Megestrol caproate

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

Megestrol caproate is a progestin medication which is used in the treatment of anorexia, cachexia, hot flashes, and breast cancer. It is taken by mouth.

Medical uses[edit | edit source]

Megestrol caproate is primarily used to treat loss of appetite and weight loss in people with AIDS and cancer. It is also used in the treatment of breast cancer and endometrial cancer.

Side effects[edit | edit source]

Common side effects of megestrol caproate include weight gain, edema, thromboembolism, and menstrual irregularities. Rare but serious side effects include adrenal insufficiency and Cushing's syndrome.

Pharmacology[edit | edit source]

Megestrol caproate is a synthetic progestogen and acts as an agonist of the progesterone receptor, the biological target of progesterone. It has strong anti-gonadotropic effects and can inhibit fertility and suppress sex hormone production.

History[edit | edit source]

Megestrol caproate was first described in 1959 and was introduced for medical use in 1963. It was the first progestin to be used in cancer treatment and was also the first to be used as an appetite stimulant.

Society and culture[edit | edit source]

Megestrol caproate is marketed under a variety of brand names including Megace and Ovaban and is available as a generic medication.

See also[edit | edit source]

Resources[edit source]

Latest articles - Megestrol caproate

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AI tools[edit source]

Generative AI tools and links to learn more on Megestrol caproate: ChatGPT - Bing Chat - Google Gemini. (caution advised).


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