Prometrium
progesterone
Pharmacologic class: Progestin
Therapeutic class: Hormone
Pregnancy risk category B (oral), D (injection),NR (vaginal)
FDA Box Warning
• Estrogen plus progestin therapy shouldn't be used for prevention of cardiovascular disease or dementia.
• The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) estrogen plus progestin substudy reported increased risk of stroke, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and myocardial infarction in postmenopausal women (ages 50 to 79) during 5.6 years of treatment with daily oral conjugated estrogens (0.625 mg) combined with medroxyprogesterone acetate (2.5 mg) relative to placebo.
• The substudy also demonstrated increased risk of invasive breast cancer.
• The WHI Memory Study estrogen plus progestin ancillary study of the WHI reported increased risk of dementia in postmenopausal women ages 65 and older.
Action
Suppresses ovulation by altering the vaginal epithelium, relaxing uterine smooth muscle, and promoting mammary tissue growth. Also inhibits pituitary activity and causes withdrawal bleeding in presence of estrogen.
Availability
Injection (in sesame or peanut oil with benzyl alcohol): 50 mg/ml in 10-ml vials
Micronized capsules (oral) in peanut oil: 100 mg, 200 mg
Micronized vaginal gel: 4%, 8%
Indications and dosages
➣ Secondary amenorrhea
Adults: 400 mg/day P.O. in evening for 10 days, or 5 to 10 mg/day I.M. for 6 to 8 days, given 8 to 10 days before expected menstrual period. Or 45 mg (one applicatorful of 4% gel) vaginally once every other day for up to six doses; may increase to 90 mg (one applicatorful of 8% gel) once every other day for up to six doses.
➣ Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
Adults: 5 to 10 mg I.M. daily for 6 days
➣ To prevent postmenopausal estrogen-induced endometrial hyperplasia
Adults: 200 mg/day P.O. at bedtime for 14 days on days 8 to 21 of 28-day cycle or on days 12 to 25 of 30-day cycle. If patient currently receives estrogen 1.25 mg/day, 300 mg progesterone in two divided doses (100 mg 2 hours after breakfast and 200 mg at bedtime); further adjustment may be required.
➣ Corpus luteum insufficiency; assisted reproduction technology
Adults: For luteal-phase support, 90 mg (one applicatorful of 8% gel) vaginally once daily. For in vitro fertilization, 90 mg (one applicatorful of 8% gel) vaginally once daily, starting within 24 hours of embryo transfer and continued through day 30 after transfer; if pregnancy occurs, treatment may continue for up to 12 weeks. For partial or complete ovarian failure, 90 mg (one applicatorful of 8% gel) vaginally b.i.d. while patient undergoes donor oocyte transfer; if pregnancy occurs, treatment may last up to 12 weeks.
Contraindications
• Hypersensitivity to drug, peanuts (injection, micronized capsules), or sesame (injection)
• Thromboembolic disease
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Severe hepatic disease
• Porphyria
• Breast or reproductive system cancer
• Missed abortion
• Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding
• Diagnosis of pregnancy
Precautions
Use cautiously in:
• renal or cardiovascular disease, seizure disorders, fluid retention, diabetes mellitus, asthma, migraine, depression
• history of hepatic disease
• breastfeeding patients.
Administration
• Before first dose, make sure patient has read package insert regarding adverse effects. Reinforce written information with oral review.
See Before first I.M. dose, ask if patient has allergy to peanuts or sesame. Before giving micronized capsules, ask about peanut allergy.
• Inject I.M. dose deep into muscle. Rotate injection sites.
Adverse reactions
CNS: depression, emotional lability, cerebrovascular accident
CV: thrombophlebitis, thromboembolism
EENT: retinal thrombosis
GI: abdominal cramps
GU: amenorrhea, breakthrough bleeding, spotting, cervical erosions, breast tenderness, menstrual flow changes, galactorrhea
Hepatic: hepatitis
Respiratory: pulmonary embolism
Skin: melasma, rash, angioedema
Other: gingival bleeding, weight gain or loss, hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis
Interactions
Drug-drug. Conjugated estrogens: increased levels of both drugs
Drug-diagnostic tests. Alkaline phosphatase, amino acids, low-density lipoproteins: increased levels
Chloride and sodium excretion: reduced (with high doses)
High-density lipoproteins: decreased level
Pregnanediol excretion: reduced
Thyroid function tests: altered results
Drug-herbs. Red clover: interference with drug effects
Drug-behaviors. Smoking: increased risk of thromboembolic effects
Patient monitoring
See Watch for evidence of thromboembolic disorders, including cerebrovascular accident, pulmonary embolism, diplopia, proptosis, or sudden partial or complete vision loss (may signal retinal thrombosis). If these occur, discontinue drug and notify prescriber immediately.
See Assess for emotional lability and depression.
Patient teaching
See Teach patient to recognize and immediately report signs and symptoms of thromboembolic disorders.
See Instruct patient and significant other to stay alert for and immediately report depression.
• Advise patient to monitor weight regularly and report significant changes.
• Tell female patient that drug may cause menstrual abnormalities.
• Advise female patient to discuss breastfeeding with prescriber before taking drug.
See Instruct patient to immediately report possible pregnancy.
• Tell patient that smoking increases thromboembolism risk. Encourage her to stop smoking if she smokes.
• As appropriate, review all other significant and life-threatening adverse reactions and interactions, especially those related to the drugs, tests, herbs, and behaviors mentioned above.
progesterone
(proe-jess-te-rone) progesterone,Crinone
(trade name),Endometrin
(trade name),Prochieve
(trade name),Prometrium
(trade name)Classification
Therapeutic: hormonesPharmacologic: progestins
Indications
Action
- Secretory changes in the endometrium,
- Increase in basal body temperature,
- Histologic changes in vaginal epithelium,
- Relaxation of uterine smooth muscle,
- Mammary alveolar tissue growth,
- Pituitary inhibition,
- Withdrawal bleeding in the presence of estrogen.
Therapeutic effects
Pharmacokinetics
Time/action profile (blood levels)
ROUTE | ONSET | PEAK | DURATION |
---|---|---|---|
PO | unknown | 2–4 hr | unknown |
Vaginal | unknown | 34.8–55 hr | unknown |
IM | unknown | 19.6–28 hr | unknown |
Contraindications/Precautions
Adverse Reactions/Side Effects
Central nervous system
- depression
Ear, Eye, Nose, Throat
- retinal thrombosis
Cardiovascular
- pulmonary embolism (life-threatening)
- thromboembolism (life-threatening)
- thrombophlebitis
Gastrointestinal
- gingival bleeding
- hepatitis
Genitourinary
- cervical erosions
Dermatologic
- chloasma
- melasma
- rashes
Endocrinologic
- amenorrhea
- breakthrough bleeding
- breast tenderness
- changes in menstrual flow
- galactorrhea
- spotting
Fluid and Electrolyte
- edema
Local
- irritation or pain at IM injection site
Miscellaneous
- allergic reactions including anaphylaxis and angioedema (life-threatening)
- weight gain
- weight loss
Interactions
Drug-Drug interaction
May ↓ effectiveness of bromocriptine when used concurrently for galactorrhea and amenorrhea.Route/Dosage
Availability (generic available)
Nursing implications
Nursing assessment
- BP be monitored periodically during therapy.
- Monitor intake and output ratios and weekly weight. Report significant discrepancies or steady weight gain.
- Amenorrhea: Assess patient’s usual menstrual history. Administration of drug usually begins 8–10 days before anticipated menstruation. Withdrawal bleeding usually occurs 48–72 hr after course of therapy. Therapy should be discontinued if menses occur during injection series.
- Dysfunctional Bleeding: Monitor pattern and amount of vaginal bleeding (pad count). Bleeding should end by 6th day of therapy. Therapy should be discontinued if menses occur during injection series.
- Lab Test Considerations: Monitor hepatic function before and periodically during therapy.
- May cause ↑ plasma amino acid and alkaline phosphatase levels.
- May ↓ pregnanediol excretion concentrations.
- May cause ↑ serum concentrations of LDL and ↓ concentrations of HDL.
- High doses may ↑ sodium and chloride excretion.
- May alter thyroid function test results.
Potential Nursing Diagnoses
Sexual dysfunction (Indications)Implementation
- Intramuscular: Shake vial before preparing IM dose. Administer deep IM. Rotate sites.
- Vaginal: Vaginal gel and insert are administered with disposable applicator provided by manufacturer.
- If dose increase is required from 4% gel to 8% gel, doubling the volume of the 4% gel will not accomplish dose increase; changing to 8% gel is required.
Patient/Family Teaching
- Advise patient to report signs and symptoms of fluid retention (swelling of ankles and feet, weight gain), thromboembolic disorders (pain, swelling, tenderness in extremities, headache, chest pain, blurred vision), mental depression, or hepatic dysfunction (yellowed skin or eyes, pruritus, dark urine, light-colored stools) to health care professional.
- Instruct patient to notify health care professional if change in vaginal bleeding pattern or spotting occurs.
- Instruct patient to stop taking medication and notify health care professional if pregnancy is suspected.
- Caution patient to use sunscreen and protective clothing to prevent photosensitivity reactions.
- Advise patient to notify health care professional of medication regimen before treatment or surgery.
- Emphasize the importance of routine follow-up physical exams, including BP; breast, abdomen, and pelvic examinations; and Pap smears.
- Vaginal: Instruct patient not to use vaginal gel concurrently with other vaginal agents. If these agents must be used concurrently, administer at least 6 hr before or after vaginal gel. Small, white globules may appear as a vaginal discharge possibly due to gel accumulation, even several days after use.
Evaluation/Desired Outcomes
- Development of normal cyclic menses.
- Successful outcome in assisted reproduction.