Progesterone Side Effects

Brand Names: Prochieve, Crinone, Endometrin, Prometrium

Please note - some side effects for Progesterone may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Progesterone - for the Consumer

Progesterone

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Progesterone:

Bloating; breast tenderness; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; fluid retention; headache; heartburn; irritability; muscle pain; nausea; stomach pain or cramping; tiredness; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); abnormal vaginal bleeding; bulging eyes; coughing up blood; dark urine; double vision; fainting; gallstones; mental or mood changes (eg, depression or worry); migraine; numbness of an arm or leg; pain or lumps in the breast; one-sided weakness; pounding in the chest; seizures or tremors; severe stomach pain; speech problems; stomach pain, swelling, or tenderness; sudden, severe chest pain or numbness; sudden, severe headache; sudden, severe vomiting, dizziness, or fainting; sudden sharp pain or swelling in the calf or leg; sudden shortness of breath; swelling of the ankles or fingers; vision problems or changes (including sudden, partial, or full loss of vision); yellowing of the eyes or skin.

Progesterone Gel

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Progesterone Gel:

Breast enlargement; breast pain; changes in sex drive; constipation; cramps; depression; diarrhea; difficult or painful sexual intercourse; drowsiness; fatigue; fluid retention/bloating; headache; increased appetite; joint pain; nausea; nervousness; pain around vaginal area; sleep disorder; urination at night; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); abnormal vaginal bleeding; breast lumps; calf/leg pain or tenderness; change in emotions, mood, or behavior; chest pain; coughing blood; dizziness; fainting; inflammation of the eye; numbness of arm or leg; one-sided weakness; pain in the groin; partial or complete loss of vision; seizure; stomach pain, swelling, or tenderness; sudden, severe headache, vomiting, dizziness, or fainting; sudden shortness of breath; swelling of hands, ankles, or feet; tremor; unusual vaginal discharge or odor; vaginal itching; visual or speech disturbances; weakness or numbness in an arm or leg; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Progesterone Insert

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Progesterone Insert:

Bloating; breast tenderness; constipation; cramping; drowsiness; fluid retention; headache; nausea; stomach pain; tiredness; vaginal burning or irritation; vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions (eg, rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); abnormal vaginal bleeding; calf or leg pain, swelling, or tenderness; change in emotions, mood, or behavior; chest pain; coughing up blood; fainting; one-sided weakness; pain in the groin; partial or complete loss of vision; stomach pain, swelling, or tenderness; sudden, severe headache, vomiting, dizziness, or fainting; sudden shortness of breath; swelling of hands, ankles, or feet; unusual vaginal itching, discharge, or odor; visual or speech disturbances; weakness or numbness in an arm or leg; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Progesterone Oil

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Progesterone Oil:

Acne; drowsiness; nausea; pain, redness, and swelling at injection site; trouble sleeping; weakness.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, throat, or tongue); breast pain or tenderness; calf or leg pain or swelling; changes in menstrual flow, including breakthrough bleeding, spotting, or missed periods; chest pain; coughing up blood; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; flushing; lumps in the breast; mental or mood changes (eg, anxiety, depression); seizures; severe dizziness or fainting; severe stomach pain; shortness of breath; slurred speech; sudden loss of coordination; sudden or severe headache or vomiting; swelling of fingers or ankles; unusual weight gain or loss; vision problems (eg, double vision, partial or complete loss of vision); weakness, numbness, or pain in the arms or legs; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Progesterone Side Effects - for the Professional

Progesterone

Breakthrough bleeding; spotting; change in menstrual flow; amenorrhea; edema; change in weight (increase or decrease); changes in cervical erosion and cervical secretions; cholestatic jaundice; breast tenderness and galactorrhea; pain, irritation, and/or redness at the injection area; skin sensitivity reactions consisting of urticaria, pruritus, edema and generalized rash; acne, alopecia and hirsutism; rash (allergic) with and without pruritus; anaphylactoid reactions; mental depression; pyrexia; insomnia; nausea; and somnolence.

A statistically significant association has been demonstrated between use of estrogen-progestin combination drugs and pulmonary embolism and cerebral thrombosis and embolism. For this reason patients on progestin therapy should be carefully observed. There is also evidence suggestive of an association with neuro-ocular lesions, e.g., retinal thrombosis and optic neuritis.

The following adverse reactions have been observed in patients receiving estrogen-progestin combination drugs: Rise in blood pressure in susceptible individual, premenstrual syndrome, changes in libido, changes in appetite, cystitis-like syndrome, headache, nervousness, fatigue, backache, hirsutism, loss of scalp hair, erythema multiforme, erythema nodosum, hemorrhagic eruption, itching, and dizziness.

The following laboratory results may be altered by the use of estrogen-progestin combination drugs: increased sulfobromophthalein retention and other hepatic function tests; coagulation tests: increase in prothrombin factors VII, VIII, IX, and X; metyrapone test; pregnanediol determinations; thyroid function: increase in PBI, and butanol extractable protein bound iodine and decrease in T3 uptake values.

Side Effects by Body System

Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects have included breast tenderness (27%), urinary problems (11%), vaginal discharge (10%), vaginal dryness (6%), breast pain (6%), breast carcinoma (2%), breast excisional biopsy (2%), breast enlargement, leukorrhea, uterine fibroid, vaginal dryness, fungal vaginitis, vaginitis, dysuria, cystitis, and urinary tract infection

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included headache (31%), dizziness (15%), confusion, somnolence, asthenia, increased sweating, nervousness, migraine, tremor, and speech disorder. Syncope (with and without hypotension) have been reported.

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have included chest pain (7%), hypertension, angina pectoris, syncope, and palpitations.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have included abdominal pain (20%), bloating (8%), diarrhea (8%), nausea (8%), constipation (3%), dyspepsia, dry mouth, gastroenteritis, hemorrhagic rectum, hiatus hernia, and vomiting. The side effects reported during clinical studies evaluating the use of progesterone gel 8% have included constipation (27%), nausea (22%), and diarrhea (8%).

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects have included joint pain (20%), musculoskeletal pain (12%), back pain (8%), arthritis, leg cramps, hypertonia, muscle disorder, and myalgia.

Psychiatric

Psychiatric side effects have included depression (19%), anxiety, impaired concentration, insomnia, forgetfulness, and personality disorder.

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects have included cough (8%), bronchitis, nasal congestion, pharyngitis, pneumonitis, and sinusitis.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included acne, pruritus, rash, skin discoloration, seborrhea, verruca, and wound debridement during therapy.

Ocular

Ocular side effects have included abnormal vision.

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects including reversible cases of hepatitis, elevated transaminases, and cholecystectomy have been reported.

Other

Other side effects have included viral infection (12%), hot flashes (11%), fatigue (8%), irritability (8%), worry (8%), night sweats (7%), earache, tooth disorder, anorexia, increased appetite, peripheral edema, edema, accidental injury, fever, abscess, lymphadenopathy, and herpes simplex.

Immunologic

Immunologic side effects have included autoimmune dermatitis during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Test results using interferon gamma release in vivo and vitro tests confirmed the diagnosis.

Local

Local side effects have included pain, irritation, and redness at the injection site.

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive and should not be utilized as a reference resource beyond the date hereof. This information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients, or recommend therapy. This drug information is a reference resource designed as supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill , knowledge, and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug of drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Drugs.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.