Effect of injection volume on the bioavailability of sterile medroxyprogesterone acetate suspension

The influence of injection volume on the absorption and bioavailability of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) was studied. A single i.m. injection of MPA 400 mg was administered to 24 healthy men; 12 of the subjects received 4 ml of a 100 mg/ml suspension of the drug, and the other 12 subjects were given 1 ml of a 400 mg/ml suspension. Blood samples for MPA determinations were collected periodically during a 202-day period after drug administration. Mean steady-state serum concentrations of MPA were simulated from single-dose data to reflect those achieved after standard dosage regimens. Values for area under the serum concentration-time curve and time required to reach peak serum concentrations were compared between subjects receiving different injection volumes of MPA. Mean peak serum concentration were significantly higher and occurred significantly sooner in subjects receiving the 4-ml injection of MPA than in those given the 1-ml injection. No significant differences in areas under the serum concentration-time curve were noted in subjects receiving different injection volumes. The rate but not the extent of absorption of injectable MPA suspension is enhanced by increasing the injection volume of equivalent doses from 1 ml to 4 ml.