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160 mg

Strip (5): ৳375.00 Box (3 × 5 = 15): ৳1,125.00

৳75.00 per tablet

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A

Apemeg

Rx

160 mg • Tablet

Megestrol Acetate • Renata PLC

🌐 বাংলায় দেখুন

From ৳75.00 per tablet

Available as: 160 mg · 3 x 5

Indications & Uses

Apemeg is indicated for:

Cancer

Pharmacology

Megestrol Acetate is a synthetic drug with both antineoplastic and progestational activity. The precise mechanism by which it produces its antineoplastic effect against endometrial carcinoma is not yet known, though inhibition of pituitary gonadotrophin production, and the resulting drop in estrogen secretion, may play a part. Against breast cancer, its antineoplastic action works by modifying the action of other steroid hormones and by exerting a direct cytotoxic effect on tumor cells. In metastatic cancer, hormone receptors may be present in some tissues but absent in others. The receptor mechanism is a cyclic process: estrogen produced by the ovaries enters the target cell, forms a complex with a cytoplasmic receptor, and is carried into the cell nucleus, where it induces gene transcription and alters normal cell function. At pharmacologic doses, megestrol acetate not only reduces the number of hormone-dependent human breast cancer cells but is also able to modify and abolish the stimulatory effects of estrogen on these cells.

Estimates of plasma levels of Megestrol Acetate depend on the measurement method used. Peak plasma concentrations are reached 2 to 3 hours after a single oral dose of a 160 mg tablet. The plasma half-life of Megestrol Acetate is 33 to 38 hours, with approximately 66% of an administered dose excreted in the urine and about 20% in the faeces.

Dosage Reference

Reference Information Only

Dosages shown are general references from official sources. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized dosing.

Adults:

For Tablet

For breast cancer, the dose is 160 mg per day. For endometrial carcinoma, the dose is 40 to 320 mg per day, taken in divided doses. At least 2 months of continuous treatment is considered an adequate period for judging whether Megestrol is working.

Dosage for other forms (1)

Oral Suspension

The recommended starting dose for adults is 800 mg per day (20 ml per day) of Megestrol Oral Suspension.

Side Effects

Weight gain is a frequent side effect of Apemeg when it is used in patients with cancer of the breast or endometrium. This gain is associated with increased appetite, and it is this effect that forms the basis for using Apemeg in patients with anorexia, cachexia or weight loss. The weight gain is associated with an increase in fat and body cell mass. Untoward reactions reported in patients receiving Apemeg include nausea, vomiting, edema and breakthrough uterine bleeding; these occur in approximately 1% to 2% of patients. Gynecomastia and loss of hearing have also been reported. Dyspnea, heart failure, hypertension, hot flashes, mood changes, Cushingoid facies, tumor flare (with or without hypercalcemia), hyperglycemia, alopecia, carpal tunnel syndrome and rash have also occurred. Thromboembolic phenomena, including thrombophlebitis and pulmonary embolism (in some cases fatal), have also been reported.

Cautions & Contraindications

Warnings & Precautions

Apemeg should be used with caution in patients with a history of thrombophlebitis and in those with severely impaired liver function. Treatment with Apemeg should be supervised by a specialist, and patients should be kept under regular surveillance. Apemeg can exert adrenocortical effects, and this should be borne in mind during patient surveillance. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine. Insufficient data from clinical studies of megestrol acetate are available for patients aged 65 years and older to determine whether they respond differently from younger patients. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between elderly and younger patients. In general, use in elderly patients should be cautious, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy. Apemeg is known to be substantially excreted by the kidney, and the risk of toxic reactions to Apemeg may be greater in patients with impaired renal function. Because elderly patients are more likely to have decreased renal function, care should be taken during treatment with Apemeg, and it may be useful to monitor renal function.

Contraindications

Do not use if you have had an allergic reaction to Megestrol Acetate or any ingredient in the product, or if you are or may be pregnant.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Megestrol Acetate is not advised for use during pregnancy. Reports have linked exposure to progestational drugs in the first trimester with genital abnormalities in both male and female foetuses. There isn't enough data to say precisely how much risk this poses to female foetuses, but some drugs in this class are known to cause mild virilisation of the external genitalia in females.

If a woman is exposed to Megestrol Acetate during the first four months of pregnancy, or becomes pregnant while taking it, she should be made aware of these potential risks to the foetus. Women who could become pregnant should be advised to avoid doing so while on this medicine. Because of the potential for adverse effects in the infant, breastfeeding should be stopped during treatment with Megestrol Acetate.

⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Use in Special Populations

Pediatric use: Safety and effectiveness of Megestrol Acetate in children have not been established.

Geriatric use: There isn't enough data from clinical studies of Megestrol Acetate tablets in patients aged 65 years and older to say whether they respond differently from younger patients.

Overdose

Studies of Megestrol Acetate at doses as high as 1600 mg/day for six months or more have not shown any acute toxic effects. Reports of overdose have also come in since the medicine was marketed. The signs and symptoms reported were diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, cough, unsteady gait, listlessness and chest pain. There is no specific antidote for a Megestrol Acetate overdose, so in case of overdose, appropriate supportive measures should be taken.

⚠️ In an emergency call 999 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Storage

Keep Megestrol Acetate in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C, and protect it from light and moisture. As with all medicines, keep it out of reach of children.

Common questions about Apemeg 160 mg

What is Apemeg 160 mg Tablet?

Apemeg 160 mg Tablet is a medicine that contains Megestrol Acetate. It is made by Renata PLC.

What is Apemeg used for?

Apemeg is used for: Cancer.

What are the side effects of Apemeg?

Weight gain is a frequent side effect of Apemeg when it is used in patients with cancer of the breast or endometrium. This gain is associated with increased appetite, and it is this effect that forms the basis for using Apemeg in patients with anorexia, cachexia or weight loss.

Can I take Apemeg during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

Megestrol Acetate is not advised for use during pregnancy. Reports have linked exposure to progestational drugs in the first trimester with genital abnormalities in both male and female foetuses. Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

What happens if I take too much Apemeg?

Studies of Megestrol Acetate at doses as high as 1600 mg/day for six months or more have not shown any acute toxic effects. Reports of overdose have also come in since the medicine was marketed. In an emergency call 999 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

How should I store Apemeg?