Megesterol

Megestrol is an appetite enhancing drug used to aid chemotherapy and HIV/AIDS patients gain mass. Little is known about the drug's chemical interactions. Doses Ranges from 80 mg po tid, 30 minutes before meals, to 800 mg po qd. Side effects may include diarrhea, rash, impotence, males may have some feminizing effects such as gynecomastia (breast development). It is a category X FDA drug, which means cannot be used in pregnancy as it crosses the placenta and malignantly affects the fetus.

References

*cite journal |author=Raney MS, Anding R, Fay V, Polk G |title=A pilot study to assess the use of megesterol acetate to promote weight gain in frail elderly persons residing in long-term care |journal=J Am Med Dir Assoc |volume=1 |issue=4 |pages=154–8 |year=2000 |pmid=12816553 |doi= |url=

*cite journal |author=Deutsch J, Kolhouse JF |title=Assessment of gastrointestinal function and response to megesterol acetate in subjects with gastrointestinal cancers and weight loss |journal=Support Care Cancer |volume=12 |issue=7 |pages=503–10 |year=2004 |month=Jul |pmid=15064933 |doi=10.1007/s00520-004-0615-4 |url=

* http://www.hivdent.org/drugs/MEGESTEROL.htm