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  • Title: Desogestrel, norgestimate, and gestodene: the newer progestins.
    Author: Kaplan B.
    Journal: Ann Pharmacother; 1995; 29(7-8):736-42. PubMed ID: 8520092.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: To review and compare the newer progestins desogestrel, norgestimate, and gestodene with regard to chemistry, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and tolerability. DATA SOURCES: Primary literature on desogestrel, norgestimate, and gestodene was identified from a comprehensive MEDLINE English-literature search from 1984 through 1994, with additional studies selected by review of the references. Indexing terms included progestins, desogestrel, gestodene, norgestimate, levonorgestrel, and norgestrel. STUDY SELECTION: Only human clinical and pharmacokinetic trials performed in Europe, Canada, and the US were included. DATA EXTRACTION: All available data from human studies were reviewed; both comparative and noncomparative studies were included because of the paucity of direct comparative information available. DATA SYNTHESIS: The newer progestins were designed to minimize the adverse effects (e.g., acne, hirsuitism, nausea, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism changes) observed with older oral contraceptives (OCs) while maintaining efficacy and good menstrual cycle control. Desogestrel, norgestimate, and gestodene have minimal amounts of androgenicity and antiestrogenic potential. All of these agents are pharmacokinetically similar to older agents: they are highly bioavailable when administered orally, hepatically metabolized, and obtain steady-state concentrations after 8-10 days of continuous administration. The newer agents have similar Pearl Indexes and slightly better cycle control. Furthermore, the new progestins appear to cause fewer adverse effects, such as acne and hirsuitism, and similar rates of weight gain, blood pressure changes, and lipid and carbohydrate metabolism changes. CONCLUSIONS: Desogestrel, norgestimate, and gestodene appear to offer clinical advantages because of their decreased androgenicity. Women whose cycles are currently well controlled with other OCs should not be switched to a newer progestin. However, any of the combination OC products that contain these progestins may be prescribed for women intolerant of older agents or to first-time users of OCs. The newer progestins appear to be efficacious and offer similar cycle control, improved safety and tolerability profiles, and comparable price with the older agents. The objective was to review and compare the chemistry, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and tolerability of the newer progestins desogestrel, norgestimate, and gestodene. Data sources were primary literature on desogestrel, norgestimate, and gestodene identified from a comprehensive MEDLINE English-literature search from 1984 through 1994, with additional studies selected by review of the references. Only human clinical and pharmacokinetic trials performed in Europe, Canada, and the US were included. All available data from human studies were reviewed; both comparative and noncomparative studies were included. The newer progestins were designed to minimize the adverse effects (e.g., acne, hirsutism, nausea, blood pressure elevation, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism changes, hemostatic changes) observed with older oral contraceptives (OCs) while maintaining efficacy and good menstrual cycle control. Desogestrel, norgestimate, and gestodene have minimal amounts of androgenicity and antiestrogenic potential. All of these agents are highly bioavailable when administered orally, hepatically metabolized, and obtain steady-state concentrations after 8-10 days of continuous administration. These agents have similar Pearl Indexes and slightly better cycle control than older agents. They appear to cause fewer adverse effects such as acne and hirsutism, and similar rates of weight gain, blood pressure changes, and lipid and carbohydrate metabolism changes. Desogestrel, norgestimate, and gestodene appear to offer clinical advantages because of their decreased androgenicity; however, available data are based on relatively small studies of short duration. Women whose cycles are currently well controlled with other OCs should not be switched to a newer progestin. However, any of the combination OC products that contain these progestins may be prescribed for women intolerant of older agents or to first-time users of OCs because of their apparent efficacy, improved cycle control, superior safety, tolerability, and comparable prices. Patients who have significant acne or hirsutism with older products and diabetic women may experience clinically significant benefit with the newer agents.
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