 Progesterone (brand names Progest, Prometrium) is a drug that can be used to treat infertility. Infertility is described as the inability to conceive a baby within one year of trying. Progesterone is a hormone that causes menstrual periods in women who have not yet reached menopause but are not having periods due to a lack of natural progesterone in the body. It can also be used to maintain a pregnancy in women unable to produce enough progesterone within their bodies to keep their pregnancy going. Other uses of progesterone include prevention of endometrial hyperplasia (thickening of the uterus lining), treatment of endometriosis and associated pain, help in treatment of certain cancers, treatment of severe weight loss in people with AIDS, and prevention of pregnancy in very low doses. Drugs that may interact with progesterone include the following: amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone); antifungals such as fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox), and ketoconazole (Nizoral); cimetidine (Tagamet); clarithromycin (Biaxin); cyclosporine (Neoral, Samdimmune); danazol (Danocrine); delaviridine (Rescriptor); diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac); erythromycin (E.E.S, E-Mycin, Erythrocin); fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem); fluvoxamine (Luvox); HIV protease inhibitors such as indinavir (Crixivan), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Fortovase); isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid); lansoprazole (Prevacid, Prevpac); metronidazole (Flagyl); nefazodone (Serzone); omeprazole (Prilosec); oral contraceptives (birth control pills); ticlopidine (Ticlid); troleandomycin (TAO); verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan); and zafirlukast (Accolate). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Be sure to tell your doctor if you take St. John's Wort or drink grapefruit juice. It is always important to let your doctor know about any prescription, over-the-counter or herbal medications you are currently taking. If you are having difficulty becoming pregnant, be sure to talk to your doctor about what the best treatment is for you. Sources:
Drug Facts and Comparisons. Facts & Comparisons, 2007.Drugs and Supplements, "Progestins-For noncontraceptive Use (Systemic)." http://mayoclinic.com. Mayo Clinic Health. Last accessed 2/14/2007.
Medline Plus. Medline, 2007.Micromedex® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2007.
This answer prepared 2/14/2007.
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