Megestrol acetate for treatment of anorexia‐cachexia syndrome
Anorexia‐cachexia syndrome (ACS) is a common clinical problem characterised by loss of appetite and weight loss. It is common in patients who suffer from advanced cancer, AIDS and some other conditions. At present, there is no cure for ACS.
Megestrol acetate (MA) is classified as a female hormone and is taken by mouth. It is currently used to improve appetite and to increase weight in ACS.
This updated review shows that:
MA improves appetite and has a small effect on weight gain;
MA does not improve quality of life;
side effects are more frequent in patients treated with MA.
This review shows that MA is associated with an increased risk of blood clots (which may result in swelling, pain or redness of one extremity and not the other, sudden difficulty in breathing, severe headache or vision changes), fluid retention (resulting in swelling of the feet or hands) and death.
In patients who take MA, approximately one in four will have an increase in their appetite, one in 12 will have an increase in their weight and one in 23 will die.
Limited data are available regarding the safety of using MA, especially in the long term.
Abstract
Background: This is an updated version of a previously published review in The Cochrane Library (2005, Issue 2) on 'Megestrol acetate for the treatment of anorexia‐cachexia syndrome'. Megestrol acetate (MA) is currently used to improve appetite and to increase weight in cancer‐associated anorexia. In 1993, MA was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of anorexia, cachexia or unexplained weight loss in patients with AIDS. The mechanism by which MA increases appetite is unknown and its effectiveness for anorexia and cachexia in neoplastic and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) patients is under investigation.
Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy, effectiveness and safety of MA in palliating anorexia‐cachexia syndrome in patients with cancer, AIDS and other underlying pathologies.
Search methods: We sought studies through an extensive search of electronic databases, journals, reference lists, contact with investigators and other search strategies outlined in the methods. The most recent search for this update was carried out in May 2012.
Selection criteria: Studies were included in the review if they assessed MA compared to placebo or other drug treatments in randomised controlled trials of patients with a clinical diagnosis of anorexia‐cachexia syndrome related to cancer, AIDS or any other underlying pathology.
Data collection and analysis: Two independent review authors conducted data extraction and evaluated methodological quality. We performed quantitative analyses using appetite and quality of life as a dichotomous variable, and analysed weight gain as continuous and dichotomous variables.
Main results: We included 35 trials in this update, the same number but not the same trials as in the previous version of the review. The trials comprised 3963 patients for effectiveness and 3180 for safety. Sixteen trials compared MA at different doses with placebo, seven trials compared different doses of MA with other drug treatments and 10 trials compared different doses of MA. Meta‐analysis showed a benefit of MA compared with placebo, particularly with regard to appetite improvement and weight gain in cancer, AIDS and other underlying conditions, and lack of benefit in the same patients when MA was compared to other drugs. There was insufficient information to define the optimal dose of MA, but higher doses were more related to weight improvement than lower doses. Quality of life improvement in patients was seen only when comparing MA versus placebo but not other drugs in both subcategories: cancer and AIDS. Oedema, thromboembolic phenomena and deaths were more frequent in the patients treated with MA. More than 40 side effects were studied.
Authors' conclusions: This review shows that MA improves appetite and is associated with slight weight gain in cancer, AIDS and in patients with other underlying pathology. Despite the fact that these patients are receiving palliative care they should be informed of the risks involved in taking MA.
Editorial Group: Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group.
Publication status: New search for studies and content updated (conclusions changed).
Citation: Ruiz Garcia V, López‐Briz E, Carbonell Sanchis R, Gonzalvez Perales JL, Bort‐Marti S. Megestrol acetate for treatment of anorexia‐cachexia syndrome. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD004310. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004310.pub3.
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0012691/
Friday, June 5, 2026
Pentoxifylline (Trental) - Blood Flow - Patient guide - What to expect
Using trental pentoxifylline safely depends on clear expectations, proper timing, and honest communication about side effects as they arise. Patients who engage actively with their treatment plan tend to report better experiences than those who treat prescription as passive event. It is commonly chosen for patients treating poor circulation that causes leg pain or cramping during activity. Benefit often builds with correct dosing and reasonable expectations rather than immediate dramatic change. Patients who track symptoms honestly usually give their clinician better information to guide later adjustments. Patients can review https://lucasclinic.com/blood-flow/trental-pentoxifylline/ for basic orientation before or after starting treatment. That material frames medicine inside real clinical decisions rather than generic advice, which helps patients separate routine experiences from things that actually need review. Most medication setbacks start with ordinary disruption. Travel, illness, added over the counter products, or inconsistent timing can all shift results in ways that confuse later analysis. Stable routines give clinicians cleaner data to work with. Patients should also remember that treatment sits inside circulation support, not in isolation. Sleep, diet, hydration, activity, and underlying conditions all shape how well plan works. Follow up visits should review whole pattern rather than one symptom in a vacuum. Safety planning should stay plain and direct. Patients should report dizziness, chest pain, arrhythmia, nausea that does not settle, or worsening pain despite continued use rather than hoping the body will work things out on its own. Fast communication often resolves medication related concerns much more easily than delayed ones. General guidance for this medication category is collected at https://lucasclinic.com/blood-flow/. That broader view can support more productive questions at the next visit and more realistic expectations while waiting for results. Patients rarely need a perfect routine, but they do need honest reporting, steady habits, and enough follow up to catch problems before they grow into larger disruptions that require more time to reverse.
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