Pharmacodynamics DHPA is a progestogen, or an agonist of the progesterone receptor. It is said to be both more potent and longer-acting than the related progestogen hydroxyprogesterone caproate. The progestogenic potency of DHPA is about 2 to 5 times that of progesterone in animals. The medication has no androgenic, antiandrogenic, estrogenic, antiestrogenic, glucocorticoid, or antimineralocorticoid activities, and hence is a pure progestogen with no off-target activity. Clinical studies have found that, on the basis of endometrial changes, E2-EN/DHPA appears, at the doses used, to be an estrogen-dominant combination. An effective ovulation-inhibiting dose of DHPA is 100 mg when given alone. Pharmacokinetics The pharmacokinetics of DHPA have been studied, albeit limitedly. One study in women observed an elimination half-life of DHPA and its metabolites of 24 days and found that it remained detectable in the circulation for up to 60 days following a single intramuscular injection. In another study, the duration of action of DHPA was reported to be more than 100 days after a single subcutaneous injection, although it was unspecified as to whether this was in humans or animals. DHPA is excreted preferentially in feces via the biliary route.
Algestone acetophenide
Algestone acetonide
Promegestone
Androstanolone propionate
Methandriol propionate
High-dose estrogen
Ethinylestradiol sulfonate
Nomegestrol acetate