Diethylstilbestrol dipalmitate (brand names Palmestril, Stilpalmitate), also known as stilpalmitate, is a

synthetic Synthetic things are composed of multiple parts, often with the implication that they are artificial. In particular, 'synthetic' may refer to: Science * Synthetic chemical or compound, produced by the process of chemical synthesis * Synthetic o ...

nonsteroidal A nonsteroidal compound is a drug that is not a steroid nor a steroid derivative. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are distinguished from corticosteroids as a class of anti-inflammatory agents. List of nonsteroidal steroid receptor mod ...

estrogen Estrogen or oestrogen is a category of sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics. There are three major endogenous estrogens that have estrogenic hormonal acti ...

of the

stilbestrol Stilbestrol, or stilboestrol, also known as 4,4'-dihydroxystilbene or 4,4'-stilbenediol, is a stilbenoid nonsteroidal estrogen and the parent compound of a group of more potent nonsteroidal estrogen derivatives that includes, most notably, dieth ...

group and an

ester In chemistry, an ester is a compound derived from an oxoacid (organic or inorganic) in which at least one hydroxyl group () is replaced by an alkoxy group (), as in the substitution reaction of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. Glycerides ar ...

diethylstilbestrol Diethylstilbestrol (DES), also known as stilbestrol or stilboestrol, is a nonsteroidal estrogen medication, which is presently rarely used. In the past, it was widely used for a variety of indications, including pregnancy support for those with a ...

(DES) that was formerly marketed but is now no longer available. Its actions and uses are essentially the same as those of DES, but it is absorbed more slowly and for this reason has a much longer

duration of action Pharmacodynamics (PD) is the study of the biochemical and physiologic effects of drugs (especially pharmaceutical drugs). The effects can include those manifested within animals (including humans), microorganisms, or combinations of organisms (for ...

and improved

tolerability Tolerability refers to the degree to which overt adverse effects of a drug can be tolerated by a patient. Tolerability of a particular drug can be discussed in a general sense, or it can be a quantifiable measurement as part of a clinical study. U ...

in comparison. A single 5 mg

intramuscular injection Intramuscular injection, often abbreviated IM, is the injection of a substance into a muscle. In medicine, it is one of several methods for parenteral administration of medications. Intramuscular injection may be preferred because muscles have ...

of DES dipalmitate in

oil solution An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is composed primarily of hydrocarbons and is hydrophobic (does not mix with water) & lipophilic (mixes with other oils). Oils are usually flammable and surface active. Most oils are unsaturated ...

has been found to have an average

of 8 to 10 weeks in terms of relief of

menopausal symptoms Menopause, also known as the climacteric, is the time in women's lives when menstrual periods stop permanently, and they are no longer able to bear children. Menopause usually occurs between the age of 47 and 54. Medical professionals often d ...

, with a duration of as long as 15 to 16 weeks occurring in some women. A single 15 or 20 mg intramuscular injection of DES dipalmitate in oil solution will control menopausal symptoms for 3 months or longer. DES dipalmitate in

aqueous suspension In chemistry, a suspension is a Mixture#Homogeneous and heterogeneous mixtures, heterogeneous mixture of a fluid that contains solid particles sufficiently large for sedimentation. The particles may be macroscopic, visible to the naked eye, usual ...

by intramuscular injection has been studied as well.

References

Abandoned drugs Estrogen esters Phenols Palmitate esters Synthetic estrogens {{Genito-urinary-drug-stub

See also

References