Diethylstilbestrol

Oral
Palliative treatment of malignant breast neoplasms in postmenopausal women

Oral
Advanced prostatic carcinoma

Vaginal
Menopausal atrophic vaginitis

Use with caution.

Use with caution.

Pregnancy, thromboembolic disease, porphyria; breast cancer (with exceptions).

CV disease; hepatic and renal impairment.

GI disturbances, CV and CNS side effects, jaundice, impotence. Feminization, impotence and gynaecomastia in men. Withdrawal and breakthrough bleeding, irregular menses, amenorrhoea in women. Hypercalcaemia, chloasma, keratoconus, contact lenses intolerance, altered carbohydrate metabolism, loss of diabetic control.

Anticoagulants, liver enzyme inducers, corticosteroids.

Elevated liver function tests.

Description:
Mechanism of Action: Diethylstilbestrol is a synthetic nonsteroidal oestrogen with effects similar to natural oestrogens. It inhibits luteinising hormone secretion by the pituitary, thereby inhibiting testosterone secretion.
Pharmacokinetics:
Absorption: Readily absorbed from the GI tract.
Metabolism: Slowly metabolised in the liver.
Excretion: Excreted in the urine and faeces, mainly as the glucuronide.

Oestrogens, Progesterones & Related Synthetic Drugs