Centchroman
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Centchroman
| Tue, 04-11-2006 - 6:42pm |
Has anyone heard of Centchroman? I have heard of many woman using it that cannot use typical hormonal birth control pills. Though it is not approved by the FDA. Centchroman is marketed in India under the trade names Centron and Saheli.
http://www.reproline.jhu.edu/english/1fp/1advances/old/1centch/ceorvw.htm
http://groups.msn.com/Centchromanclub/welcometocentchromanclub.msnw
http://www.aphroditewomenshealth.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/topic/7/1216.html
edited to add last link...
Edited 4/11/2006 7:15 pm ET by keylime_pie

Articles about Centchroman (Ormeloxifene) on PubMad:
Pharmacokinetic interaction of tetracycline with centchroman in healthy female volunteers.
Drugs R D. 2003;4(5):293-9.
PMID: 12952498
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12952498&query_hl=5&itool=pubmed_docsum
“CONCLUSIONS: The apparent effects of either of the regimens on centchroman pharmacokinetics seem to be of little clinical relevance in terms of increased rate or extent of availability. It can be concluded that this tetracycline-containing regimen is unlikely to alter the contraceptive efficacy of centchroman in humans.”
Optimization of contraceptive dosage regimen of Centchroman.
Contraception. 2001 Jan;63(1):47-51.
PMID: 11257249
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=11257249&query_hl=5&itool=pubmed_docsum
“Centchroman (Ormeloxifene), a non-steroidal oral contraceptive, is used at a dose of 30 mg once a week. To prevent failures in the beginning of the therapy, it is recommended that a dose of 30 mg twice a week for 12 weeks be administered to build up adequate blood levels. The present study was undertaken to simplify the dosing schedule without sacrificing the purpose of twice a week dosing regimen, using modeling and measurement approaches. The drug was given to 60 female volunteers who were divided into seven groups: group I, 30 mg weekly; group II, 30 mg twice a week; group III, 30 mg twice a week for 12 weeks followed by 30 mg weekly; group IV, 30 mg twice a week for 6 weeks followed by 30 mg weekly; group V, 60 mg weekly; and groups VI and VII, single 60 mg loading dose followed by 30 mg weekly doses. The blood samples were collected and analyzed by HPLC. In group I, mean trough concentrations of centchroman and its active metabolite, 7-desmethyl centchroman, were comparable to the steady-state trough concentrations in groups III, IV, VI, and VII. The metabolite to parent drug ratio remained constant in all the groups. The pharmacokinetic parameters in group VII were comparable to those reported after a single 30 mg dose. Dosage regimen VI was more convenient and provided better pregnancy protection (Pearl index 1.18; unpublished report) than regimen III, which is currently on the market and, thus, could be effectively used for contraception.”
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Pharmacokinetics of centchroman in healthy female subjects after oral administration.
Contraception. 1995 Nov;52(5):297-300.
PMID: 8585886
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=8585886&query_hl=5&itool=pubmed_docsum
“Pharmacokinetics & Metabolism Division, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India”.
“The pharmacokinetics of centchroman, a non-steroidal antifertility agent, were assessed in serum of eleven healthy female subjects after a single 30 mg oral dose. Maximum serum concentration (Cmax) of 55.53 (s.d., 15.45) microgram/L was attained at 5.18 (s.d., 1.78) h after oral administration. The concentration-time profile was best described by a two-compartment open model with bi-exponential disposition functions. The mean terminal elimination half-life (t1/2) was 165 (s.d., 49) h with a clearance of 6.17 (s.d., 1.67) L/h and volume of distribution of 1420 (s.d., 478) L. Comparison of the pharmacokinetic parameters of this study with those obtained after a single 60 mg oral dose did not show statistically significant differences in the rate of absorption, distribution and elimination. The Cmax and AUC0-infinity were dose-dependent. Thus, the absorption and disposition of centchroman are of first-order, reproducible and dose-dependent.”
Checking our archives there has only been one discussion about centchroman and that was in 2003: http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-bhcontracept/?msg=8134.1
Assuming centchroman is effective as a contraceptive if used correctly (and from what John’s Hopkins ReproLine says it is) the thing that would bother me is that if you could buy it some how it would be unregulated by the FDA like most dietary supplements are now, so you would have no way of knowing if you were getting what you were paying for or not.
Thanks for posting. If you have more questions, please ask.
Good luck,
Jill
Keylime - I know you also posted wondering if IUDs cause abortions. Well, this drug works similarly to IUDs in that it helps prevent an egg from implanting in the uterus. It does not necessarily stop an egg from being fertilized. If you're okay with that - I'd suggest going with an IUD - a method that has been studied and proven for much, much longer than this drug - and is FDA approved.
If you're looking for a birth control that keeps an egg from even being released and potentially fertilized - you'll want to look at either hormonal methods that suppress ovulation or barrier methods (like condoms, cervical cap, etc..) that keep the sperm away from the egg.
Good luck!
Yes, thank you both. :)
I am considering an IUD as well. I think that I am fine with the order of things, as long as the fertilized egg isn't implanted and already started on it's "journey". :) Don't hormonal oral contraceptives tend to work the same way if ovulation fails to be suppressed for whatever reason?
>> Don't hormonal oral contraceptives tend to work the same way if ovulation fails to be suppressed for whatever reason? <<
Yes, they do. Let us know what you decide.
Hugs,
Jill