diethylstilbestrol at a glance
Medicine class
Synthetic non-steroidal oestrogen and endocrine cancer treatment
Licensed use
Castration-resistant prostate cancer when alternative treatments are unsuitable
Administration
Film-coated tablets swallowed with water
Important risk
Blood clots and cardiovascular complications
What is diethylstilbestrol used for?
This treatment is licensed for malignant disease in a specialist setting.
Castration-resistant prostate cancer when alternative treatments are unsuitable.
How does diethylstilbestrol work?
Diethylstilbestrol binds to oestrogen receptors inside cells, changing gene transcription and protein production. It reduces androgenic stimulation in prostate cancer; direct effects on cancer cells may also contribute, although its complete mechanism is unknown.
diethylstilbestrol preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 1 mg
How to take diethylstilbestrol
Take it exactly as prescribed by the specialist. Swallow the film-coated tablets with water and do not stop treatment without discussing it with the prescriber.
The product information does not specify whether it should be taken with food.
Do not share the tablets.
diethylstilbestrol side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea, vomiting, headache, migraine, mood changes, fluid retention, weight gain and raised blood pressure have been reported; their frequency is generally unknown.
- Breast tenderness, discomfort, enlargement or discharge, erectile difficulty and reduced testicular size can occur.
- Other reported effects include rash, altered skin pigmentation, contact-lens irritation and reduced glucose tolerance.
Get urgent medical advice
- Blood clots affecting the legs, lungs, heart or brain
- Heart failure or fluid in the lungs
- Cholestatic jaundice or gallstones associated with jaundice
- Severe allergic reaction
diethylstilbestrol in pregnancy
Diethylstilbestrol is contraindicated during pregnancy and in premenopausal women. It is a known human teratogen associated with genital and urinary abnormalities, impaired fertility and later cancers in exposed offspring.
diethylstilbestrol while breastfeeding
Medicine-specific lactation data are unavailable, and the product is contraindicated in premenopausal women. Exposure while breastfeeding requires prompt specialist advice; do not stop prescribed cancer treatment without that advice.
diethylstilbestrol interactions
Tell the prescriber and pharmacist about all prescribed, non-prescribed and complementary treatments.
Diuretics
Diethylstilbestrol may oppose their action, potentially worsening fluid retention or blood-pressure control.
Antihypertensive medicines
It may reduce their blood-pressure-lowering effect.
Insulin and other glucose-lowering medicines
Reduced glucose tolerance may increase treatment requirements in people with diabetes.
Common questions about diethylstilbestrol
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Why is diethylstilbestrol used only when alternatives are unsuitable?
It can cause serious adverse effects, particularly blood clots and cardiovascular complications, and has carcinogenic potential.
Does diethylstilbestrol cure prostate cancer?
It is palliative endocrine treatment used to control resistant prostate cancer; the product information does not describe it as curative.
Can diethylstilbestrol cause blood clots?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.