User:Mr. Ibrahem/Megestrol

Megestrol (MGA), sold under the brand name Megace among others, is a medication mainly used as an appetite stimulant to treat wasting syndromes such as cachexia. It is also used to treat breast cancer and endometrial cancer, and has been used in birth control. MGA is generally formulated alone, though has been combined with estrogens in birth control. It is usually taken by mouth.

Common side effects include weight gain, vaginal bleeding, nausea, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and rash. Other side effects may include blood clots. Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding may harm the baby. It is a manufactured progestin. How it brings about weight gain is unclear.

Megestrol was patented in 1959 and introduced for medical use, specifically in birth control pills, in 1963. It is available as a generic medication. In the United Kingdom 30 tablets of 160 mg costs the NHS about £20 as of 2021. This amount in the United States costs about 23 USD. It is sold in many countries globally.