Diethylstilbestrol

Health and Nutrition > Medicines > D



How does it work?

Diethylstilbestrol (previously known as stilboestrol in the UK) is a powerful synthetic form of the main female sex hormone, oestrogen. Diethylstilbestrol is occasionally used in the treatment of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is usually dependent on the presence of the male sex hormone, testosterone. Diethylstilbestrol suppresses the effects of testosterone, causing the tumour to shrink. Diethylstilbestrol may also be used, at higher doses, to treat breast cancer in post-menopausal women. It is not fully understood how it works in this situation, but it brings about a reduction in tumour size.

What is it used for?

- Breast cancer
- Prostate cancer

Warning!

- Blood sugar levels should be checked regularly when taking this medicine.
- There may be an increased risk of developing a blood clot (thromboembolism) when taking this medicine and treatment should be discontinued if this occurs.
- Discontinue this medicine before surgery.
- Individuals taking this medicine should have their blood pressure regularly monitored. In the event of an increase in blood pressure, the treatment should be discontinued.
- This medicine may interfere with the results of thyroid function tests.
- There is an increased risk of developing a tumour in the lining of the womb (endometrial tumour) in women taking this medicine.

Use with caution in

- Contact lens wearers
- Decreased kidney function
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Gall stones
- Heart failure
- High blood pressure
- History of jaundice caused by obstruction of the bile duct
- Migraine

Not to be used in

- A history of blood clots in the blood vessels (thromboembolism)
- Acute or severe chronic liver disease
- Breast cancer in pre-menopausal women
- Children
- Conditions leading to formation of blood clots such as an increase in haemoglobin concentration of the blood (polycythaemia), raised blood pressure in the vessels supplying the lungs (pulmonary hypertension) and sickle cell anaemia
- Disease involving the heart and blood vessels
- Disease of the blood vessels in and around the brain
- Fibroids of the uterus
- High levels of protein and fat compounds (lipoproteins) in the blood (hyperlipoproteinaemia)
- History of itchy, blistering rash occurring mainly on the arms/legs during pregnancy (herpes gestationis)
- Life long inherited blood diseases which can cause a variety of symptoms, including mental health problems (porphyrias)
- Moderate to severe high blood pressure
- Overgrowth of the lining of the womb (endometrial hyperplasia)
- Pre-menopausal women
- Pregnancy
- Tumours which grow rapidly in the presence of the hormone oestrogen, eg endometrial cancer
- Vaginal bleeding of unknown cause

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

- This medicine should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

- Headache
- Impotence
- Weight gain
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Abnormal enlargement of breasts in men (gynaecomastia)
- Abnormal production of breast milk (galactorrhoea)
- Retention of water in the body tissues (fluid retention)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Gallstones
- Skin disorders
- Formation of a blood clot in the vessels
- Breast tenderness
- Increase in the size of uterine fibroids
- Irregular brown patches on the skin of the face and elsewhere (chloasma)

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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