title: Pharmacy Report: Megestrol Acetate-Induced Adrenal Insufficiency.
abstract: A man aged 65 years with metastatic renal cell carcinoma presented for evaluation after a recent fall. A thorough workup of the case was performed and secondary adrenal insufficiency induced by the administration of megestrol acetate was determined to be the cause. Adrenal insufficiency is a serious disorder that is a potential adverse event of megestrol acetate, a medication used to help patients with cancer cachexia increase their appetite and gain weight. This association is not well recognized in clinical practice, so this case highlights the importance of distinguishing possible endocrine complications induced by the long-term administration or sudden discontinuation of megestrol acetate.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. Sowmya.Nanjappa@Moffitt.org.
authors.forename: Sowmya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nanjappa
authors.forename: Christy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thai
authors.forename: Sweta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Snyder
mesh_terms: D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019290:Megestrol Acetate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D019290:Megestrol Acetate