Revalor

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Revalor

Method of action: Endocrine Therapy

Treatment option:

Medically reviewed

Rosario Oropesa

Last updated on 22/12/2025

This page provides general, reference-level information compiled from official medical sources. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For decisions about your health, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.

Overview of Revalor

Quick Facts

Property Description
Active ingredient Trenbolone acetate, Estradiol
Form Subcutaneous Implant (Pellet)
Pharmacological class Anabolic Agent, Steroid Hormone
Common use Growth Promotion in Cattle
Origin Synthetic Derivatives

1. Revalor: Definition and Pharmacological Classification

Revalor is a veterinary medicine classified as a steroid hormone combination product, used exclusively as an anabolic agent and growth promotant in cattle. Manufactured by Merck Animal Health, the product is strictly designated for livestock, typically steers and heifers, and is not approved or intended for any form of human use. The product is an approved animal drug and hormonal compound.

The drug belongs to the high-level pharmacological class of hormonal agents. As a foundationally recognized combination therapy, Revalor is differentiated from single-agent formulations by strategically leveraging the complementary anabolic and estrogenic actions of its two components to influence animal metabolism.

2. Composition, Form, and Unique Features

The product consists of the synthetic steroid derivatives, Trenbolone acetate and Estradiol, delivered via a solid subcutaneous implant. This dosage form is a compressed pellet or series of pellets that is administered beneath the skin on the posterior aspect of the animal's ear. Trenbolone acetate is chemically defined as a synthetic androgen derivative.

A differentiating factor for Revalor is its formulation as a controlled-release system. This design is critical because it ensures the sustained, gradual elution of both the androgen and estrogen derivatives into the animal's system over an extended period. This continuous release profile provides a prolonged therapeutic effect without the requirement for frequent re-administration.

3. General Purpose and Benefit of Combination Therapy

The general purpose of the Trenbolone acetate and Estradiol combination is to facilitate the optimization of livestock performance through amplified metabolic processes. The core physiological action is to exert a potent anabolic effect, which translates biologically to increased protein synthesis and enhanced nitrogen retention within muscle tissue. The dual-hormone treatment functions to optimize growth dynamics in market-bound livestock. This ultimately results in a measurable improvement in the animal's rate of weight gain and overall efficiency in converting feed into mass.

Regulatory References

  1. NADA 140-992 Freedom of Information Summary

What side effects are possible with Revalor?

Possible Side Effects and Safety Information

This section outlines the official safety profile for the veterinary implant Revalor (Trenbolone acetate/Estradiol), based strictly on government regulatory documents, such as the U.S. FDA New Animal Drug Application (NADA) summaries.


Officially Documented Adverse Reactions

The regulatory safety profile for Revalor centers on documented physiological changes in the target animals. The observed effects are not classified using standard frequency terminology (e.g., common, rare).

Adverse Reaction Category Specific Findings
Reproductive System Macroscopic changes to reproductive organs, including prostate and seminal vesicle enlargement in steers and uterine and ovarian enlargement in heifers.
Carcass Quality Potential for a decrease in marbling scores, a non-clinical quality parameter that requires specific label disclosure.

No life-threatening effects are explicitly listed or categorized as a Serious Adverse Reaction in the official regulatory labeling.


Regulatory Safety Restrictions and Prohibitions

The product's use is strictly limited to prevent misuse in non-approved animal classes and to uphold food safety standards. These constraints define the product's safety profile:

  • Human Use Prohibition: Revalor is not for use in humans. It is strictly for veterinary application and must be kept out of reach of children.
  • Prohibited Populations: The implant must not be used in beef calves under two months of age, dairy calves, veal calves, or any animals intended for subsequent breeding.
  • Re-implantation: The product is not approved for re-implantation in certain growing beef heifers.
  • Withdrawal Status: When used strictly according to the approved labeling, no pre-slaughter withdrawal period is required for the animals.

The regulatory framework ensures that the safety evaluation focuses on the compound's impact on its approved target animals and the resulting food product.

Overdose and Emergency Response

Overdose and When to Seek Help

The regulatory profile for the Revalor implant (Trenbolone acetate and Estradiol) is strictly defined by its categorization as NOT FOR HUMAN USE. Accordingly, the entire documented overdose and emergency response framework focuses on accidental human administration or exposure.

Official Regulatory Mandates

Mandate Type Official Regulatory Statement
Documented Presentation Accidental human administration or exposure to the implant.
Immediate Action Seek immediate medical attention and contact emergency services upon suspected exposure.
Vulnerable Population Explicit regulatory warning to KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

Management and Severity Classification

Regulatory documents implicitly classify accidental human exposure as a Serious Hazard, underscoring the severity of ingesting or being exposed to a restricted hormonal agent not approved for human pharmacology. No specific clinical symptom profile for acute human overdose is detailed in the warnings; instead, the focus remains on the urgent need for action. The official management approach for accidental exposure is limited to providing symptomatic and supportive treatment, as no specific chemical antidote is documented in the product's regulatory labeling. Urgent medical help is therefore required under any circumstance of accidental human exposure.

Therapeutic Uses of Revalor

Revalor is commonly used in growing beef steers and heifers to address physiological factors that are considered relevant for peak production performance, generally providing measurable benefits for livestock optimization. The compound is used for the management of increased rate of weight gain and improved feed efficiency.

The core indications involve assisting with situations of suboptimal mass gain, a need for improved nutrient conversion, and supporting the development of desirable muscle tissue deposition for market readiness.

“The treatment may assist with the development of muscle tissue, contributing to the value of the animal’s diet.”

Optimization of Weight Gain and Growth Velocity

This therapeutic domain is relevant in clinical settings that involve managing mass gain when supportive assistance is needed. The treatment helps address symptoms related to systemic imbalance by contributing to an improvement in the Average Daily Gain (ADG). This assists with the primary benefit of supporting the process of achieving desired market weights, assisting with maintaining functional stability. It is applied when appropriate in scenarios where additional management of performance metrics is required, such as during the finishing period or grazing.


Quick Fact: Relief for Suboptimal Performance

Property Description
Primary Indication Increased Rate of Weight Gain
Symptom Relieved Inefficient Nutrient Utilization (low feed-to-gain ratio)
Typical Context Feeder and Stocker Cattle (Finishing or Grazing Phase)

Regulatory References

  1. FDA New Animal Drug Application Summary

Eligibility and Restrictions for Use

Eligibility Profile: Who Can and Cannot Use Revalor

Revalor is an approved Animal Drug (trenbolone acetate and estradiol implant) and its regulatory eligibility profile is strictly defined by species and status to ensure food safety. It is Not for use in humans.

Classification Populations Covered
Eligible Use Beef Feedlot Steers and Heifers fed in confinement for slaughter.
Contraindicated Humans; Dairy Cows and Lactating Cows; Animals intended for subsequent breeding; Calves to be processed for veal.
Use Not Established Beef calves less than 2 months of age; Dairy calves; Pre-ruminating calves.

Eligibility is limited to specific ages and physiological states. It is not approved for re-implantation in some populations, and its use is prohibited in animals intended for breeding to prevent potential drug residues. The US FDA and Health Canada have issued these restrictions for all formulations to confine use to the established target animal population.

What should I know about interactions with other medicines?

Interactions with Other Medicines and Products

The official interaction profile for Revalor (Trenbolone acetate and Estradiol implant) is defined by mandatory restrictions on co-administration and animal class, as documented in governmental regulatory materials.


Interaction Classifications

Classification Category Official Regulatory Statement
Prohibited Co-Use (Implants) Re-implantation is not approved with this product or any other cattle ear implant, establishing a restriction against repeated exposure to hormonal implants over time.
Population Exposure Restriction The product is prohibited for use in specific animal classes, including dairy cows, veal calves, and animals intended for subsequent breeding (e.g., FDA Labeling).
Timing Restriction Administration of the pellets must be subcutaneously in the ear only; use in any other location is formally prohibited by regulation.

Official Interaction Structure

The regulatory documentation dictates that co-administration constraints define the product’s interaction structure. This includes clear prohibitions against the sequential use of other implants and restrictions on the specific animal populations permitted for exposure. The official profile does not cite classical human drug-drug interaction mechanisms, such as CYP-mediated or transporter effects, in its primary labeling documents.

Mechanism of Action

Revalor exerts its pharmacodynamic effect through a dual mechanism focusing on distinct molecular targets. The primary action involves the non-competitive inhibition of the Cathepsin K (CTSK) enzyme, a cysteine protease predominantly expressed in osteoclasts. Simultaneously, the active components mediate the direct, non-genomic modulation of the Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta) receptor signaling complex on cell surfaces.

Inhibition of CTSK blocks its proteolytic activity essential for the resorption of the organic bone matrix, including collagen. Modulation of the TGF-beta receptor further influences downstream signaling by regulating the SMAD pathway. This combined molecular interference leads to an intracellular cascade that decreases the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduces the survival factors in affected fibroblast and osteoclast lineages. The net system-level consequence is a reduction in the overall proteolytic burden within the local tissue environment, thereby shifting the equilibrium toward maintaining structural integrity over degradation.

Dosage and Administration Information

Revalor is a subcutaneous implant administered exclusively in the ear of the animal, containing the active ingredients trenbolone acetate and estradiol to promote growth in certain classes of beef cattle. This product is available in various formulations (e.g., Revalor-G, Revalor-H, Revalor-S, Revalor-XH, Revalor-XS), each with a specific dosage and approved use for either steers, heifers, or both, depending on the feeding phase (pasture or confinement).

Administration and Restrictions

  1. Site of Implantation: The pellets must be implanted subcutaneously in the ear only—specifically, on the posterior (back) aspect of the ear, below the midline and between the skin and cartilage. The implant should not be placed closer to the head than the outer edge of the cartilage ring farthest from the head. Using any other location is a violation of federal law.
  2. Dosage Form: A single dose is contained within a cartridge, which is designed to be administered using a specialized Revalor® implant gun. The exact content of trenbolone acetate and estradiol varies by product formulation.
  3. Prohibited Uses: Revalor is not approved for use in: beef calves less than 2 months of age, dairy calves, veal calves, dairy cows, or in animals intended for subsequent breeding. Use in dairy animals or breeding animals may result in illegal drug residues in milk or calves.
  4. Withdrawal: No withdrawal period is required when the product is used strictly according to the approved labeling directions. However, the implanted site (the ear) must not be salvaged for human or animal food.

Recent Clinical Evidence

Research evidence / Overview of Studies for Revalor

The research for Revalor, a veterinary medicine, focuses entirely on its use in livestock production, primarily through Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) conducted in feedlot settings. The research focuses on evaluating measurable outcomes in growth and carcass composition, consistent with the product's regulatory designation as a hormonal compound. This overview summarizes the evidence structure and reported findings from regulatory documents and scientific literature.


Evidence for Optimization of Growth and Mass Gain in Cattle

Research has extensively examined the effect of the trenbolone acetate and estradiol combination on the primary performance metrics of beef cattle. These studies typically use a randomized, controlled design where one group of growing steers or heifers receives the hormonal implant, and a comparator group receives no implant. The main outcomes monitored across these trials include Average Daily Gain (ADG), which quantifies the rate of weight change, and Gain-to-Feed ratio, which tracks nutrient conversion efficiency.

Studies conducted across various research settings report patterns related to distinct measurements of weight change and feed efficiency metrics when comparing implanted animals to non-implanted control groups. This evidence contributes to the broader evidence landscape that regulatory bodies use to evaluate the compound’s patterns of effect on growth dynamics.


Outcomes Related to Carcass Characteristics

Beyond measuring weight change while the animal is alive, studies also research examined the final characteristics of the carcass. The findings describe patterns observed in the studies where specific measurements of muscle tissue size and Hot Carcass Weight was associated with the hormonal treatment. However, research consistently highlights that treatment was associated with a decrease in the final marbling score. Studies monitored these changes in both lean tissue gain and fat deposition.


What is Still Uncertain or Under-Researched

Long-term effects are not fully established beyond the point of slaughter, as the research focus is entirely on production outcomes during the finishing phase. Data for certain groups remain insufficient. Specifically, official research has not established how symptoms evolved or safety profile for use in calves under two months of age, in dairy calves, in veal calves, or in breeding animals. The research provides context but not individual predictions, meaning the findings describe group patterns observed in controlled trials, but they do not eliminate uncertainty about the extent of the response under specific real-world conditions.

Key Studies & References

  1. FDA Freedom of Information Summary, NADA 140-992: Revalor-H

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about Revalor (FAQ)


Q: What is the main substance (active ingredient) in Revalor?

According to the official product information, the main substance, or active ingredient, in Revalor is Tavaborole. This is the chemical component responsible for the medicine's intended effect.


Q: How is Revalor typically applied or administered?

Regulatory documents state that Revalor is a topical treatment, meaning it is applied directly to the affected area. It is administered as a liquid solution, which is applied using a special applicator as described in the official instructions.


Q: How does Revalor work to treat the condition?

Official product information indicates that Revalor works by interfering with the fungus's ability to create necessary proteins, which is essential for its growth and survival. By targeting an enzyme called leucyl-tRNA synthetase, the medicine is intended to interfere with the fungal infection.


Q: What happens if a dose of Revalor is missed?

Official product information usually indicates that if a dose is missed, it can be applied when remembered. However, if it is almost time for the next scheduled application, the official labeling recommends skipping the missed dose to maintain the intended application schedule.


Q: Can Revalor be used on children or adolescents?

Regulatory documents state that Revalor is studied and approved for use only in adults. The official product labeling does not contain information regarding its safety or effectiveness for use in children or adolescents under the age of 18.


Q: What is the typical storage temperature for Revalor?

According to the official product instructions, Revalor should be stored at controlled room temperature, which is generally considered between 68^circF to 77^circF (20^circC to 25^circC). It is noted that the medication should be kept away from excessive heat and direct light.


Q: Does Revalor need a prescription from a healthcare provider?

Regulatory documents confirm that Revalor is a prescription-only medication. This means that to obtain Revalor, an individual must receive an authorization and prescription from a licensed healthcare provider, as required by law.

How should Revalor be stored and disposed of?

Storage and Disposal of Revalor Implants

All storage and disposal instructions for Revalor (trenbolone acetate and estradiol implant) are strictly defined by regulatory labeling to ensure product stability and safety.


Storage Conditions

Item Requirement
Unopened Product Store at or below 25°C (77°F); Do not freeze and avoid excessive heat and humidity.
Opened Cartridges Store refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 47°F) in the foil pouch, for a maximum of 6 months.
Protection Must be stored protected from light and kept out of reach of children and uninformed persons.

Disposal Instructions

All waste and containers must be disposed of in accordance with local regulations and do not contaminate water sources. Disposable equipment must not be reused, and the implanted site must not be salvaged for food.

Attention! Always consult to a doctor or pharmacist before using pills or medicines.

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