title: Drug-induced gynecomastia.
abstract: Drugs account for about 20% of gynecomastia cases in men. As a number of factors can alter the estrogen:androgen ratio, several pathophysiologic mechanisms are associated with drugs causing this disorder. Antiandrogens, protease inhibitors, and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors are the most common drug causes of gynecomastia, whereas first-generation antipsychotics, spironolactone, verapamil, and cimetidine are less common causes. Other drugs have been reported rarely as causes. Treatment may involve switching to an alternative agent or may require surgery or irradiation if the causative agent cannot be discontinued. We reviewed the literature on drug-induced gynecomastia and provided another perspective by reviewing data from the United States Food and Drug Administration's Adverse Event Reporting System. Epidemiologic studies are needed to provide a more accurate description of the frequency of drug-induced gynecomastia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, Rangel College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Kingsville, TX 78363-8202, USA. bowman@pharmacy.tamhsc.edu
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: Hyunah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bustamante
mesh_terms: D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D006177:Gynecomastia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000728:Androgens; D004967:Estrogens; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors