Megestrol
Structural formula | ||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
General | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-proprietary name | Megestrol | |||||||||||||||||||||
other names |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
Molecular formula | C 22 H 30 O 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
External identifiers / databases | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Drug information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
ATC code | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Drug class | ||||||||||||||||||||||
properties | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Molar mass | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Physical state |
firmly |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Melting point |
213–219 ° C (megestrol acetate) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
solubility |
almost insoluble in water (2 mg l −1 at 37 ° C for megestrol acetate ) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
safety instructions | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Toxicological data | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As far as possible and customary, SI units are used. Unless otherwise noted, the data given apply to standard conditions . |
Megestrol is an artificially produced derivative of the natural sex hormone progesterone . As megestrol acetate , it is used as a drug for metastatic breast cancer . Since the compound also shows an appetite stimulating effect, it is often administered for the palliative care of cachectic patients. The mechanism of action for stimulating the appetite is still largely unclear.
In veterinary medicine megestrol is among other things to prevent the heat in bitches used.
Side effects
The administration of megestrol acetate over a period of one to two weeks can lead to impaired function of the adrenal glands in patients ( adrenal insufficiency , Addison's disease), as a result of which fewer adrenal hormones - in particular cortisol - are released. This undesirable side effect can be counteracted by the additional administration of glucocorticoids . The effect is also observed in veterinary medicine, for example in cats. If Megestrol is discontinued, normal cortisol levels will return after a few weeks. The inhibition of the adrenal cortex is caused by the suppression of the signal chain hypothalamus - pituitary- adrenal cortex .
Trade names
- Megace IT
- Ovaban (veterinary medicine)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b D. C. Plumb: Veterinary Drug Handbook. PharmaVet Publishing, 1995, ISBN 0-8138-2352-8 .
- ↑ a b Megace at RxList, accessed October 10, 2009.
- ↑ a b Data sheet Megestrol acetate from Sigma-Aldrich , accessed on November 7, 2016 ( PDF ).
- ↑ Entry on Megestrol. In: Römpp Online . Georg Thieme Verlag, accessed on September 30, 2014.
- ^ B. Zernikow: Palliative care for children, adolescents and young adults. Verlag Springer, 2008, ISBN 3-540-48875-8 , p. 135.
- ↑ TA Splinter: cachexia and cancer: a clinician's view. In: Ann Oncol 3, 1992, pp. 25-27, PMID 1382553 .
- ↑ AP Lopez et al.: Systematic review of megestrol acetate in the treatment of anorexia-cachexia syndrome. In: J Pain Sympt Manag 27, 2004, pp. 360-369, PMID 15050664 .
- ↑ a b entry to megestrol at Vetpharm, accessed on 23 June 2012 found.
- ^ EW Allen and GCW England: Endocrinology of reproduction in the bitch. In: Compendium of Endocrinology - Dog and Cat M. Hutchison (Editor), Schlütersche Verlagsanstalt, 1996, pp. 124-137, ISBN 3-87706-470-1 .
- ↑ D. Bulchandani et al: Megestrol acetate-associated adrenal insufficiency. In: Am J Geriatr Pharmacother 6, 2008, pp. 167-172. PMID 18775392 .
- ↑ JA Stockheim et al.: Adrenal suppression in children with the human immunodeficiency virus treated with megestrol acetate. In: J Pediatr 134, 1999, pp. 368-370. PMID 10064680 .
- ↑ EC Feldmann and RW Nelson: Canine and Feline Endocrinology and Reproduction. WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia (USA), 1996, ISBN 0-7216-3634-9 .
- ↑ DB Church et al .: Effects of proligestone and megestrol on plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations in cats. In: Res Vet Sci 56, 1994, pp. 175-178, PMID 8191007 .
Web links
- Megestrol at MedlinePlus (English)