I don't have any experience with megestrol acetate, but a comparison
might be helpful:

From http://www.cancerbacup.org.uk/info/megestrol.htm :


Megace (also known as Megestrol acetate) is a man-made substance called
progestin which is similar to the female hormone progesterone. It is
mainly used in the treatment of breast cancer. Even though women may
find that their periods stop while taking Megace it is not a
contraceptive, so reliable contraception must be used while having
treatment with Megace.

How is it taken?

Megestrol acetate is taken as a tablet. The tablets are available in two
different strengths; 40mg and 160mg.

For comparison, mini-pills:
Micronor (Norethindrone 0.35 mg)
Nor-QD (Norethindrone 0.35 mg)
Ovrette (dl-Norgestrel 0.075 mg)

{It seems odd that the levels are so far apart, and I wonder if the
dosages given for megestrol measure the active ingredient or the total
pill.)

From http://www.atdn.org/access/drugs/mege.html :


Drug description
Megace is an appetite stimulant used to treat HIV wasting. It increases
the desire to eat in some people. Megace is synthetic progesterone.
Progesterone is a female hormone. Patients on Megace tend to gain fat,
according to studies using therapeutic doses of 800 mg/day...

Side effects
Rare side effects can be alteration of menstrual pattern with
unpredictable bleeding, pain in chest, visual disturbances, headache,
insomnia, pain in abdomen, groin, calf or leg, loss of coordination,
slurred speech, weakness or numbness in extremities, yellow eyes or
skin, depression, skin rashes, swelling in hands and feet, brown spots
on skin, acne, increased body hair, increased breast tenderness, and
loss of scalp hair.

Dosage
Megace is available in pill or liquid form. Usual dosage for the pills
is 80 mg 4 times daily. Tablets come in 20 mg and 40 mg. Liquid Megace
is usually dosed at 20mL/day and comes with a measuring cup.

Arly Helm, MS, IBCLC

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