Re: Some Prescriptions Worked, Some Didn't

Dear Ron,

Steroids can be some real nasty drugs if you stop taking them without a
slow taper off the meds, so keep in mind if you start to feel crummy and I
wouldn't give the ER a second thought. Just my 2 cents.
Don't read too much in to what these drugs may be used for (one is commonly
used for cancer treatment) there's plenty of reasons for a med to work for
you besides something that serious. They'll use the same med for jock itch
to acne, and everything in between, so don't get too wound up if you can
help it.

Best Luck for a healthy, happy, and pain free New Year--og
I'll give you what I found on the Methitest first:

METHYLTESTOSTERONE - ORAL

(METH-ill-tess-TOSS-ter-own)

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Android, Testred, Virilon

USES: Androgens are hormones used for replacement in males who are not
producing proper amounts of testosterone for various reasons. This
medication is also used in women to treat breast cancer and postpartum
breast pain or engorgement.

HOW TO USE: Use this medication as prescribed. Follow the dosing schedule
carefully. Be sure to ask your doctor if you have any questions. May be
taken with food if stomach upset occurs.

SIDE EFFECTS: This medication may cause stomach upset, headache, and acne.
These effects should disappear as your body adjusts to the medication. Other
side effects may include increased hair growth on the face and body, male
pattern baldness, change in sex drive, anxiety, and depression. Males may
experience enlargement of the breasts and increase in the frequency and
duration of erections. If any of these effects continue or become
bothersome, inform your doctor. Notify your doctor if you experience:
nausea, vomiting, swelling of the hands or feet (edema), jaundice (yellowing
of the eyes or skin, dark urine). In women this may cause menstrual
irregularities, hoarseness, deepening of the voice, clitoral enlargement,
increased facial hair growth, acne or thinning of hair. Notify your doctor
if any of these effects occur. If you notice other effects not listed above,
contact your doctor or pharmacist.

PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: prostate
cancer, breast cancer (males), liver problems, heart disease, kidney
problems, enlarged prostate, allergies. High dosage, long-term use of
androgens has been related to liver cancer. Discuss your medicine with your
doctor/pharmacist. Females should be monitored for signs of virilization,
such as deepening of the voice, facial hair, acne, menstrual irregularity,
or clitoral enlargement. Consult your doctor promptly if any of these
symptoms occur. Use in children should be undertaken with extreme caution
due to the possibility this drug may have undesirable effects related to the
growth of the child. Geriatric men are at higher risk for developing
enlarged prostates or prostate cancer when taking this medication. This drug
must not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant or think you may
be pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. It is not known if this
medication is excreted into breast milk. Because the possibility exists this
medication may have serious, harmful effects on a nursing infant, nursing
should not be undertaken while using this drug. Consult your doctor.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Tell your doctor of any over-the-counter or prescription
medication you may take, including: blood thinners (e.g., warfarin),
imipramine, drugs used for diabetes. Do not start or stop any medicine
without doctor or pharmacist approval.

OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center
or emergency room immediately.

NOTES: Serious, life-threatening side effects may result from the abuse of
this medication. This must be used only for whom it was prescribed for the
condition prescribed. Laboratory tests will be done periodically while
taking this medication to monitor the effects.

MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as remembered; do not take
it if it is near the time for the next dose, instead, skip the missed dose
and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not "double-up" the dose to catch
up.

STORAGE: Store at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 to 30
degrees C) away from heat, light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom.

Now to the Megestrol:

METHYLTESTOSTERONE - ORAL

(METH-ill-tess-TOSS-ter-own)

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Android, Testred, Virilon

USES: Androgens are hormones used for replacement in males who are not
producing proper amounts of testosterone for various reasons. This
medication is also used in women to treat breast cancer and postpartum
breast pain or engorgement.

HOW TO USE: Use this medication as prescribed. Follow the dosing schedule
carefully. Be sure to ask your doctor if you have any questions. May be
taken with food if stomach upset occurs.

SIDE EFFECTS: This medication may cause stomach upset, headache, and acne.
These effects should disappear as your body adjusts to the medication. Other
side effects may include increased hair growth on the face and body, male
pattern baldness, change in sex drive, anxiety, and depression. Males may
experience enlargement of the breasts and increase in the frequency and
duration of erections. If any of these effects continue or become
bothersome, inform your doctor. Notify your doctor if you experience:
nausea, vomiting, swelling of the hands or feet (edema), jaundice (yellowing
of the eyes or skin, dark urine). In women this may cause menstrual
irregularities, hoarseness, deepening of the voice, clitoral enlargement,
increased facial hair growth, acne or thinning of hair. Notify your doctor
if any of these effects occur. If you notice other effects not listed above,
contact your doctor or pharmacist.

PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: prostate
cancer, breast cancer (males), liver problems, heart disease, kidney
problems, enlarged prostate, allergies. High dosage, long-term use of
androgens has been related to liver cancer. Discuss your medicine with your
doctor/pharmacist. Females should be monitored for signs of virilization,
such as deepening of the voice, facial hair, acne, menstrual irregularity,
or clitoral enlargement. Consult your doctor promptly if any of these
symptoms occur. Use in children should be undertaken with extreme caution
due to the possibility this drug may have undesirable effects related to the
growth of the child. Geriatric men are at higher risk for developing
enlarged prostates or prostate cancer when taking this medication. This drug
must not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant or think you may
be pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. It is not known if this
medication is excreted into breast milk. Because the possibility exists this
medication may have serious, harmful effects on a nursing infant, nursing
should not be undertaken while using this drug. Consult your doctor.

DRUG INTERACTIONS: Tell your doctor of any over-the-counter or prescription
medication you may take, including: blood thinners (e.g., warfarin),
imipramine, drugs used for diabetes. Do not start or stop any medicine
without doctor or pharmacist approval.

OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center
or emergency room immediately.

NOTES: Serious, life-threatening side effects may result from the abuse of
this medication. This must be used only for whom it was prescribed for the
condition prescribed. Laboratory tests will be done periodically while
taking this medication to monitor the effects.

MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as remembered; do not take
it if it is near the time for the next dose, instead, skip the missed dose
and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not "double-up" the dose to catch
up.

STORAGE: Store at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 to 30
degrees C) away from heat, light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom.

*******************************************






"Ron" <ryon@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1135760486.530499.16820@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>A while back my doctor prescribed for me Megestrol to improve my
> appetite and Methitest, a steroid. The Megestrol actually did me some
> good and for the first time in a very long time I started gaining
> weight (I gained ten pounds, yay! Only thirty more to go) but the
> steroid didn't seem to do much for me except to make me *feel* buffed,
> so I stopped taking them. Does anybody have any idea of what the
> steroids might've accomplished if I've taken them longer? I'd ask my
> doctor, but she's still on maternity leave for a while.
>
> Ron
>


.