- Clinical trials for Depo began in 1967 in Atlanta, Georgia. Due to side effects and increased chances of cancer, the drug was not approved by the FDA until 1992.
- About 70 percent of women on Depo gain weight. Average weight gain is 12 to 16 pounds over four to five years of use.
- In 2004, the FDA required Pfizer to label the box to warn users of loss of bone density. The loss of bone density does not self-correct after stopping Depo treatment.
- Some patients report not having their periods for as long as two years after stopping treatment. No period means no ovulation and no ovulation means infertility.
- Depo is 97 to 99.7 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. Unlike oral contraceptives, antibiotics don't hinder efficacy and the patient isn't required to remember a pill each day.
- Depo lasts 3 months. There is no antidote and it cannot be expunged from the system until it runs its course. Patients should be aware of this and make a well-informed decision.
