Treatment of Anorexia and Weight Loss with Megestrol Acetate in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Four patients with severe cystic fibrosis lung disease, anorexia and weight loss, received Megestrol Acetate (MA), as an appetite stimulant. The initial dose was 400-800 mg daily and was continued for 6-15 months. Appetite was improved, with significant weight gain in all patients and an increase in their weight for age percentile from <5% at the start of the study to approximately the 25(th) percentile after 6 months of use and improvement in quality of life. One patient discontinued MA after 6 months, and subsequently appetite and weight were depressed.