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|Megestrol Suspension

Megestrol Suspension

Megestrol Suspension is used for:

Treating loss of appetite, weight loss due to disease or emotional illness, or unexplained significant weight loss in AIDS patients. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Megestrol Suspension is a progesterone hormone. Exactly how it works to treat loss of appetite and weight loss is unknown.

Do NOT use Megestrol Suspension if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Megestrol Suspension
• you are pregnant or suspect that you could be pregnant
• you have undiagnosed vaginal bleeding
• you have had a stroke or are taking dofetilide

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Megestrol Suspension:

Some medical conditions may interact with Megestrol Suspension. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have diabetes or cancer
• if you have a history of blood clotting problems (eg, clots in the lungs, legs, or elsewhere)

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Megestrol Suspension. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Rifampin because the effectiveness of Megestrol Suspension may be decreased
• Dofetilide because the risk of heart problems, including irregular heartbeat, may be increased
• Indinavir because effectiveness may be decreased by Megestrol Suspension

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Megestrol Suspension may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Megestrol Suspension:

Use Megestrol Suspension as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Megestrol Suspension may be taken with or without food.
• Shake well before using a dose of Megestrol Suspension.
• Use the dosage measuring cup that comes with Megestrol Suspension to measure your dose. Ask your pharmacist for help if you are unsure of how to measure your dose.
• If you miss a dose of Megestrol Suspension, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once. If more than one dose is missed, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Megestrol Suspension.

Important safety information:

• While using or being taken off Megestrol Suspension, your body may not produce enough natural steroids. You may need to start taking additional corticosteroids (eg, hydrocortisone) especially if your body is stressed because of a major infection, surgery, or injury. Contact your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur: unusual weakness, weight loss, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Tell your doctor or pharmacist that you use or have used Megestrol Suspension.
• Megestrol Suspension is not intended for use in the prevention of weight loss.
• Megestrol Suspension may cause diabetes or high blood sugar (eg, thirst, increased urination, confusion, drowsiness, flushing, rapid breathing, fruity breath odor). If these symptoms occur, tell your doctor immediately.
• Diabetes patients - Megestrol Suspension may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely and ask your doctor before adjusting the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• Use Megestrol Suspension with extreme caution in CHILDREN. Safety and effectiveness have not been confirmed.
• Use a nonhormonal method of birth control (eg, condoms) if you are capable of becoming pregnant.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not use Megestrol Suspension if you are pregnant. If you suspect that you could be pregnant, contact your doctor immediately. Megestrol Suspension is excreted in the breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Megestrol Suspension.

Possible side effects of Megestrol Suspension:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Breast tenderness; headache; indigestion; trouble sleeping; weakness; weight gain.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); calf pain or tenderness; chest pain; decreased sexual desire or ability; depression; dizziness; fever; increased appetite, thirst, or urination; irregular heartbeat; leg pain; muscle weakness; nausea; seizures; shortness of breath; swelling of the ankles or fingers; unexplained vaginal bleeding; unusual thoughts; unusual weight gain in the face; vomiting.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately.

Store at room temperature, between 59 and 77 degrees F (15 and 25 degrees C), in a tightly closed container. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Megestrol Suspension out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Megestrol Suspension, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Megestrol Suspension is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Megestrol Suspension. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.