Megestrol Side Effects

Brand Names: Megace ES, Megace

Please note - some side effects for Megestrol may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/ or 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088).

Side Effects of Megestrol - for the Consumer

Megestrol

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Megestrol:

Breast tenderness; headache; increased appetite or thirst; indigestion; weight gain.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); blood clots; dizziness; leg pain; miscarriage; nausea; swelling of the ankles or fingers; unexplained vaginal bleeding; vomiting.

Megestrol Suspension

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Megestrol Suspension:

Difficulty sleeping; gas; headache; indigestion.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); calf pain or tenderness; chest pain; coughing up blood; decreased sexual desire or ability; depression; dizziness; increased appetite, thirst, or urination; irregular heartbeat; leg pain; menstrual changes; muscle weakness; nausea; seizures; shortness of breath; signs of infection (eg, fever, chills, sore throat); swelling of the ankles or fingers; unexplained vaginal bleeding; unusual thoughts; unusual weight gain in the face; vomiting.

Megestrol Side Effects - for the Professional

Megestrol

Clinical Adverse Events

Adverse events which occurred in at least 5% of patients in any arm of the two clinical efficacy trials and the open trial are listed below by treatment group. All patients listed had at least one post baseline visit during the 12 study weeks. These adverse events should be considered by the physician when prescribing Megestrol Acetate Oral Suspension.

Adverse events which occurred in 1% to 3% of all patients enrolled in the two clinical efficacy trials with at least one follow-up visit during the first 12 weeks of the study are listed below by body system. Adverse events occurring less than 1% are not included. There were no significant differences between incidence of these events in patients treated with Megestrol acetate and patients treated with placebo.

Body as a Whole: abdominal pain, chest pain, infection, moniliasis and sarcoma

Cardiovascular System: cardiomyopathy and palpitation

Digestive System: constipation, dry mouth, hepatomegaly, increased salivation and oral moniliasis

Hemic and Lymphatic System: leukopenia

Metabolic and Nutritional: LDH increased, edema and peripheral edema

Nervous System: paresthesia, confusion, convulsion, depression, neuropathy, hypesthesia and abnormal thinking

Respiratory System: dyspnea, cough, pharyngitis and lung disorder

Skin and Appendages: alopecia, herpes, pruritus, vesiculobullous rash, sweating and skin disorder

Special Senses: amblyopia

Urogenital System: albuminuria, urinary incontinence, urinary tract infection and gynecomastia

Postmarketing

Postmarketing reports associated with Megestrol Acetate Oral Suspension include thromboembolic phenomena including thrombophlebitis and pulmonary embolism, and glucose intolerance.

Side Effects by Body System

Endocrine

Endocrine side effects including cases of new onset diabetes mellitus, exacerbation of preexisting diabetes mellitus, and overt Cushings syndrome have been reported in association of chronic use of megestrol. Adrenal insufficiency has also been reported in patients receiving or being withdrawn from chronic megestrol therapy in both the stressed and non-stressed state. Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) stimulation testing has revealed the frequent occurrence of asymptomatic pituitary-adrenal suppression in patients treated with chronic megestrol therapy. Hot flashes have also been reported.

The possibility of adrenal insufficiency should be considered in any patient receiving or being withdrawn from chronic megestrol who presents with signs and/or symptoms suggestive of hypoadrenalism in either the stressed or non-stressed state.

General

General side effects including a significant risk of weight gain (secondary to increased appetite), mood changes, malaise, asthenia, and lethargy have been reported.

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects including thrombophlebitis, heart failure, edema, deep vein thrombosis, and hypertension have been reported.

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects including a significant risk to develop blood clots have been reported.

Blood clots are particularly a risk in cancer patients and others susceptible to clotting.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects including nausea and vomiting have been reported.

Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects including breakthrough menstrual bleeding have been reported.

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects including pulmonary embolism (sometimes fatal) and dyspnea have been reported.

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects including alopecia, sweating, and rash have been reported.

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects have included at least two patients with severe osteoporosis complicated by multiple vertebral fractures experienced while the patients were receiving high-dose megestrol therapy.

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects including carpal tunnel syndrome have been reported.

Oncologic

Oncologic side effects including tumor flare (with or without hypercalcemia) have been reported. Long term animal studies have reported an increased risk for both benign and malignant tumors of the breast.

Other

Other side effects including a possible case of megestrol withdrawal syndrome have been reported.

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