Megestrol   

Brand name: Megace®, Megace® ES 

Generic name: Megestrol  

Other names: Megestrol Acetate 

Therapeutic Class: progesterone  

Manufacturer / Distributor: Bristol-Myers Squibb  

Availability:  Megestrol is available by prescription only  

Indications: Megestrol is used to treat the following cancers:  

• advanced breast cancer  
• prostate cancer  
• Advanced endometrial cancer (also called uterine cancer).  

Megestrol is also used to treat malnutrition, loss of appetite and weight loss in patients with AIDS. That is, by using Megestrol, you can have your appetite and weight increased.  

Dosage form: Megestrol comes as a tablet, a suspension (liquid) and a concentrated suspension (called Megestrol ES) to take by mouth. 

Dosage: to prescribe a dose of Megestrol which is able to fight your disease, your doctor will consider the type of medical condition you have, your health status (presence of other diseases or not), and your body surface area (BSA). If you are taking other medication (s), you can be prescribed a lower dosage of Megestrol.  

In the case of breast cancer, your oncologist may recommend you to take three or four doses of 40 mg of Megestrol daily with or without food; usually the maximum dose is 160 mg per day. For cancer of the endometrium, the usual dose is 80 to 320 mg per day, which can be divided into doses of 40 to 80 mg administered 1-4 times per day; or one or two 160 mg tablet per day with or without food. Usually, the recommended dose in the treatment of prostate cancer is a single dose of 120 mg daily, combined with diethylstilbestrol. It is important that you take the medication around the same time every day.  

In some cases, your doctor can indicate different doses. It is necessary that you follow the indications exactly throughout the treatment. If you experience serious side effects or complications, contact your doctor immediately.  Do not change or stop taking the medication without first consulting your doctor.  

Always shake the liquid well before using it.  

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for information on the use of Megestrol in the treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).  

Storage:  store Megestrol at room temperature, away from direct sunlight, moisture and heat above 40 ° C. Keep Megestrol out of the reach of children. Do not store Megestrol and all medications in the bathroom. Megestrol and all other medications should not be used beyond the expiration date printed on the container.  

Overdose:  Do not take Megestrol more often than prescribed by your doctor.  As with any drug, persistent overdose can be dangerous. If you think you have taken an overdose of Megestrol, contact your doctor or a poison control center near you as soon as possible.  

Missing dose: do your best to take Megestrol as indicated by your doctor or pharmacist. In case you forget to take a dose, take the missed one as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, do not double the next dose to recover the missed one; it can be dangerous. Contact your doctor or wait to go back to your regular schedule.   

Contraindication: Megestrol is contraindicated or should be used with precautions in case of the following conditions:  

• pregnancy  
• breast-feeding 
• galactosemia
• hepatic porphyria (liver disease) 
• allergy to Megestrol or one of its ingredients 
• glucose galactose malabsorption (GGM) 
• Congenital lactase deficiency.   

Tell your doctor is you have a history of stroke, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, and blood clot. 

Mechanism of action (MOA): Megestrol is a progesterone; it slows or stops the multiplication of cancer cells in the prostate by inhibiting the production of testosterone in the body. In the treatment of breast or endometrial cancer, Megestrol interferes with other hormones and proteins necessary for the division of the cancer cells.  

Interactions:  talk you to your doctor before taking aspirin, vitamins, nutritional supplements or St. John wort. Some medications can interact with Megestrol. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any medication.  

Side effects: in certain patients, Megestrol can lead to side effects. Most common Megestrol side include:

• dizziness  
• mild headache 
• increased blood pressure 
• mood swings  
• rapid or unusual weight gain 
• nervousness  
• flushing 
• gas or bloating
• decreased sexual desire  
• unexpected vaginal bleeding 
• sleep problems 
• lack of energy  
• breast tenderness or pain 
• Appearance of brown spots on exposed skin.  

If the side effects above persist for weeks, contact your oncologist. In addition, contact your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms:   

• vision changes 
• anxiety  
• confusion 
• slow speech
• fast or irregular heartbeat 
• excessive sweating, mainly at night  
• purple, blue, or black discoloration of the skin 
• extreme hunger  
• leg pain  
• difficulty breathing  
• chest pain or heaviness in chest  
• weakness or numbness of an arm or leg 
• pain or swelling in the abdomen  
• Swelling of face, ankles or feet .