I had a patient once who had an anaphyllactic reaction to depo-provera, and
she had to stay in the intensive care unit for several weeks, as her
symptoms would come up spontaneously at irregular times, related to the
body's local release of medicine. Unfortunately, she had a small reaction
the last time she got it, and she never told us that the previous reaction
had happened. She thought it was related to something she ate, so she never
thought to mention it. I believe the reaction is due to the diluent, most
commonly. Anyway, it is really important to ask the patient about previous
reactions. By the way, this is why bicillin CR (the long acting penicillin)
has fallen out of favor by many physicians, like myself. Once the
penicillin is in the system, that person is doomed for awhile if a reaction
occurs. I am sure in some populations it must be used, but one should be
selective. Before depoprovera became available for contraception, I was
taught in my residency to avoid depomeds of any sort because of risk of
reaction that would be sustained-Anne Eglash MD