Megestrol CAS:3562-63-8

Megestrol, a 17 ligin-hydroxyprogesterone derivative, is a highly effective synthetic progesterone that has about 75 times the progesterone effect when taken orally and 50 times the progesterone effect when injected.

This product has obvious anti-estrogen effect, no estrogen or androgens activity, no protein assimilation effect. It can inhibit the release of hypothalamic releasing hormone (GnRH) and be used in adenohypophysis to reduce its sensitivity to GnRH, thereby blocking the release of pituitary and producing significant ovulation inhibition. Therefore, it is used together with ethinylestradiol as a short-acting contraceptive.

Megestrol acetate is used mainly as an appetite stimulant in a variety of conditions and as an antineoplastic agent in the treatment of breast, endometrial, and prostate cancers. When given in relatively high doses, it can substantially increase appetite in most individuals, even those with advanced cancer, and is often used to boost appetite and induce weight gain in patients with cancer or HIV/AIDS-associated cachexia. It is also used as a contraceptive in combination with an estrogen at relatively low doses.

In addition to its use in humans, megestrol acetate has been used extensively in veterinary medicine in the treatment of medical conditions in cats and dogs.