Generic Cycrin (Medroxyprogesterone)

General information

The active substance of Cycrin is Medroxyprogesterone. This is a synthetic female sex hormone which has progestogenic, antigonadotropic and antiandrogenic properties. Medroxyprogesterone is an analogues of progestogen sex hormone. If a woman has progesterone hormone levels constantly low, this leads to serious diseases.

Progesterone is produced in a woman’s body in the second phase of the menstrual cycle. That is, it is a hormone of the second phase of the cycle. It prepares woman's uterus and ovaries for menstruation. Therefore, drugs containing Medroxyprogesterone are “delayers” of the beginning of menstruation. The concentration of the hormone in the blood of a woman depends on the period of the woman’s menstrual cycle (the levels of the hormone increase about ten times before ovulation).

The concentration of progesterone also depends on the presence of pregnancy. This allows the egg to attach to the uterine wall and supports pregnancy. Progesterone levels plummet before childbirth. Lack of this hormone is one of the common causes of miscarriages. Progesterone is vital for the human body. At the same time, hormone levels should not deviate from certain levels. A person must do a blood test to determine the progesterone levels. A woman should undergo a blood test at a certain point of the menstrual cycle. It is recommended to do this on day 22 of the cycle. However, this is relevant only for those women whose menstrual cycle is stable. A blood test for an unstable cycle should be taken several times (a week after the beginning of menstruation, then on day 14 and on day 20 of the cycle). It is necessary to determine the dynamics of changes in the level of progesterone in the blood.

Precautions

The following are the indications for drug administration:

• amenorrhea (absence of menstruation for six months or more);
• dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation);
• mastodynia, mastopathy;
• uterine myoma;
• endometriosis;
• endometrial hyperplasia;
• delactation and Prevention of breastfeeding;
• low progesterone levels;
• premenstrual syndrome.

Cycrin – Medroxyprogesterone shows its effectiveness from the first days of therapy.

Medroxyprogesterone Dosage

Treatment with this drug should be initiated strictly according to the recommendations of the attending physician. The dosage of the medicine is individual for each woman. In addition, the dosage of the medicine depends on the diagnosis of the patient. The dosage can vary from 2.5 to 15 mg of active substance per day. Most often, it is 5 mg. The dosage during the treatment of endometriosis should be increased gradually starting with 2.5 mg. The dosage should be increased to 15 mg per day within 2 weeks.

How to take Medroxyprogesterone?

This medicine must be taken strictly in accordance with medical prescription. It is also important to follow the recommendations outlined below:

• have a close look at in the description of the medicine;
• take the medicine at the same time (or times) of day;
• the patient should take medicine with food if the medicine causes a stomach upset;
• the patient should not miss the next dose of the medicine. It is best to consult a doctor for further instructions if the patient misses an intake of the medicine.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

This medicine is contraindicated for use in pregnant women and women preparing for pregnancy. Lactation and breastfeeding should be suspended if the woman needs to take the medicine.

Important Information

The patient must stop smoking cigarettes while taking the medicine. Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of very serious side-effects from the heart and blood. This risk is substantially higher for women over 35 years old. The risk also increases in proportion to the increase in the number of cigarettes smoked by the patient.

A woman needs to get a full medical examination before using the medicine. She must notify her attending physician about all of her diseases and medicines that she takes. The drug has a long list of contraindications.

Contraindications

The drug is contraindicated in patients suffering from the following diseases:

• hypersensitivity;
• cancer of the mammary glands and genitals;
• thrombophilic syndrome (including severe varicose veins of the lower legs and hemorrhoidal veins, cholecystitis, hepatitis, abnormal liver function, functional family hyperbilirubinemia (Rotor syndrome, Dubin-Johnson syndrome))
• liver tumor;
• pruritus;
• herpes;
• severe renal impairment;
• cardiovascular pathology;
• bronchial asthma;
• epilepsy;
• adolescence;
• pregnancy.

Medroxyprogesterone Side-effects

Prolonged use of the medicine may cause the following side effects:

• nervousness, headache, migraine and drowsiness;
• thrombosis, thrombophlebitis;
• abdominal pain, diarrhea, jaundice;
• itch, chloasma;
• painful menstruation, excessive menstrual bleeding, vaginal bleeding, vaginitis, endometrial polyps, endometriosis, mastodynia, benign breast tumors;
• arthralgia, edema;
• tachycardia, increased blood pressure, asthenia;
• increased appetite,
• increased cholesterol levels;
• paresthesia, tremor;
• acne, cystitis, hematuria;
• hyperhidrosis;
• increased risk of ovarian and breast cancer.

Overdose

Overdose of the medicine is rare. Theoretically, overdose can cause the following symptoms:

• headache;
• vaginal bleeding (in young women).

Symptomatic therapy is carried out in case of overdose. Consult physician and discontinue the medicine or reduce the dosage if necessary.

Interactions

Simultaneous use of Cycrin (Medroxyprogesterone) with hypoglycemic drugs and oral anticoagulants can be dangerous. It can also be dangerous during glycocorticoid therapy.

It is not recommended to combine the medicine with barbiturates, phenytoin, rifampicin, cimetidine and other drugs that affect microsomal oxidation in the liver. A woman should always inform her doctor about all the drugs she takes temporarily or permanently.

Alcohol interaction

The active substance of the medicine (Medroxyprogesterone) does not interact with ethyl alcohol. However, it has a negative effect on the liver. Therefore, the medicine is not prescribed to patients with hepatitis, even if the disease is completely cured.

The load on the liver increases several times if the patient drinks alcohol during the medicine treatment. The liver is not able to produce enough enzymes that break down alcohol. As a result, intoxication comes faster and liver function can seriously deteriorate. Liver problems adversely affect the work of all human organs and systems. Therefore, women should not drink alcohol while on Cycrin therapy.

Medroxyprogesterone Reviews

Doctor’s reviews

Dr. R. Williams (gynecologist): This drug is a good choice for treating many gynecological diseases in women. However, it must be prescribed with great care. It is very important to make sure that the woman has no contraindications to medication intake. Hormonal drugs have a strong effect on the human body. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the entire patient's history and prescribe medical tests. In addition, a woman must strictly follow the doctor's instructions. Hormone therapy requires a multidimensional approach and careful monitoring of the patient's condition.

Reviews by Patients

Anna-Maria: I was disturbed by extremely heavy menstruation after childbirth. Examination (intravaginal ultrasound) showed the presence of a polyp in the uterine cavity and a change in endometrium like endometriosis. Gynecologist prescribed me the medicine “Cycrin”. I had to take a course on certain cycle days for three months. I took 2 pills a day (regardless of the meal) and tried to take it at the same time of the day. I have been using the drug for 2 months.

The advantages are:

• the drug is inexpensive and is sold in almost any pharmacy;
• the drug does not cause nausea, vomiting and stomach pain;
• menstruation became less excessive after the first month of intake and they became completely painless;
• my body stopped swelling before menstruation.

I want to draw your attention to the fact that the drug causes a very strong appetite. I also notice that the drug significantly increases irritability and emotionality. Even a minor event or word can cause anger.

My summary: This is a serious drug. It is a hormonelike strong medicine. Cycrin (Medroxyprogesterone) must be taken only as prescribed by a doctor. At the same time, it is necessary to strictly follow all the doctor's prescriptions, dosage, days of administration, number of days of administration and time of day.

Candy: My attending medical doctor diagnosed me with endometriosis last September. I was tested for hormones. The doctor prescribed this drug to me. I took the medicine according to the scheme. I did not miss the medication time and kept the dosage. I began to feel quite severe abdominal pain after 3 weeks after starting the treatment. I immediately consulted a gynecologist. The specialist told me to take the medicine with food. However, nothing has changed. In addition, I had to stop taking this medicine. I am taking another drug now. It is also hormonal but does not cause abdominal pain. I really hope to undergo a full course of treatment and get rid of endometriosis.

Natti: I strongly advise you to get a medical examination before using Cycrin – Medroxyprogesterone. My gynecologist prescribed this drug to me because I have pains. However, I started having side effects. Мy blood pressure rose after 2 weeks of taking the medicine. I did not think it was significant in any way. However, my condition began to deteriorate with every day. One day I had to seek emergency medical care because the pressure did not return to normal. It turned out that such a condition causes the admission of this medicine. I underwent a medical examination. It turned out that I have a heart disease about which I was not aware. Of course, I immediately stopped taking this medicine. My blood pressure returned to normal. I still feel severe pain during menstruation. I am sure you need to get a full medical examination before taking hormonal medicines. You may not be aware of health problems that may worsen during the treatment. Be attentive and consult only good experts.