Depo-Medrone 40mg/1ml suspension for injection vials

Depo-Medrone is a corticosteroid. Depo-Medrone works by preventing or reducing inflammation. It is used to treat a number of conditions that are characterised by excessive inflammation.

Depo-Medrone suppresses the immune system and so can be used to treat autoimmune diseases.

People who take corticosteroids for a long period of time are prone to infections as their immune system can become weak. These infections may be much more severe than they usually would be and the symptoms that would usually be used to identify such infections can be hidden. For this reason people who take Depo-Medrone must be careful to avoid exposure to infections such as chickenpox and measles whenever possible. If you have been exposed to chickenpox or measles, you must get immediate medical advice.

Depo-Medrone is an injection that is usually given by a healthcare professional.

Other information about Depo-Medrone:

Depo-Medrone is usually given to you by a healthcare professional. The person responsible for giving you your medicine will make sure that you get the right dose.

If you feel that the medicine is making you unwell or you do not think it is working, then talk to your prescriber or someone involved in your medical care.

The person with responsibility for giving you your medicine will make sure that you have your medicine at the prescribed times.

This medicine will be given to you as an injection. If you have any concerns about this medicine or how this will be given to you, talk to someone who is involved in your medical care.

Having extra doses of some medicines can be harmful. In some cases even one extra dose can cause you problems.

In the case of Depo-Medrone, the person who is responsible for giving you your medicine will make sure that you are given the correct dose.

Some people experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop having this medicine. The person in charge of your medical care will decide when to stop giving you this medicine and how best to minimise any withdrawal symptoms.

If you have any concerns about this, talk to someone who is involved in your care.

As Depo-Medrone will be given to you as an injection, it will usually be stored by the medical team.

Depo-Medrone is not suitable for everyone and some people should never use it. Other people should only use it with special care. It is important that the person prescribing this medicine knows your full medical history.

Your prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all if you:

Furthermore the prescriber may only prescribe this medicine with special care or may not prescribe it at all for a child.

As part of the process of assessing suitability to take this medicine a prescriber may also arrange tests:

Over time it is possible that Depo-Medrone can become unsuitable for some people, or they may become unsuitable for it. If at any time it appears that Depo-Medrone has become unsuitable, it is important that the prescriber is contacted immediately.

A medicine is only made available to the public if the clinical trials have shown that the benefits of taking the medicine outweigh the risks.

Once a medicine has been licensed, information on the medicine's effects, both intended and unintended, is continuously recorded and updated.

Some side-effects may be serious while others may only be a mild inconvenience.

Everyone's reaction to a medicine is different. It is difficult to predict which side-effects you will have from taking a particular medicine, or whether you will have any side-effects at all. The important thing is to tell your prescriber or pharmacist if you are having problems with your medicine.

The frequency of these side-effects is unknown:

• abnormal laboratory test results
• abscess
• acne
• adrenal problems
• allergic reactions
• amenorrhoea
• appetite gain
• blindness - this is only known to occur when a lesion of the face or the head is injected with Depo-Medrone
• blood problems
• bone fractures
• bone problems
• bowel problems
• bruising
• Charcots or Charcot-like arthropathy
• Cushing's syndrome or cushing-like symptoms
• diabetes
• eye or eyesight problems
• hair overgrowth
• healing problems
• heart problems
• hiding symptoms of infection
• hypersensitivity reactions such as anaphylaxis
• increased risk of getting infections which may become severe - some of these, such as chickenpox and measles, may be fatal
• indigestion
• injection site problems
• irregular menstrual periods
• joint problems after injection. These include a flare reaction and an increased risk of getting joint infection. These may lead to: temporary worsening of joint pain, swelling or joint movement problems immediately after injection, fever or general feeling of being unwell
• may affect the results for certain tests
• metabolic problems
• methylprednisolone acetate dependence
• muscle problems
• muscle weakness
• nausea
• oesophageal ulcers
• osteoporosis
• pancreatitis
• peptic ulcers
• petechiae
• psychiatric or psychological problems such as; feeling irritable; euphoria; depression; mood swings; thoughts of committing suicide; psychotic reactions; mania; delusions; hallucination; worsening of schizophrenia; behavioural disturbances; feeling anxious; sleep disturbances; memory problems; or confusion. Seek medical advice if you develop any of these symptoms. Psychiatric or psychological problems may also occur when stopping Depo-Medrone
• raised blood pressure
• raised intracranial pressure in children
• reactivation of tuberculosis
• reduced carbohydrate tolerance with an increased requirement for antidiabetic therapy
• reduced growth
• seizures
• skin colour changes
• skin problems
• stomach problems
• striae
• telangiectasia
• tendon rupture
• thinning of the skin
• thromboembolism
• vertigo
• water retention
• weight gain
• withdrawal symptoms can occur when this medicine is stopped. These include fever, muscle pain, joint pain, rhinitis, conjunctivitis weight loss or painful, itchy skin. If the dose of Depo-Medrone is reduced too rapidly serious problems can occur including adrenal problems, lowered blood pressure or death
• worsening of eye infections

If you feel unwell or if you have concerns about a side-effect, you will need to seek advice. If you feel very ill, get medical help straight away. Contact your prescriber, pharmacist, nurse or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

If you are taking more than one medicine they may interact with each other. At times your prescriber may decide to use medicines that interact, in other cases this may not be appropriate.

The decision to use medicines that interact depends on your specific circumstances. Your prescriber may decide to use medicines that interact, if it is believed that the benefits of taking the medicines together outweigh the risks. In such cases, it may be necessary to alter your dose or monitor you more closely.

Tell your prescriber the names of all the medicines that you are taking so that they can consider all possible interactions. This includes all the medicines which have been prescribed by your GP, hospital doctor, dentist, nurse, health visitor, midwife or pharmacist. You must also tell your prescriber about medicines which you have bought over the counter without prescriptions.

The following medicines may interact with Depo-Medrone:

The following types of medicine may interact with Depo-Medrone:

If you are taking Depo-Medrone and one of the above medicines or types of medicines, make sure your prescriber knows about it.

Medicines can interact with complementary preparations and vitamins. In general, there is not much information available about interactions between medicines and complementary preparations or vitamins.

If you are planning to take or are already taking any complementary preparations and vitamins you should ask your prescriber whether there are any known interactions with Depo-Medrone.

Your prescriber can advise whether it is appropriate for you to take combinations that are known to interact. They can also discuss with you the possible effect that the complementary preparations and vitamins may have on your condition.

If you experience any unusual effects while taking this medicine in combination with complementary preparations and vitamins, you should tell your prescriber.

When taking any medicine you should be aware that it might interfere with your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.

Like all medicines Depo-Medrone can cause side effects. You should see how this medicine affects you and then judge if you are safe to drive or operate machinery. If you are in any doubt, talk to your prescriber.

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your prescriber may advise you to avoid certain foods.

In the case of Depo-Medrone:

Alcohol can interact with certain medicines.

In the case of Depo-Medrone:

Most medicines, in some way, can affect the development of a baby in the womb. The effect on the baby differs between medicines and also depends on the stage of pregnancy that you have reached when you take the medicine.

In the case of Depo-Medrone:

You need to discuss your specific circumstances with your doctor to weigh up the overall risks and benefits of taking this medicine. You and your doctor can make a decision about whether you are going to take this medicine during pregnancy.

If the decision is that you should not have Depo-Medrone, then you should discuss whether there is an alternative medicine that you could take during pregnancy.

Certain medicines can pass into breast milk and may reach your baby through breast-feeding.

In the case of Depo-Medrone:

Before you have your baby you should discuss breast-feeding with your doctor or midwife. They will help you decide what is best for you and your baby based on the benefits and risks associated with this medicine. You should only breast-feed your baby while taking this medicine on the advice of your doctor or midwife.

Medicines contain active ingredients. They may also contain other, additional ingredients that help ensure the stability, safety and effectiveness of the medicine. Some may be used to prolong the life of the medicine.

Depo-Medrone contains:

If you are not able to take any of the ingredients in your medicine, talk to your prescriber or pharmacist to see if they can suggest an alternative medicine. If you have reacted badly to Depo-Medrone before, do not take Depo-Medrone. Talk to your prescriber, pharmacist or nurse as soon as possible.