Introduction
Danazol is used to treat various menstrual problems including painful or irregular periods, premenstrual tension (PMT), Benign fibrocystic breast disease (painful breast disease) and a condition called endometriosis.
Danazol can be taken with or without food, but take it at the same time to get the most benefit. It should be taken as your doctor's advice. The dose and how often you take it depends on what you are taking it for. Your doctor will decide how much you need to improve your symptoms. Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water. You should take this medicine for as long as it is prescribed for you.
The most common side effects of this medicine include weight gain, hair loss, voice changes, acne, and irregular menstrual cycle. If these bother you or appear serious, let your doctor know. There may be ways of reducing or preventing them. You should stop taking it if you become pregnant.
Before taking this medicine tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding if you have ever had any problems with your blood circulation or have diabetes or migraine. Your doctor should also know about all other medicines you are taking as many of these may make this medicine less effective or change the way it works. Your doctor may perform blood tests regularly to check blood cells, liver and thyroid are working properly.
Uses of Danazol
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Endometriosis
- Benign fibrocystic breast disease
Side effects of Danazol
Common
- Hoarseness of voice
- Hair loss
- Weight gain
- Acne
- Abnormal hair growth on a women face and body
- Voice change
- Itchy scalp
- Swelling
- Sore throat
How to use Danazol
Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Do not chew, crush or break it. Danazol may be taken with or without food, but it is better to take it at a fixed time.
How Danazol works
Danazol modulates the action of certain female hormones in the body.
What if you forget to take Danazol?
If you miss a dose of Danazol, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do not double the dose.
Indication
Endometriosis, Benign breast disorders, Gynaecomastia, Hereditary angioedema, Menorrhagia.
Administration
May be taken with or without food. Take consistently either always w/ or always w/o meals.
Adult Dose
Oral
Endometriosis
Adult: 200-800 mg daily in 2 divided doses adjusted according to response, for 3-6 mth or if necessary, up to 9 mth.
Benign breast disorders
Adult: Initially, 100-400 mg daily in 2 divided doses adjusted according to response and continued for 3-6 mth.
Gynaecomastia
Adult: Male adolescents: Initially, 200 mg daily, may increase to 400 mg daily after 2 mth if no response occurs; adult men: Initial: 400 mg daily in up to 4 divided doses. Usual treatment duration: 6 mth.
Child: Male adolescents: Initially, 200 mg daily increased to 400 mg after 2 mth if no response occurs. Treatment usually up to 6 months.
Hereditary angioedema
Adult: Initially, 200 mg bid-tid reduced thereafter according to patient's response.
Preoperative thinning of the endometrium
Adult: 400-800 mg daily, in up to 4 divided doses for 3-6 wk.
Menorrhagia
Adult: 200 mg once daily. Review treatment 3 mth later.
Contraindication
Hypersensitivity, pregnancy, lactation, porphyria, thromboembolic disorders; undiagnosed genital bleeding, markedly impaired renal, cardiac or hepatic dysfunction.
Mode of Action
Danazol suppresses the pituitary-ovarian axis by reducing the release of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. This causes the regression and atrophy of endometrial tissue, decreases growth rate of abnormal breast tissue and reduces attacks in hereditary angioedema.
Precaution
Danazol may cause some degree of fluid retention, conditions that might be influenced by this factor, such as epilepsy, migraine, or cardiac or renal dysfunction, polycythemia and hypertension require careful observation. Use with caution in patients with diabetes mellitus. Since hepatic dysfunction manifested by modest increases in serum transaminases levels has been reported in patients treated with Danazol, periodic liver function tests should be performed Administration of danazol has been reported to cause exacerbation of the manifestations of acute intermittent porphyria.
Lactation: enters breast milk/contraindicated
Side Effect
Frequency Not Defined
Intracranial hypertension,Increased blood pressure,Thromboembolism,Anxiety,Depression,Dizziness,Urticaria
Androgenic Effects (common)
Mild hirsutism,Decreased breast size,Voice changes,Sore throat, acne,Increased oiliness of skin or hair,Hair loss,Menstrual irregularities (common),Gastroenteritis,Nausea,Vomiting,Elevated LFTs,Joint pain,Muscle spasm
Potentially Fatal: Thromboembolic events and fatal strokes have been reported.
Pregnancy Category Note
Pregnancy Category: X
Lactation: enters breast milk/contraindicated
Interaction
Increased serum levels of ciclosporin, warfarin, carbamazepine and tacrolimus.
Potentially Fatal: Increased incidence of insulin resistance in diabetic patients.