Depo-Provera Contraceptive and Pancuronium Bromide

• Generic Name: medroxyprogesterone
• Dosage Forms: injection, suspension
• Other Brand Names: Depo-Provera, Depo-Provera Contraceptive, Depo-subQ provera 104, Provera

Medroxyprogesterone injection is used to prevent pregnancy. It is a birth control method that works by stopping a woman's egg from fully developing each month. The egg can no longer accept a sperm and fertilization is prevented.

No contraceptive method is 100 percent effective. Birth control methods such as having surgery to become sterile or not having sex are more effective than birth control pills. Discuss your options for birth control with your doctor.

This medicine does not prevent AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. It will not help as emergency contraception, such as after unprotected sexual contact.

Medroxyprogesterone injection is also used with other medicines to help relieve symptoms of inoperable, recurrent, and metastatic (cancer that has already spread) endometrial or kidney cancer.

This medicine is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.

• Generic Name: pancuronium
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names:

Production of skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery after general anesthesia has been induced.

Facilitation of endotracheal intubation; however, a neuromuscular blocking agent with a rapid onset of action (e.g., succinylcholine, rocuronium) generally preferred in emergency situations when rapid intubation is required.

Also used to facilitate mechanical ventilation in the ICU; however, manufacturer states insufficient data available to support dosage recommendations for such use. Whenever neuromuscular blocking agents are used in the ICU, consider benefits versus risks of such therapy and assess patients frequently to determine need for continued paralysis. (See Intensive Care Setting under Cautions.)

Compared with other neuromuscular blocking agents, pancuronium has a slow onset and long duration of action; therefore, not appropriate for emergency intubation but may be used for other indications (e.g., mechanical ventilation in the ICU) in which rapid onset and short duration of action are not as important.

Because of prominent vagolytic effects, generally should not be used in patients with preexisting tachycardia or in patients who cannot tolerate an increase in heart rate (e.g., those with cardiovascular disease).