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Comestrol: Full Drug Profile

Medically reviewed by Min Clinic Staff | Updated: January 2026

Comestrol - General Information

A synthetic nonsteroidal estrogen used in the treatment of menopausal and postmenopausal disorders. It was also used formerly as a growth promoter in animals. According to the Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens (NTP 85-002, 1985), diethylstilbestrol has been listed as a known carcinogen. (Merck, 11th ed)

 

Pharmacology of Comestrol

Comestrol is a synthetic estrogen that was developed to supplement a woman's natural estrogen production. In 1971, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Drug Bulletin advising physicians to stop prescribing DES to pregnant women because it was linked to a rare vaginal cancer in female offspring.

 

Comestrol for patients

 

Comestrol Interactions

May interact anticoagulants (altered hypo-prothrombinemic effect), barbiturates, rifampin and other inducers of hepatic microsomal enzyme oxidation system (decreased effect of diethylstilbestrol), corticosteroids (increased effect of corticosteroids).

 

Comestrol Contraindications

 

Additional information about Comestrol

Comestrol Indication: Used in the treatment of prostate cancer. Previously used in the prevention of miscarriage or premature delivery in pregnant women prone to miscarriage or premature delivery. Mechanism Of Action: Estrogens diffuse into their target cells and interact with a protein receptor. Target cells include the female reproductive tract, the mammary gland, the hypothalamus, and the pituitary. Estrogens increase the hepatic synthesis of sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), thyroid-binding globulin (TBG), and other serum proteins and suppress follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the anterior pituitary. The combination of an estrogen with a progestin suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary system, decreasing the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Drug Interactions: Amobarbital The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Aprobarbital The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Butabarbital The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Butalbital The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Butethal The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Ethotoin The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Fosphenytoin The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Griseofulvin The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Heptabarbital The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Hexobarbital The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Mephenytoin The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Methohexital The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Methylphenobarbital The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Pentobarbital The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Phenobarbital The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Phenytoin The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Prednisolone The estrogenic agent increases the effect of corticosteroid Prednisone The estrogenic agent increases the effect of corticosteroid Primidone The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Raloxifene Association not recommended Secobarbital The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Talbutal The enzyme inducer decreases the effect of hormones Ursodeoxycholic acid Estrogens decreases the effect of ursodiol Food Interactions: Not Available Generic Name: Diethylstilbestrol Synonyms: DEB; DES; Diethylstilbesterol; Diethylstilbestrol BP; Diethylstilboesterol; Dietilestilbestrol; Percutatrine oestrogenique iscovesco; Rcra waste number U089; trans-Diethylstilbesterol; trans-Diethylstilbestrol; trans-Diethylstilboesterol Drug Category: Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Carcinogens; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal Drug Type: Small Molecule; Approved Other Brand Names containing Diethylstilbestrol: Acnestrol; Agostilben; Antigestil; Bio-des; Bufon; Climaterine; Comestrol; Comestrol estrobene; Cyren; Cyren A; Dawe's destrol; Desma; Destrol; Di-Estryl; DiBestrol 2 Premix; Diastyl; Dibestrol; Dicorvin; Distilbene; Domestrol; Dyestrol; Estilben; Estilbin MCO; Estril; Estrobene; Estrogenine; Estromenin; Estrosyn; Follidiene; Fonatol; Grafestrol; Gynopharm; Hi-Bestrol; Idroestril; Iscovesco; Makarol; Menostilbeen; Micrest; Microest; Milestrol; Neo-Oestranol I; New-Estranol 1; OeKolp; Oestrogenine; Oestrol vetag; Oestromenin; Oestromensil; Oestromensyl; Oestromienin; Oestromon; Pabestrol; Palestrol; Protectona; Rumestrol 1; Rumestrol 2; Sedestran; Serral; Sexocretin; Sibol; Sintestrol; Stibilium; Stil; Stil-Rol; Stilbestroform; Stilbestrol; Stilbestrone; Stilbetin; Stilboefral; Stilboestroform; Stilboestrol; Stilbofolin; Stilbofollin; Stilbol; Stilkap; Stilphostrol; Synestrin; Synthestrin; Synthoestrin; Synthofolin; Syntofolin; Tampovagan stilboestrol; Tylosterone; Vagestrol; neo-Oestranol 1; strobene; Absorption: Not Available Toxicity (Overdose): Symptoms of overdose include nausea and vomiting, and withdrawal bleeding may occur in females. Protein Binding: Not Available Biotransformation: Hepatic. Half Life: Not Available Dosage Forms of Comestrol: Tablet Oral Chemical IUPAC Name: 4-[4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)hex-3-en-3-yl]phenol Chemical Formula: C18H20O2 Diethylstilbestrol on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diethylstilbestrol Organisms Affected: Humans and other mammals