Effect of megestrol acetate on the human pituitary-adrenal axis.
A few previous reports have suggested that megestrol acetate, a synthetic progestational agent frequently used as an antineoplastic drug, suppresses serum cortisol concentrations in humans. To explore this concept further, we prospectively performed several measurements of the pituitary-adrenal axis in patients receiving megestrol acetate (160 or 800 mg/day). The data from these evaluations demonstrate that megestrol acetate reversibly decreases serum cortisol concentrations in humans and that this effect seems to originate from a suppression of the pituitary-adrenal axis. Additional studies should be conducted to determine the implications of the low levels of serum cortisol.
Loprinzi
C L
CL
Division of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
Jensen
M D
MD
Jiang
N S
NS
Schaid
D J
DJ
D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008535:Megestrol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019290:Megestrol Acetate; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D008535:Megestrol; D019290:Megestrol Acetate; D006854:Hydrocortisone