New steroid for the climacteric syndrome.

Org OD 14 is a new steroid drug taken orally that appears to act weekly but simultaneously on the estrogens, androgens and progestins. The drug eliminates blood FSH and LH in menopausal women without affecting PRL levels. It also proved more effective than a placebo in controlling hot flushes and related disturbances. The patients treated reveal no reduction in bone mineral content. The incidence of side effects was very low and comparable to the findings in the placebo-treated control group: in particular, there were no changes in body weight, hair distribution of blood pressure. Biochemical studies revealed no alteration in live enzymes, bilirubin, CBG, or cortisol. There was a slight reduction in glucose tolerance but long-term studies revealed no change in the glucoproteins. There was a certain drop in HDL-cholesterol with a tendency to normalise even the long-term and a simultaneous decrease in VLDL and triglycerides which should minimise the risk of cardiovascular pathology. No damaging interference with blood clotting was noted. It may be concluded that oral Org OD 14 is effective and safe for the treatment of menopausal patients.