HealthdirectFree Australian health advice you can count on.

X G03HA01(WHO) In general: ℞ (Prescription only) (2aR,3aS,3bS,3cS,5aS,6R,8aS,8bR)-6-acetyl-10-chloro-3b,5a-dimethyl-2-oxo-2,2a,3,3a,3b,3c,4,5,5a,6,7,8,8a,8b-tetradecahydrocyclopenta[a]cyclopropa[g]phenanthren-6-yl acetate 427-51-0Y2098-66-0 (free alcohol) 9880 2865 DB04839 9496Y 4KM2BN5JHF D01368 CHEBI:50743Y ChEMBL139835Y DTXSID5020366 Interactive image CC(=O)[C@]1(CC[C@@H]2[C@@]1(CC[C@H]3[C@H]2C=C(C4=CC(=O)[C@@H]5C[C@@H]5[C@]34C)Cl)C)OC(=O)C InChI=1S/C24H29ClO4/c1-12(26)24(29-13(2)27)8-6-16-14-10-20(25)19-11-21(28)18(15)23(19,4)17(14)5-7-22(16,24)3/h10-11,14-18H,5-9H2,1-4H3/t14-,15+,16-,17-,18-,22-,23-,24-/m0/s1Key:UWFYSQMTEOIJJG-FDTZYFLXSA-N Cyproterone acetate(CPA), sold alone under the brand nameAndrocurorwith ethinylestradiolunder the brand namesDianeorDiane-35among others, is anantiandrogenandprogestinmedication used in the treatment ofandrogen-dependent conditionssuch asacne,excessive body hair growth,early puberty, andprostate cancer, as a component offeminizing hormone therapyfortransgender individuals, and inbirth control pills.It is formulated and used both alone and in combination with anestrogen.‍​‍‍‍​‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍​‍ CPA is takenby mouthone to three times per day. Commonside effectsof high-dose CPA in men includegynecomastia(breast development) andfeminization. In both men and women, possible side effects of CPA includelow sex hormone levels, reversibleinfertility,sexual dysfunction,fatigue,depression,weight gain, andelevated liver enzymes. With prolonged use,brain tumorspromptingsurgeryare common, from 5% at high dosesto 2% at low doses. At very high doses in older individuals, significantcardiovascularcomplications can occur[vague]. Rare but serious adverse reactions of CPA includeblood clots, andliver damage. CPA can also causeadrenal insufficiencyas awithdrawaleffect if it is discontinued abruptly from a high dosage. CPA blocks the effects ofandrogenssuch astestosteronein the body, which it does by preventing them from interacting with theirbiological target, theandrogen receptor(AR), and by reducing theirproductionby thegonads, hence their concentrations in the body.In addition, it hasprogesterone-like effects by activating theprogesterone receptor(PR).It can also produce weakcortisol-like effects at very high doses. CPA was discovered in 1961.It was originally developed as a progestin.In 1965, the antiandrogenic effects of CPA were discovered.CPA was first marketed, as an antiandrogen, in 1973, and was the first antiandrogen to be introduced for medical use.A few years later, in 1978, CPA was introduced as a progestin in a birth control pill.It has been described as a "first-generation" progestinand as the prototypical antiandrogen.CPA is available widely throughout the world.An exception is theUnited States, where it is not approved for use.