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Megestrol for Abnormal Uterine Bleeding User Reviews

Brand names: Megace ES

Megestrol has an average rating of 7.1 out of 10 from a total of 50 reviews for the treatment of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. 66% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 20% reported a negative experience.

Megestrol rating summary

7.1/10 average rating

50 ratings from 60 user reviews.

Compare all 59 medications used in the treatment of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding.

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22%
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4%
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6%
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Reviews for Megestrol

  • Ms D
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 8, 2021

"I have experienced excessive uterine bleeding for about a year now! I am 56 years old and still peri menopausal. The bleeding and clotting became unbearable! I was told early on that it was normal and a part of transitioning to menopause. I finally sought help from a gyn because I refused to believe it was normal. I was prescribed megestrol acetate, 40 mg twice a day. It was like a miracle!! The bleeding decreased immediately, and now two weeks later, I have not seen any blood at all for two consecutive days!! Yes!! I feel liberated! Heavy bleeding controls your life and I haven't felt this way since before the issue started! So I'm thinking, after reading other's experiences, maybe the dosage was too low! Ask your doctor is it possible to increase dosage to twice a day instead of once. I love this drug and am so thankful to my doctor for prescribing it!! Hope things get better for those of you who are still suffering!"

10 / 10
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84 Report
  • My mi...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • August 29, 2019

"Was on a straight period for 3 months, not just a regular period either. I went thru about 10-14 pads a day, and I had to double them so over 20 pads a day, heavy clots. I was white as a ghost, constantly sleeping. So I finally went to the hospital and they admitted me instantly. I had 3 blood transfusions within the first 24 hours being there, my level was a 3! I started the megace the next day and my period stopped that night. Well I just had a D&C done 4 days ago and I just started bleeding and cramping so bad. This medicine is amazing and I highly recommend it. But now I have to go back to the hospital tomorrow morning because my Dr is afraid of me losing to much blood, and I am having a partial hysterectomy (soon) . The megace actually made me loose 10lbs lbs within the first couple weeks! Also it's been 2 months I've been on the medication twice a day. I'll update after my hospital visit tomorrow."

10 / 10
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74 Report
  • Ame
  • August 25, 2010

"I began using this medicine after having very heavy bleeding for 2 month straight. My periods were pretty regular until then. I was in tears when I went to see my doctor. He gave me this pill and it stopped the bleeding within 1 day. It was great. Took it for about 5 days. It has now been 4 weeks and have not seen a sign of its return. I did not have any severe side effects on it except that I was a little emotionally edgy for about 3 days or so. I just kept to myself and made no important decisions for the week. Hope this helps."

8 / 10
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131 Report
  • Lovelyk
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 6, 2018

"I was prescribed megestrol 40mg, 2 pills a day, after having a very heavy period for 3 months straight with tennis ball sized clots and horrific pelvic pain. I’m now on day two and the bleeding is almost non existent! I'm down to just some very light spotting. I will take the tummy ache, headache and gassy feeling over bleeding to the point of soaking through an ultra tampon and overnight pad in 30min. My hysterectomy will be my long term fix, but we had to stop the bleeding before the surgery. Can’t wait for October to permanently end periods once and for all."

10 / 10
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64 Report
  • Pdenn
  • December 14, 2019

"I'm going through perimenopause. I had a period for 11 months straight. I ended up in the ER hemorrhaging. I was given 10 units of blood. I was passing blood clots the size of basketballs. I thought I had cancer. They gave me a DNC preparing for a emergency hysterectomy. The DNC stopped it. Praise God. They sent me home with megastrol. It worked for a few weeks until my prescription ran out. My doctor put me back on it and I continued spotting. Nothing ever heavy. She kept changing my prescription 3 weeks on one week off. 2 weeks on 2 weeks off. I was getting frustrated it wasn't working. It wasn't causing any bad side effects. No weight gain. I felt great. At one point I bled a regular period for 72 days straight. My doctor was going to switch my medicine. Something told me to continue to stay on megastrol. Finally after being on the pill for 4 months. It finally worked and I'm 3 cycles of a normal period. So don't give up if it doesn't work right away."

7 / 10
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51 Report

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  • Anonymous
  • August 22, 2019

"I have had a heavy period all month of August. I couldn’t take it any more and went to the doctor yesterday. She prescribed megestrol and I took it standing in the pharmacy it instantly stopped my flow and I am so thankful for this med"

10 / 10
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42 Report
  • Julie...
  • April 22, 2014

"I have large fibroids and had such heavy bleeding that I had to have a blood transfusion. I have been taking Megestrol for 7 months and it has reduced my period to just spotting for a few days. A God send, since my iron and blood levels have gone up to normal. I cut the dose in half to 200 mg/day and it still works. Unfortunately, I have experienced weight gain, depression, fleeting pains in my body, worsened vision, joint stiffness, and more susceptibility to Candida. On the higher dose (400mg/day), I had some spontaneous bruising and ankle swelling. I am having a hysterectomy soon and will stop using this but thankfully the benefits outweighed the risks for me--at least short term."

8 / 10
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70 Report
  • K Ellen
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 25, 2020

"Ive been on 40 mgs Megace a day for the last 3 months for endometrial hyperplasia. Im 61 years old. I'm not seeing any difference in bleeding. I had a constant period since I started and they are very heavy sometimes. I'm trying to tough it out until my next biopsy, but don't have high hopes. I've been more depressed since I've been on it too. I wish I could have the positive experience others have shared."

1 / 10
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28 Report
  • Bonni...
  • March 4, 2009

Megace (megestrol) "I have been on Megace for the past three months. I have just finished it and have had no side effects at all except a little rash under my left breast line but that could also be the dry electrical heating as well but otherwise I haven't any breakthrough bleeding or weight gain or anything else. I go back to my doctor on March 20th, 2009 in two weeks and we will see what she says. I guess I went to her because of severe lower back aches and frequent bleeding as well as a lot of abdominal pain. I had no problems at all on Megace."

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87 Report
  • KDano
  • November 7, 2019

"Feb 2017 I started having abnormal uterine bleeding. Huge clots, bright red blood. After 10 days of increased bleeding I saw my OB. I was put on Megestrol and told I needed a biopsy to clear out cancer. It was highly suggested that I get a Uterine Ablation . I did months later which did not work. I had to continue on the Megestrol. It did sometimes stop the bleeding in the very beginning but then from time to time I would get some very light bleeding. This summer I decided to stop taking the Rx to see what would happen. For about 2.5 months no bleeding and no pills! I was so excited and thought it was all behind me and then one day the blood showed up again. I tried not to panic and waited 2 days before resuming the pills. It's Nov 2019 and I am still having bleeding issues. It seems the Megestrol does not completely work anymore. I still bleed sometimes light and sometimes a little more. It's so frustrating to deal with this."

8 / 10
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34 Report
  • JayeD
  • April 24, 2016

"I had heavy bleeding for several years but within the last 3 years I ended up in the Hospital twice in which I had to get several Blood Transfusions. I have only 1 Fibroid the size of a dime. I've had an DNC and Ablation surgeries. I was prescribed Megestrol in January after leaving the Hospital. I was told to take 2 pills a day instead of 4. In February when menstrual came on it has not went off since, even though it is light. So I was told to take 4 a day, no change. I am getting tired of wearing pads everyday. The side effects are some mood swings, every night about 3 times I wake up drenched in sweat. I've gained over 20lbs. I really do not want a Hysterectomy, but it seems I have no choice."

1 / 10
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48 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 8, 2012

"This medication has taken me on a roller coaster ride. I am over sensitive, moody, hypersensitive. I can't sleep and I have gained 8lbs in 30 days. It does control the bleeding but it is not worth putting up with the side effects."

2 / 10
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57 Report
  • Storm
  • April 1, 2017

"I was prescribed this because of heavy bleeding with my period because of a fibroid. At first I was amazed because as soon as my period started I took them and it stopped within a few hours or a day. Then I started bleeding again after two weeks. I took it again. Two weeks later, spotting again. Now my period was heavy, but it was predictable before megace. The only time I was ever late was when I was pregnant. But now, its all over the place, when I don't take the megace at the start of bleeding, it will be nonstop. I've had a light period for the past two weeks! Doesn't work anymore and causes weight gain. I hate it."

1 / 10
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38 Report
  • Carm
  • December 8, 2019

"I've been experiencing extended cycles. I'm pretty proactive so when it lasts longer than 10 days I contact my gyn. She put me on provera which works well for the most part but sometimes spotting would return and when it's gone bleeding returns with a vengeance. Because of all that she put me on Megestrol to see if it works better. Last night was my first time. It worked quickly and the bleeding went from excessive to minimal. However, this morning full return. I've taken again and I'm waiting to see if it stops. I'm only on 20mg once a day so no side effects. I just really want the bleeding to stop and figure out why. I do have polyps and have had them removed but we suspect a return. Doing s biopsy then hopefully D&C or polypectomy. If anyone has any advice or input it's much appreciated. Thanks to all who shared. I don't want a hysterectomy. PCOS if also a high potential but no exact diagnosis"

8 / 10
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24 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • November 12, 2016

"For several years, I have been experiencing very heavy and clot filled periods, sometimes lasting as long as 21 days (the heavy part would occur from day 2-4) and I was bleeding past super large tampons and pads every 30 minutes (I would wear both). I was also experiencing chest pains and shortness of breath, which forced me to the hospital a few times. There were no heart issues, however, I was severely anemic and received several blood transfusions, my lowest blood level being 5.4. An ultrasound determined that I have fibroids and was prescribed megastrol acetate and although I have light daily spotting and headaches, this is the best thing that has ever happened to me. When I do have a period, it's just slightly more than spotting."

9 / 10
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35 Report
  • Lady
  • January 8, 2016

"I usually never write reviews, but this medicine was great!!! I had been bleeding for two months, heavy bleeding and clotting!!! Thought I was dying! Prior to the day I was prescribed this medicine I woke up in a pool of blood, I ran to the bathroom to clean myself up and blood clots stated coming out. My boyfriend rushed me to emergency. I was weak and exhausted from loosing so much blood over those two months. My blood levels were very low. Of course they kept me. They started on Megestrol and my bleeding slowed down that day!! After going home my bleeding was completely gone by day three. And didn't return. I just seen my OB and was inserted an IUD (Mirena) So far it sucks!"

9 / 10
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37 Report
  • Rebecca
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 18, 2018

"Prescribed for heavy bleeding with large clots. Bleeding went on for 15 days lowering my hemoglobin. I went to E.R. and was administered 3 units of blood. Megace was only thing to work to stop bleeding. That being said it has lowered my blood pressure significantly, caused stomach pain, insomnia, gas, and constipation. I am not comfortable using megace but it has stopped the bleeding. I do not like the medication and wish I could take something else"

8 / 10
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28 Report
  • CeCe
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 29, 2019

"Ever since I got on the Depo shot I've had issues. I've been bleeding heavily for months, now have blood clots & the amount of fibroids have increased. I started 40mg of megestrol once a day a week ago. It definitely slows down the bleeding but it seems to wear off. If I take it early in the morning I have no issues all during the day, barely going through a tampon, but come night time it's heavy again. I just emailed my doctor about this. Maybe I need to use it twice a day, although I don't like the idea of adding more of this chemical/hormone to my body as to not cause higher risk of side effects. I'm very much so considering ablation or even hysterectomy to just be rid of it all, I am terrified though."

8 / 10
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24 Report
  • Cshells
  • May 13, 2020

"After 2 years of dandc, IV iron, and blood infusions on progesterone with no help, a fill in dr wrote me a script for megestrol. It changed my life. The other one made me emotional and unreasonable, carb craving and food obsessed all day every day to where I put on 20 lbs, bloat and gas and an odd smelling discharge. On this one I have stepped down to 10mg a day from 20mg 3 times a day and its changed my life. No bleeding, no mood swings, my appetite is back to normal and the bloat is gone. It's like I'm not taking a progesterone at all. I understand that if you quit taking it, the second time doesn't work as well so unless something drastic happens I'm staying on it."

10 / 10
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19 Report
  • Kutsa...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 20, 2022

"I am almost 39 years old. I have always had heavy periods with large clots and bad cramps. I was always told it is normal because paps were normal. Until March of 2022. I thought I was ovulating but it turned in to spotting then bleeding and huge clots...but surprisingly barely any pain. Cramps were mild. And it kept going until day number 13 when I went to the E.R !! At this point the bleeding was NOT stopping. I was in the restroom every half hour. I was prescribed Magestrol 40mg once a day. It stopped the bleeding at 95%... Some days I still have spotting pink / brown. As for side affects: NONE. I am very emotional and full of anxiety but that is because I am waiting on a biopsy result. I haven't gained any weight bc I have been so stressed. For me this med is a 10 out of 10, although it only acts as a band aid. I HAVE READ Everyone's REVIEWS AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCES. Because it has helped me so much and made a mentally stronger!!!"

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  • blueq...
  • January 15, 2017

"Got to say that this medicine was worth it so much. I was put on megestrol 20 mg for 20 days and I had no side effect to this medicine. I started taking it and by the 5th day the heavy bleeding had stop. This is the second time being put on megestrol 20mg. I know everybody has a different opinion on this medication, and for what's it worth I'm happy with the outcome every single time."

10 / 10
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29 Report
  • Lucy...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • September 8, 2018

"I was talking Megestrol last month for bleeding associated with fibroid. It work perfectly. Bleeding stopped. I stopped taking it. Bleeding started back, I start taking again. It's not working. I have a terrible stomach ache and gas."

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23 Report
  • Caren
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • November 3, 2018

"I started this drug exactly 4 weeks ago for stage 1 endometrial cancer. I’ve gained 17 pounds, mostly water. Trouble breathing, wheezing terribly. 4 doctors agreed this was the only option, now they are pushing me off of the other since my side effects started. Vision is blurred and headaches are terrible. I was healthier with the cancer. This drug is horrible. It can cause scar tissue in your lungs on top of so many other things. It’s a very dangerous drug. Be careful. Pulmonologist in 2 days to go for a cat scan with contrast. This drug should be taken very seriously. The ER Dr said it could very well be a blood clot but still wouldn’t do the cat scan. Ugh! It’s frustrating. Good luck."

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22 Report
  • maryl...
  • March 2, 2016

"I was prescribed 20mg. Megestrol tables by my gynecologist for heavy uterine bleeding. I was to take 2 tablets a day. By the finish of the fisrt day I had slowed down to almost nothing. I took one pill the next day and my bleeding stopped. It did it's job, but not without causing me chest pains and making me feel awful. After the three pills I stopped taking it and my bleeding has not returned nearly a week later. Chest pains stopped after I stopped taking it. My dr told me to resume use if bleeding starts up again, pending testing to see why I'm bleeding."

8 / 10
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27 Report
  • mrsja...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • December 3, 2016

"After the second week on this medication, I ER from having a 7-10 day cycle to bleeding every day with clots. The doctor increase dosage and I got worse. I stop taking it and now I'm almost always hurting. The bleeding hasn't stopped and I'm miserable. The worse thing ever was taking this medication."

1 / 10
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24 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.

Learn more about Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

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