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daisy j · Aug 24, 2007, 11:09 PM

Is it true that everybody on the depo gains weight or does it depend on your body and how your body reacts to it?

cpalmist · Aug 25, 2007, 12:18 AM

The weight gain and other steroid weirdness is due to long-term use of steroids - like Prednisone for liver or arthritis or a number of other problems that can be helped by a major anti-inflammatory drug.
A Depo-provera shot is just a fast-acting steroid shot and may or may not be used in conjunction with several days treatment with oral steroids. The Depo shot will not typically make you gain weight. z-paks ( a 7-day supply of oral steroids will make you feel very hungry due to the increased metabolism and I suspect for most people, eating something helps ease the edginess that the steroids make you feel. Long term steroids will certainly make you feel like eating whether you are hungry or not.

So, bottom-line, take your Depo-provera shot, be thankful it exists, and luxuriate in the fast acting healing properties it provides to your bod to get over some illness/disease.

J_9 · Aug 25, 2007, 10:10 AM

Depo-Provera is classed as an Antineoplastic, hormone, contraceptive. It is a progesterone derivative.

It prevents follicular maturation and ovulation. It also stimulates growth of the mammary tissue (breast tissue).

The side effects are many, but I will mention a few. Dizziness, headache, migraines, depression, fatigue, thromboembolism, stroke, pulmonary embolism, MI (heart attack), nausea, cramps, increased weight, breakthrough bleeding, dysmenorrhea (absence of periods), spontaneous abortion. I could go on, but I think that is enough for now.

So, to answer the question of the OP...

No, not everyone gains weight on Depo. It is all very different for every woman. If you notice a weight gain of over 5 pounds in one week it is necessary to contact your doctor.

My Source was 2007 Mosby's Nursing Drug Reference, page 636

maddy1 · Sep 2, 2007, 03:21 PM

I was on depo for years, and only gained what I think I would have anyway. Maybe 5lbs. In 5 years, I guess that was getting older, slowing down. Without knowing more stats, and only from talking with other women on it, it seemed to me most of who gained sig. weight had somewhat struggled with their weight previous to using it. My personal experience was great, but from them, I was in the minority.