hales look up x-posted

[trylyn5]

I posted this a couple days ago on the general board and didn't get a response

megace/megesterol

Thanks!

[Amy_G_]

not in my book.
search here as a guest.
http://neonatal.ama.ttuhsc.edu/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi?pg=topics

[trylyn5]

bummer. It's not listed on the site either. Since I'm not a professional I can't ask questions. My ob prescribed this for post-partum bleeding rather than actually check to see if it was abnormal. I ended up having retained part of the placenta. I didn't end up taking it for long because it made me EXTREMELY angry and volatile. Not a good match for a new mom. Because of my care (or lack there of) I'm considering filing a report with the state medical board but want to be sure of my information first.

[Amy_G_]

google it and see if it goes by any other names.

[trylyn5]

I found info. I should have been told to stop breastfeeding while taking it because of potential serious side effects in the baby. I am beyond furious right now.

ETA: At least I was only on it a couple days instead of the month she prescribed it for.

[Amy_G_]

what info did you find?

[trylyn5]

Two different sites says that Megestrol should not be used during pregnancy because the risk of fetal harm. Women should use an effective form of birth control while taking this. Megestrol is also secreted in breastmilk and because of potential harm, nursing should be stopped while using this drug. I don't usually see such strong language used concerning meds and breastfeeding. Usually, it's just consult your doctor.

It's a high dose progesterone used to treat breast an uterine cancer. I remember when dh picked it up from the pharmacy the pharmacist thought it was an odd thing to prescribe and the dosage was odd too. I had to cut the tablets in half. I don't remember if he asked about breastfeeding with it and I didn't get the message from my ob until after they stopped answering their phone on Friday afternoon and by Monday I knew I couldn't take it.

[Amy_G_]

If it's classes as a type of Progesterone I honestly wouldn't worry. MANY drugs have the SYA warnings against not taking while breastfeeding or pregnancy. You aren't supposed to take progesterone during pregnancy, but then again, many women are prescribed progesterone in early pregnancy to prevent miscarriage. the mini pill is progestin only, and is recommended for breastfeeding mothers.

Of course, since this is a "new variation" of Progesterone, it may have other side effects on breastfeeding that have not been fully researched. which is why the manufacturer says do not breastfeed.

adult doseage of regular progesterone is 90mg a day.
Progesterone is approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics for use in breastfeeding mothers, and is rated an L3.
The effect on the nursing infant is generally unknown,(why it's rated L3 instead of better) but it is believed minimal to none as progesterone is poorly bioavailable to the infant via milk.

Poorly bioavailable means, your are taking it orally, and very little would be absorbed into your system. if some enters breastmilk, very little would be absorbed orally into your baby's system.

[trylyn5]

Thank You!

[KerryS]

High doses of progesterone may inhibit prolactin, which can cause your milk to dry up.

[Amy_G_]

High doses of progesterone may inhibit prolactin, which can cause your milk to dry up.
That is a concern. Megestrol comes in some large doseages doesn't it?
what was the doseage if you took half a pill?

[Amy_G_]

Megace 20 mg-light-blue, scored tablets

Megace 40 mg-light-blue, scored tablets

If you had one of those and took half a dose, I don't think that would be considered a high level of progesterone, would it?

[KerryS]

That wouldn't seem high to me. I was just responding to what she wrote here:

It's a high dose progesterone used to treat breast an uterine cancer.

[Amy_G_]

Usually to treat cancers it's supposed to be taken in the 300mg's which made me think maybe the pills are a high dose. 20-40mg is not that high, AAP says 90mg is ok.

[trylyn5]

I don't have the bottle here so I'm not sure. It was probably in the safe range. What frustrates me is that I was already having supply issues at the time and the meds were to help clear up post partum bleeding that was going on and on after my c-section. I was diagnosed with fibroids when I really had tissue left from delivery. This was verified by a follow up ultrasound that showed my "fibroid" was missing after passing a bunch of tissue. (i'd passed it at 10 weeks pp). I magically had enough milk after that too.

If you've already read this from me before...I apologize. I obviously am still dealing with some anger over this.

[madelsmama]

The pills I've had experience with are in small increments, like Amy said. I've administered it as an appetite stimulant in liquid form with doses of 400-800mg at a time.

I've never seen it prescribed within the hospital realm of oncology as a treatment for cancer but am aware of that possibilty.

Trylyn, don't apologize. I am in awe by all that you have overcome.

Is it not in Hale's reference book? I already checked his website for info and came up empty handed.