Normethandrone Explained

Normethandrone, also known as methylestrenolone or methylnortestosterone and sold under the brand name Metalutin among others, is a progestin and androgen/anabolic steroid (AAS) medication which is used in combination with an estrogen in the treatment of amenorrhea and menopausal symptoms in women.[1] [2] It is taken by mouth.

Side effects of normethandrone include symptoms of masculinization like acne, increased hair growth, voice changes, and increased sexual desire.[3] It can also cause liver damage. Normethandrone is a progestin, or a synthetic progestogen, and hence is an agonist of the progesterone receptor, the biological target of progestogens like progesterone. It is also a synthetic AAS and hence is an agonist of the androgen receptor, the biological target of androgens like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It has some estrogenic activity as well and no other important hormonal activity.[4]

Normethandrone was introduced for medical use by 1957. It is available only in a few countries, including Brazil, Indonesia, and Venezuela, and is available only in combination with methylestradiol or estradiol valerate.

Medical uses

Normethandrone is used in combination with an estrogen, either methylestradiol or estradiol valerate, in the treatment of amenorrhea and menopausal symptoms in women. It has also been used to treat dysmenorrhea in women.[5] Normethandrone has been used successfully to inhibit libido in men with sexual deviance.[6] Although normethandrone can be classified as an AAS and has strong such effects at sufficiently high doses, it is not typically used as such and is instead used medically only as a progestin.[7] This is because it is so highly progestogenic in comparison.

Available forms

Normethandrone is marketed in combination with methylestradiol in the form of oral tablets containing 5 mg normethandrone and 0.3 mg methylestradiol.[8] [9]

Side effects

Normethandrone has been associated with symptoms of masculinization and hepatotoxicity.[10] [11]

Pharmacology

Pharmacodynamics

Normethandrone shows high progestogenic activity.[12] With sublingual administration in women, it has at least 150 times the potency of sublingual progesterone and 50 times the potency of sublingual ethisterone. It also has 10 times the potency of injected progesterone via this route. The oral potency of normethandrone in terms of endometrial transformation is similar to that of norethisterone.[13] [14] It has been reported to inhibit ovulation in women.[15]

In addition to its progestogenic activity, normethandrone has anabolic and androgenic activity and can produce effects associated with this activity. It has a high ratio of anabolic to androgenic activity.[16] The anabolic potency of normethandrone is similar to that of norethandrolone and is much greater than that of nandrolone or metandienone.[17] It is also greater than that of ethylestrenol. Normethandrone has been found to increase nitrogen retention, a measure of anabolic effect, at a dosage of 30 mg/day.[18] Analogously to nandrolone and norethandrolone, 5α-dihydronormethandrone, the 5α-reduced metabolite of normethandrone, shows reduced affinity for the androgen receptor relative to normethandrone.[19] [20] Its affinity for the androgen receptor is specifically about 33 to 60% of that of normethandrone.

Normethandrone has estrogenic activity via aromatization into methylestradiol.

Pharmacokinetics

Normethandrone is metabolized by aromatase into methylestradiol in small quantities, similarly to methyltestosterone and metandienone.[21] [22] [23] The metabolites of normethandrone have not been well-studied, but 5α-dihydronormethandrone is a likely metabolite formed by 5α-reductase.[24] [25]

The pharmacokinetics of normethandrone have been reviewed.

Chemistry

See also: List of progestogens and List of androgens/anabolic steroids.

Normethandrone, also known as 17α-methyl-19-nortestosterone or as 17α-methylestr-4-en-17β-ol-3-one, is a synthetic estrane steroid and a 17α-alkylated derivative of nandrolone (19-nortestosterone; 19-NT). It is specifically the 17α-methyl derivative of nandrolone as well as the 17α-methyl variant of norethandrolone (17α-ethyl-19-NT) and norethisterone (17α-ethynyl-19-NT).[26]

Synthesis

Chemical syntheses of normethandrone have been published.[27]

History

Normethandrone has been marketed for medical use since 1957.[28] The combination of normethandrone and methylestradiol was introduced by at least 1966.

Society and culture

Generic names

Normethandrone has not been assigned an or other formal name designations.[29] It is also known as methylestrenolone, methylnortestosterone, normethandrolone, and normethisterone.

Brand names

Brand names of normethandrone include Batynid, Ginecosid, Ginecoside, Gynomin, Lutenin, Matronal, Mediol, Metalutin, Methalutin, Orgasteron, Orosteron, and Renodiol.[30]

Availability

Normethandrone is marketed in Brazil, Indonesia, and Venezuela in combination with methylestradiol or estradiol valerate.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Digital Medicines Information Suite | MedicinesComplete.
  2. Web site: Gynomin.
  3. Lundberg PO . Migraine Prophylaxis with Progestogens. European Journal of Endocrinology. 40. 4 Suppl. 1962. S5–S22. 0804-4643. 10.1530/acta.0.040S0005.
  4. Book: Heftmann E . Steroid Biochemistry. 1970. Academic Press. 72. 978-0-12-336650-4. Normethandrone (Fig. 49) is a 19-nortestosterone derivative having progestational as well as androgenic and anabolic activity..
  5. Begni-Calvet D . [Two properties of methylestrenolone (17-alpha-methyl-19-nortestosterone): its effectiveness in the treatment of dysmenorrhea, its anabolic action] . Gynécologie Pratique . 10 . 261–272 . 1959 . 13798272 .
  6. Servais J . A clinical study of cases of psychosexual disturbances in men treated by a libido inhibitor: Methylestrenolone. Archives of Sexual Behavior. 2. 4. 1973. 387–390. 0004-0002. 10.1007/BF01541012. 145090184.
  7. Book: Krüskemper HL . Anabolic Steroids. 22 October 2013. Elsevier. 978-1-4832-6504-9. 10–.
  8. Book: Unlisted Drugs. 1982. Pharmaceutical Section, Special Libraries Association.. Batynid. C. Each dragee contains: normethandrone, 5 mg.; and methylestradiol, 0.3 mg. E. (Formerly) Gynaekosid. M. Boehringer Biochemia, Florence. A. Estrogenic; Rx of secondary amenorrhea. R. Notiz Med Farm 32;295, Nov-Dec 81..
  9. Akingba JB, Ayodeji EA . Amenorrhea as a leading symptom of choriocarcinoma . The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Commonwealth . 73 . 1 . 153–155 . February 1966 . 5948541 . 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1966.tb05137.x . 38008851 .
  10. Delorimier AA, Gordan GS, Lowe RC, Carbone JV . Methyltestosterone, Related Steroids, and Liver Function . Archives of Internal Medicine . 116 . 2 . 289–294 . August 1965 . 14315662 . 10.1001/archinte.1965.03870020129023 .
  11. Feldman EB, Carter AC . Endocrinologic and metabolic effects of 17 alpha-methyl-19-nortestosterone in women . The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism . 20 . 6 . 842–857 . June 1960 . 13822027 . 10.1210/jcem-20-6-842 .
  12. Ferin J . A new substance with progestational activity; comparative assays in ovariectomized women; clinical results . Acta Endocrinologica . 22 . 4 . 303–317 . August 1956 . 13354223 . 10.1530/acta.0.0220303 .
  13. Book: Horský J, Presl J . Hormonal Treatment of Disorders of the Menstrual Cycle. 309–332. 10.1007/978-94-009-8195-9_11. Horský J, Presl J . Ovarian Function and its Disorders: Diagnosis and Therapy. Developments in Obstetrics and Gynecology . https://books.google.com/books?id=7IrpCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA145. 1981. Springer Science & Business Media. 978-94-009-8195-9.
  14. Boschann HW . Observations of the role of progestational agents in human gynecologic disorders and pregnancy complications . Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences . 71 . 5 . 727–752 . July 1958 . 13583829 . 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1958.tb54649.x . 1958NYASA..71..727B .
  15. Book: Camerino B, Sala G . Anabolic Steroids . Fortschritte der Arzneimittelforschung / Progress in Drug Research / Progrès des recherches pharmaceutiques . Fortschritte der Arzneimittelforschung. Progress in Drug Research. Progres des Recherches Pharmaceutiques . Jucker E . 2 . 71–134 . 1960 . 14448579 . 10.1007/978-3-0348-7038-2_2 . 978-3-0348-7040-5 .
  16. Book: Kochakian CD . Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids. 6 December 2012. Springer Science & Business Media. 978-3-642-66353-6. 379–.
  17. Book: Brueggemeier RW . Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine. Sex Hormones (Male): Analogs and Antagonists . 2006 . 10.1002/3527600906.mcb.200500066 . 42. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA . 3-527-60090-6.
  18. Book: Dorfman RI . Steroidal Activity in Experimental Animals and Man. 5 December 2016. Elsevier Science. 978-1-4832-7300-6. 68–.
  19. Ojasoo T, Delettré J, Mornon JP, Turpin-VanDycke C, Raynaud JP . Towards the mapping of the progesterone and androgen receptors . Journal of Steroid Biochemistry . 27 . 1–3 . 255–269 . 1987 . 3695484 . 10.1016/0022-4731(87)90317-7 .
  20. Behre HM, Kliesch S, Lemcke B, von Eckardstein S, Nieschlag E . Suppression of spermatogenesis to azoospermia by combined administration of GnRH antagonist and 19-nortestosterone cannot be maintained by this non-aromatizable androgen alone . Human Reproduction . 16 . 12 . 2570–2577 . December 2001 . 11726576 . 10.1093/humrep/16.12.2570 .
  21. Friedl KE . Reappraisal of the health risks associated with the use of high doses of oral and injectable androgenic steroids . NIDA Research Monograph . 102 . 142–177 . 1990 . 1964199 .
  22. Book: Thieme D, Hemmersbach P . Doping in Sports. 18 December 2009. Springer Science & Business Media. 978-3-540-79088-4. 470–.
  23. Book: Llewellyn W . Anabolics. 2011. Molecular Nutrition Llc. 978-0-9828280-1-4. 444–454, 533.
  24. Fragkaki AG, Angelis YS, Tsantili-Kakoulidou A, Koupparis M, Georgakopoulos C . Schemes of metabolic patterns of anabolic androgenic steroids for the estimation of metabolites of designer steroids in human urine . The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology . 115 . 1–2 . 44–61 . May 2009 . 19429460 . 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2009.02.016 . 10051396 .
  25. Schjølberg TH . 2013 . In Vitro Synthesis of Metabolites of three Anabolic Androgenic Steroids, by Human Liver Microsomes . Master's thesis . Institutt for Bioteknologi . 2018-03-25 . 2018-03-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180326001355/https://brage.bibsys.no/xmlui/handle/11250/246018 . dead .
  26. Book: Elks J . The Dictionary of Drugs: Chemical Data: Chemical Data, Structures and Bibliographies. 14 November 2014. Springer. 978-1-4757-2085-3. 888–.
  27. Book: Die Gestagene. 27 November 2013. Springer-Verlag. 978-3-642-99941-3. 12–13,282.
  28. Book: Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office. 1957. U.S. Patent Office..
  29. Book: Morton IK, Hall JM . Concise Dictionary of Pharmacological Agents: Properties and Synonyms. 6 December 2012. Springer Science & Business Media. 978-94-011-4439-1. 202–.
  30. Book: Negwer M, Scharnow HG . Organic-chemical drugs and their synonyms: (an international survey). 2001. Wiley-VCH. 978-3-527-30247-5. 1831.