Drug reference

Megestrol acetate

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 1026

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

Treatment of breast cancer ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 160 mg once daily

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Contra Indications

Acute porphyrias p. 1120

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Cautions

Elderly. history of thrombophlebitis

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Safety

Side Effects

▶Common or very common Adrenal insufﬁciency. alopecia. appetite increased. asthenia. carpal tunnel syndrome. constipation. Cushing’s syndrome. diabetes mellitus. diarrhoea. dyspnoea. embolism and thrombosis. erectile dysfunction. ﬂatulence. glucose tolerance impaired. heart failure. hot ﬂush. hypercalcaemia. hyperglycaemia. hypertension. lethargy. menorrhagia. mood altered. nausea. oedema. pain. skin reactions. tumour ﬂare. urinary frequency increased. vomiting. weight increased

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Pregnancy

Avoid. Reversible feminisation of male fetuses reported in animal studies. Risk of hypospadias in male fetuses and masculinisation of female fetuses.

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Breast Feeding

Discontinue breast-feeding.

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Hepatic Impairment

Manufacturer advises caution in severe impairment.

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Dose and formulations

Medicinal Forms

There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines containing the same drug. Forms available from special-order manufacturers include: tablet, capsule, oral suspension Oral suspension ▶Megestrol acetate (Non-proprietary) Megestrol acetate 40 mg per 1 ml Megestrol 200mg/5ml oral suspension | 240 ml P s Tablet ▶Megestrol acetate (Non-proprietary) Megestrol acetate 40 mg Megestrol 40mg tablets | 100 tablet s ▶Megace (Bausch & Lomb UK Ltd) Megestrol acetate 160 mg Megace 160mg tablets | 30 tablet P £19.52 DT = £19.52 4.1 Hormone responsive breast cancer ANTINEOPLASTIC DRUGS › ANTI-OESTROGENS

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Dose text by age group

Adult

160 mg once daily

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 1026

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.

Drug reference

Megestrol acetate

BNF 80 (2020–2021)

Source: BNF 80 (2020–2021)
PDF pages: 1026

Review source pages for extracted sections and age labels. BNF dose snippets show only their first line.

Overview

Indications And Dose

Treatment of breast cancer ▶BY MOUTH ▶Adult: 160 mg once daily

PDF page 1026

Contra Indications

Acute porphyrias p. 1120

PDF page 1026

Cautions

Elderly. history of thrombophlebitis

PDF page 1026

Safety

Side Effects

PDF page 1026

Pregnancy

Avoid. Reversible feminisation of male fetuses reported in animal studies. Risk of hypospadias in male fetuses and masculinisation of female fetuses.

PDF page 1026

Breast Feeding

Discontinue breast-feeding.

PDF page 1026

Hepatic Impairment

Manufacturer advises caution in severe impairment.

PDF page 1026

Dose and formulations

Medicinal Forms

PDF page 1026

Dose text by age group

Adult

160 mg once daily

First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.

PDF page 1026

Age labels are extracted for navigation. Check the complete source section and current local guidance before clinical use.