MEGESTROL

(meh JESS trol) Brand: Megace, Megace ES

What is the most significant information I must know about megestrol?

• Megestrol can harm an unborn child or reason birth defects. Do not use megestrol if you are pregnant. Use birth control to prevent pregnancy.

What is megestrol?

• Megestrol is a man-made chemical similar to the female hormone progesterone.

• Megestrol is used to treat loss of appetite and weight loss in people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Megestrol is also used in the treatment of advanced breast cancer and endometrial cancer.

• Megestrol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking megestrol?

• You must not use megestrol if you are allergic to it, or if you are pregnant.

• To create certain megestrol is safety for you, speak your doctor if you have:

· diabetes;

· an adrenal gland mess; or

· a history of stroke or blood clot.

• FDA pregnancy category X. This medicine can harm an unborn child or reason birth defects. Do not use megestrol if you are pregnant. Speak your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment. Use effective birth control and follow your doctor's instructions about how long to prevent pregnancy after your treatment ends.

• It is not known whether megestrol passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while taking megestrol.

How must I take megestrol?

• Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medication in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended.

• Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just till you measure a doze. Measure the liquid with a particular dose-measuring spoon or medication cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

• Megace ES contains a higher concentration of megestrol than Megace. If your doctor changes your brand, power, or type of megestrol, your dosage needs may change. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about the medication you receive at the pharmacy.

• Your dosage needs may change if you have surgery, are ill, are under stress, or have an infection. Do not change your medicine doze or schedule without your doctor's advice.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What must I avoid while taking megestrol?

• This medication can pass into body fluids (including urine, feces, vomit, semen, vaginal fluid). For at least 48 hours after you receive a doze, avoid allowing your body fluids to come into contact with your hands or another surfaces. Patients and caregivers must wear rubber gloves while cleaning up body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands till and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens apart from another laundry.

• Body fluids must not be handled by a woman who is pregnant or who may become pregnant. Use condoms during sexual activity to avoid exposure to body fluids.

What are the possible side effects of megestrol?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have any of these side effects during or after your treatment with megestrol:

· weight gain (especially in your waist and upper back), stretch marks;

· thinning skin, light bruising, heighten acne or facial hair;

· menstrual problems, impotence or loss of interest in sex;

· tall blood sugar (increased thirst, heighten urination, famine, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss);

· pain, swelling, warmth, or redness (especially in one or both legs); or

· chest pain, sudden cough, wheezing, rapid breathing, coughing up blood,

• General side effects may include:

· nausea, gas, diarrhea;

· unusual vaginal bleeding;

· mild skin rash; or

· weakness.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect megestrol?

• Speak your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with megestrol, especially:

· dofetilide; or

· indinavir.

• This list is not complete. Another drugs may interact with megestrol, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal commodity. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medicine manual.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about megestrol.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.