How to talk to your pharmacist about Megace ES

Your pharmacist is there to help. He or she can talk to you about the medication your doctor prescribes. Below are some tips that can help you talk to your pharmacist.

Megace ES has no generic substitute

There is no generic substitute for Megace ES.³ Although your pharmacist may offer you a generic, it is not the same as Megace ES and may not provide all of the benefits of Megace ES.

Megace ES is absorbed whether or not you have eaten.*¹ You only need to take 1 teaspoon once daily, compared to 4 teaspoons once daily when you take original formula Megace.^† Original formula Megace has a consistency similar to Mylanta^®‡6 while Megace ES has a consistency similar to whole milk, which may make Megace ES easier to swallow.

Questions you can ask if your pharmacist suggests an alternative

Don’t be afraid to ask your pharmacist questions, especially if you are unclear about something. Remember, there’s no generic substitute for Megace ES.³ If your pharmacist offers you an alternative, have him or her contact your healthcare provider.
Below are some questions you can ask:

• What is the difference between the alternate product and Megace ES?

• Do I need to take it with food?

• Sometimes I have trouble swallowing. Which medication may be easier to take?

• How much do I have to take? How often?

• How thick is the alternate product vs. Megace ES?

*Clinical significance unknown. Megace ES has improved absorption over original formula Megace in people who have not eaten (the unfed state). For people who have eaten (fed condition), Megace ES and original formula Megace have similar absorption into the body. The fed condition is achieved by subjects eating a high-calorie (800-1000 calories) and high-fat (approximately 50% of total calories) meal.¹⁶

^†Megestrol acetate oral suspension.

^‡Mylanta is a registered trademark of Johnson & Johnson-Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co.