The most common side effect of MGA is weight gain, with an incidence of 15 to 70% at the high dosages used to treat breast cancer. Other side effects include vaginal bleeding (7–8%), nausea (7%), and edema (5%), as well as others such as dizziness and shortness of breath. MGA can cause hypogonadism and associated symptoms like diminished secondary sexual characteristics, sexual dysfunction, osteoporosis, and reversible infertility in men and premenopausal women. Combining MGA with an androgen/anabolic steroid like oxandrolone, nandrolone decanoate, or testosterone in men can alleviate MGA-associated symptoms of hypoandrogenism as well as further increase appetite and weight gain. Less common but more serious side effects of MGA include cardiovascular/thromboembolic complications such as thrombophlebitis. It may also cause glucocorticoid side effects such as Cushing syndrome-like symptoms, steroid diabetes, and adrenal insufficiency at high dosages. Case reports of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, jaundice, intrahepatic cholestasis, and meningiomas in association with high-dosage MGA have been published. In older patients who take MGA, one in 23 will have an adverse event leading to death.
Megestrol acetate
Hexestrol
Gestodene
Fosfestrol
Moxestrol
Dienestrol
Pentagestrone acetate
Dimestrol