DIETHYLSTILBESTROL
(For veterinary information only)
IMPORTANT NOTE: Consult with your veterinarian if your pet experiences lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst and urination, lethargy, or bleeding while being treated with diethylstilbestrol.
As with all medications, it is extremely important that this medication be used ONLY for the pet for which it is prescribed.
BRAND NAME: STILBESTROL®
HOW THIS MEDICATION IS USED
Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is primarily used in the treatment of sphincter tone incontinence in female dogs. DES is used at extremely low doses thus avoiding any toxicity issues that have been a problem for estrogen derivative medications.
If the incontinence is not controlled after one week of DES therapy, then DES will not be effective for your dog. If it is effective, you may need to treat once every 3-10 days to control the incontinence. Most dogs need to be treated long term, but some dogs may only need to be treated seasonally or for several months.
DES is also sometimes used to treat some forms of prostate disease, as well as some cases of the hormonal skin disease called as Alopecia X.
SIDE EFFECTS
No side effects are expected at the doses of DES used to treat urinary incontinence.
At higher doses, estrogens such as DES can be suppressive to the bone marrow leading to dangerous drops in red cell count, white cell count, and/or platelet count.
At higher doses DES may also cause signs of estrus, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, vaginal discharge, pyometra (infection in the uterus), lethargy, increased water intake and urination, and bleeding. High doses have rarely even resulted in death.
DES use in males may cause feminization.
INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER DRUGS
Some more refractory cases of urinary incontinence may require the use of DES in combination with phenylpropanolamine, another medication used in the treatment of incontinence. These two medications together may succeed whereas either may have failed alone.
DES may not work as well in the presence of phenobarbital (anti-seizure medication), phenylbutazone (an NSAID), or rifampin (an antibiotic). These medications all act by making the enzyme systems that rid the body of medications more efficient.
Anticoagulants may not work as well in the presence of DES.
Estrogens may increase effects of corticosteroids, thereby decreasing normal adrenal gland function.
CONCERNS AND CAUTIONS
Give this medication with food. Follow your veterinarian's instructions carefully.
It is NOT to be used during pregnancy or nursing. Miscarriage or birth defects will result if used during pregnancy.
DES is not to be used in pets with cancers that may be caused or promoted by estrogens, such as mammary (breast) cancer, or in pets with bone marrow suppression.
It is not to be used in males that are to be used for breeding.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 672-7800.