Megestrol
Encyclopedia
Megestrol is a progesterone
Progesterone
Progesterone also known as P4 is a C-21 steroid hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle, pregnancy and embryogenesis of humans and other species...

 derivative with antineoplastic properties used in the treatment of advanced carcinoma of the breast
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...

 and endometrium
Endometrial cancer
Endometrial cancer refers to several types of malignancies that arise from the endometrium, or lining, of the uterus. Endometrial cancers are the most common gynecologic cancers in the United States, with over 35,000 women diagnosed each year. The incidence is on a slow rise secondary to the...

. When given in relatively high doses, Megestrol can substantially increase appetite in most individuals, even those with advanced cancer. It is also used to boost appetite in individuals with other cancers or HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...

/AIDS.

Megestrol acetate oral suspension (a form of Megestrol) is used primarily as an appetite enhancer. The method of appetite enhancement is not known, but it can cause high blood sugar.

Currently, it is manufactured under the trade name Megace.

Little is known about the drug's chemical interactions. Doses range from 40 mg three times a day, 30 minutes before meals, to 800 mg once a day. Side effects may include diarrhea, rash, and impotence. Males may have some feminizing effects such as gynecomastia
Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia or Gynaecomastia, , is the abnormal development of large mammary glands in males resulting in breast enlargement. The term comes from the Greek γυνή gyné meaning "woman" and μαστός mastós meaning "breast"...

 (breast development). It is a category X U.S. Food and Drug Administration drug, which means cannot be used in pregnancy as it crosses the placenta
Placenta
The placenta is an organ that connects the developing fetus to the uterine wall to allow nutrient uptake, waste elimination, and gas exchange via the mother's blood supply. "True" placentas are a defining characteristic of eutherian or "placental" mammals, but are also found in some snakes and...

 and malignantly affects the fetus.. Natural alternatives to Megace although not quite as effective are found in natural herbs such as gentian, ginger, and others

It may cause adrenal insufficiency
Adrenal insufficiency
Adrenal insufficiency is a condition in which the adrenal glands, located above the kidneys, do not produce adequate amounts of steroid hormones , primarily cortisol, but may also include impaired aldosterone production which regulates sodium, potassium and water retention...

.

Synthesis

Medroxyprogesterone acetate is on the left. Megestrol acetate is on the right.
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