Re: Interesting little tidbit about diabetes and irregular menstral cycles...Ketoconazole...ask your doctors about this...
From: Barbra (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 19 Feb 2002 22:16:31 -0600 (CST)
At Tue, 19 Feb 2002, Sally wrote:
>
Hello Sally,
Once again I am confused.I am on this ketoconazole..50mgs per day.
The doctor said it was glucorticoids,but now that I read the post on it
..I am unsure,I am on 500mgs per day of the MET.I feel worse.Just
drained and exhausted with diarreha to boot.I don't know what this
doctor means when he said that it blocks the production of
cortisol.,this is not what I read.Here is a very interesting post about
it...type in the Ketoconazole and see what you get.Seems they are using
it to treat PCOS.
Here it is:
"Low-Dose Ketoconazole Attenuates Ovarian Response in Polycystic Ovary
Syndrome
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WESTPORT, Jul 28 (Reuters Health) - Patients with polycystic ovary
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
syndrome may benefit
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
from low doses of ketoconazole to reduce ovarian estrogen synthesis
during induction of
ovulation, according to researchers in Israel. The findings appear in
the July 1st issue of
Fertility and Sterility.
Dr. Michael Gal and colleagues at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
first administered
gonadotropins to 18 women with polycystic ovary syndrome on days 5 to 9
of their menstrual
cycles. During a second cycle, "...the exact hMG starting dosage was
applied for 5 days." The
Israeli clinicians adjusted the dose of gonadotropins, based on serum E2
levels and follicular
measurements, when necessary to attain ovulation.
The study subjects were randomized to receive ketoconazole by two
protocols during one of
the two cycles. Dr. Gal and others administered ketoconazole in a
daily dose of 50 mg or an
alternate dose of 50 mg every other day.
Dr. Gal's team reports that although higher doses of gonadotropins were
needed in cycles
with ketoconazole, the peak E2 levels were reduced by 53% with the daily
protocol, and they
were reduced by 18% with the alternate protocol. The number of lead
follicles did not differ
between treatments.
None of the common side effects of ketoconazole, such as nausea and
vomiting, were
observed in any of the patients.
"Ketoconazole significantly reduced the number of hyperstimulated
cycles...thus yielding a
higher pregnancy rate per patient," the authors report. "Such mild
inhibition of
steroidogenesis and its short half-life make ketoconazole a suitable
clinical tool in ovulation
induction."
Fertil Steril 1999;72:26-31.
>Hi Barbara,
>
>Welcome back! Glad that your new specialist is working with you and that
>you are getting treatment for the IR (and PCOS). What dose of the
>glucocorticoid are you on? The PCOS bood by Thatcher mentions the use of
>low dose glucocorticoids for treatment for some types of PCOS.
>Glucocorticosteroids help suppress immune response. You might want to
>read up - but don't be scared off - they do have their place when
>prescribed and used properly.
>
>Gotta go now 8pm and still in the office and better go to eat soon
>feeling light headed....
>
>Go slowly with the met. If the side effects are too bad, reduce the
>dose and build up more slowly. Are you feeling any different yet? Hope
>this works and helps.
>
>Best wishes and talk to you later.
>
>--
>Sally
>
--
Sincerely,
Barbra Camara
![[ PCOS Discussion Forums ]](../../images/pcos_at_obgyn.gif)