Мегейс

Мегейс – synthetic progestogen, antineoplastic drug.

Form of release and structure

Dosage form – tablets: oval, convex from two parties, almost white or white color, with marking "40" or "160" on one party and risky – on another (tablets of 40 mg – on 100 pieces in dark glass bottles, 1 bottle in a pack cardboard; tablets of 160 mg – on 30 pieces in dark glass bottles, 1 bottle in a pack cardboard; on 100 pieces in polyethylene bottles, 1 bottle in a pack cardboard).

Active ingredient: megestrol acetate, its contents in 1 tablet – 40 or 160 mg.

Auxiliary components: silicon dioxide colloid, povidone, sodium carboxymethylstarch, cellulose microcrystallic, magnesium stearate, lactose.

Indications to use

• Palliative cancer therapy of an endometria, the disseminated breast cancer;
• Therapy of anorexia or loss of weight owing to malignant new growths or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Contraindications

Absolute:

• Age up to 18 years;
• Period of pregnancy and lactation;
• Hypersensitivity to drug.

Мегейс it is not intended for use as diagnostic test on pregnancy.

With care medicine should be applied at treatment of patients with thrombophlebitis, including in the anamnesis.

Route of administration and dosage

Мегейс accept inside.

The recommended doses:

• Breast cancer: on 160 mg a day in 1-4 receptions;
• Endometrial cancer: on 80-320 mg a day in 1 or several receptions;
• Loss of body weight or anorexia: on 400-800 mg of 1 times a day.

Definition of efficiency of drug requires performing at least 2-month continuous treatment.

Side effects

The most frequent side effect at patients with endometrial cancer or a mammary gland is increase in body weight owing to the increased appetite.

Approximately at 1-2% of patients the blood allocations from a cavity of the uterus which are not connected with periods and also hypostases, nausea, vomiting are noted.

It was reported about emergence of such side effects as heart failure, pains, short wind, a hypertension, inflows, a hyperglycemia, a syndrome of a carpal tunnel, an alopecia, skin rashes, diarrhea, a lethargy, temporary activation of development of a tumor (including followed by a hypercalcemia), cushingoid signs on a face, changes of mood.

Separate cases of development of a thromboembolism, including embolism of a lung and thrombophlebitis are known.

Messages on development of the morbid conditions caused by disturbance of functioning of pituitary and adrenal system such as intolerance of glucose, the emergence or aggravation of a diabetes mellitus which is followed by decrease in tolerance to glucose and development of a syndrome of Cushing arrived.

In rare instances at prolonged treatment or soon after Megeys's cancellation the clinical signs of adrenal insufficiency demanding use of shock doses of glucocorticoids as replacement therapy are observed.

Special instructions

Treatment by Megeys has to be carried out under careful observation of the medical specialist having experience of use of chemotherapeutic drugs.

The entire period of therapy and within at least 3 months after its termination it is necessary to use reliable methods of contraception.

Мегейс does not exclude chemotherapeutic, surgical or beam cancer therapy.

Medicinal interaction

Megestrol should not be applied along with busulfany as the risk of development of such life-threatening complication as a venookklyuzionny disease increases.

Aminoglutetimid can reduce concentration of megestrol in a blood plasma.

Phenobarbital, rifampicin, griseofulvin, Phenytoinum and carbamazepine can increase clearance of progestogens.

Мегейс can change efficiency of hypoglycemic means.

At simultaneous use of cyclosporine its concentration in blood can increase and raise risk of development of toxicity.

Terms and storage conditions

To store at a temperature up to 25 ºС in the place, unavailable to children.

Period of validity – 3 years.