proluton Depot injection helps maintain progesterone at levels that are sufficient to maintain a pregnancy and reduce risk of miscarriage or preterm delivery.

Proluton Depot for transgender treatment

Proluton Depot injection 500mg contains hydroxyprogesterone, a synthetic derivative of the female sex hormone progesterone, which works in a similar way.  Adding a progestin with an oestrogen is thought to help the feminisation process for male to female transsexuals and Proluton Depot injections can be used as a component of transgender hormone therapy, to help stimulate the development of female sexual characteristics, such as breast development, and reduce the production of testosterone. 

What are the side effects of Proluton Depot?

The most commonly reported side effects when using Proluton Depot injection 500mg include: irritation at the injection site, like pain, swelling, itching, bruising or lump formation; skin rash and itch; nausea and diarrhea.  More severe side effects include jaundice.  

When should Proluton Depot not be used?

You should not use Proluton Depot injection 500mg if you:

• are allergic to hydroxyprogesterone or any ingredients in Proluton Depot
• have a past or family history of carcinoma of the breast, endometrial carcinoma
• a history of thrombosis (blood clots) or stroke
• abnormal genital bleeding of unknown cause
• Cholestatic jaundice of pregnancy
• liver disease or liver tumours
• are using antidiabetics without discussion with your doctor, as Proluton Depot may interact with these medicines and require dose change of the antidiabetic  

How should Proluton Depot be given?

Before Proluton Depot injection 500mg is given the vial should be thoroughly shaken.  Using the syringe provided, the contents of the vial should be injected intramuscularly (into the muscle of buttocks or upper arm).  For habitual abortion weekly injections should be given through the first weeks of pregnancy and then for as long as recommended by your doctor, which may be throughout the pregnancy.  For threatened miscarriage, you should be given an injection twice or three times per week until bleeding ceases.  You should continue to receive a dose of Proluton Depot injection for as long as recommended by your doctor.

How long should you take Proluton Depot?

You should continue to receive a dose of Proluton Depot injection 500mg for as long as recommended by your doctor.

Missed dose of Proluton Depot

If you miss a dose of Proluton Depot contact your doctor.  

How should Proluton Depot be stored?

You should store your Proluton Depot below 25°C in a cool dry place.