What is the Difference between Megace ES and Megace^®?

The makers at Par Pharmaceutical understand that patients who may be sick or have difficulty eating may have trouble swallowing anything— including medication. They kept this in mind when they designed Megace ES.

In clinical studies, the “nonfasting” or “fed” condition constitutes a subject having consumed a high-calorie (800 to 1000), high-fat (approximately 50% of total calories) meal. The FDA example meal is 2 eggs fried in butter, 2 strips of bacon, 2 slices of toast with butter, 4 ounces of hash brown potatoes and 8 ounces of whole milk.¹²

Megace ES is bioequivalent to Megace (megestrol acetate oral suspension) in people who have eaten (fed condition). However, Megace ES provides important differences compared with original Megace :

• Improved bioavailability in people who have not eaten

• Less to take—1 teaspoon instead of 4 teaspoons daily

• Less thickness—may make it easier to swallow than the original formula

Megace ES utilizes NanoCrystal^® technology to improve solubility over that of original Megace. This technology creates extremely small drug particles with enhanced surface area.¹⁴ This helps Megace ES dissolve faster and absorb better.

Unlike the original Megace, Megace ES is concentrated. This means there is less to take—just one teaspoon of Megace ES (5 mL) daily vs 4 teaspoons (20 mL) daily of Megace.

Megace ES is less thick than Megace and some over-the-counter drugs, including Mylanta^®. On a thickness scale, Megace ES measures at 10 (similar to milk) versus Megace at 163 (similar to Mylanta).⁶ Less thickness (low number) means Megace ES may be much easier to swallow.

Megace ES is available as a 150 mL bottle, which is equivalent to a 30-day supply; Megace (megestrol acetate oral suspension) is available as a 240 mL bottle, which is equivalent to a 12-day supply; or as a 480 mL bottle, which is equivalent to a 24-day supply.^* At the recommended daily dose, Megace ES equates to 1 prescription per month.¹

Click here to save on your first Megace ES prescription.

One teaspoon daily – without regards to meals. That’s Megace ES.

^*Megace ES is also offered in a 5mL dose bottle for an accurate hospital unit dose (HUD).

NanoCrystal^® Technology is a registered trademark of Elan Pharma International Limited.
Mylanta^® is a registered trademark of Johnson & Johnson-Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co.

For full product information, click here.

© 2007 Par Pharmaceutical, Inc. All rights reserved. Par licensed the Megace name from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.