Danazol
Danazol: instructions for use and reviews
- 1. Release form and composition
- 2. Pharmacological properties
- 3. Indications for use
- 4. Contraindications
- 5. Method of application and dosage
- 6. Side effects
- 7. Overdose
- 8. Special instructions
- 9. Application during pregnancy and lactation
- 10. Drug interactions
- 11. Analogs
- 12. Terms and conditions of storage
- 13. Terms of dispensing from pharmacies
- 14. Reviews
- 15. Price in pharmacies
Latin name: Danazolum
ATX code: G03XA01
Active ingredient: Danazol (Danazol)
Producer: Remedica Ltd (Cyprus)
Description and photo update: 2019-07-08
Danazol is a drug that suppresses the production of gonadotropic hormones.
Release form and composition
Dosage form - capsules.
The active ingredient is danazol, its content in 1 capsule is 100 or 200 mg.
Pharmacological properties
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
Danazol has a pronounced reversible antigonadotropic effect, as well as a slight androgenic and anabolic effect. The compound inhibits the synthesis of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and inhibits the production of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones by the pituitary gland. This causes a decrease in ovarian activity and a slowdown in timely ovulation in women.
Danazol is able to act on progesterone, androgen and glucocorticoid receptors, which leads to an acceleration of the metabolic clearance of progesterone.
The synthetic hormone inhibits lymphocyte proliferation and has an immunosuppressive effect. With systematic treatment with Danazol, the level of IgG, IgM and IgA, the content of phospholipids decreases, and the processes of antibody production are inhibited. In patients with endometriosis, damage and atrophy of ectopic endometrial tissue and a decrease in the severity of pain are observed.
Taking Danazol leads to a change in laboratory parameters of cervical mucus. With mastopathy, the drug contributes to the complete or partial disappearance of nodes and seals in the chest.
The action of the synthetic hormone is reversible. The effect persists for 60–90 days after the end of the course of treatment.
When taken orally, Danazol is rapidly metabolized. The maximum concentration of the active substance of the drug is recorded 2–8 hours after administration. Fatty foods decrease the rate of absorption of danazol by about 30 minutes and increase its bioavailability. The substance is metabolized in the liver to form active metabolites: 17-hydroxymethylethisterone and ethisterone. The half-life is from 5 to 29 hours. Danazol is excreted primarily through the kidneys.
Indications for use
- Hereditary angioedema;
- Fibrocystic breast disease and other benign breast neoplasms;
- Endometriosis with concomitant infertility;
- Premenstrual tension syndrome;
- Primary menorrhagias;
- Gynecomastia.
Contraindications
- Carcinoma;
- Androgen-dependent tumors;
- Mammary cancer;
- Vaginal bleeding of unknown etiology;
- Severe violations of liver and / or kidney function;
- Chronic heart failure;
- Thromboembolic disorders, including in history;
- Porphyria;
- The period of pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- Children and old age;
- Hypersensitivity to the drug.
It is recommended to prescribe Danazol with caution to patients: with diseases of the kidneys and / or liver, cardiovascular system, including arterial hypertension; with pathologies aggravated by fluid retention, including epilepsy, diabetes mellitus, lipid metabolism disorders, polycythemia; in violation of the plasma mechanisms of hemostasis, migraine; with an androgenic reaction to sex hormones during previous therapy.
Instructions for use of Danazol: method and dosage
The doctor prescribes the dosage and treatment period individually, as a rule, in the minimum effective dose.
The maximum daily dose for adult patients is 800 mg.
Side effects
- From the endocrine system: disorders of spermatogenesis, flushing of the face, amenorrhea, increased sweating, changes in libido, decrease in the size of the mammary glands, vaginitis, nervousness, emotional lability, increased secretion of the sebaceous glands, acne, minor hirsutism, androgenetic alopecia, weight gain, swelling, coarsening of the voice;
- From the nervous system: possibly - dizziness, headache, tremors, weakness, depression, sleep disturbances; rarely - a slight increase in intracranial pressure;
- From the digestive system: an increase in the activity of hepatic transaminases, functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract; rarely, cholestatic jaundice;
- From the side of metabolism: impaired glucose tolerance, hyperglucanemia, increased serum LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol concentration, decreased serum HDL cholesterol (high density lipoprotein) concentration;
- From the hematopoietic system: an increase or decrease in the number of blood cells;
- From the side of the cardiovascular system: rarely - arterial hypertension, tachycardia;
- Dermatological reactions: skin rash;
- Others: muscle spasms or cramps, back pain; rarely - visual impairment.
Overdose
Signs of overdose include headache, dizziness, seizures, tremors, nausea and vomiting. Only symptomatic treatment of this condition is possible.
special instructions
The drug increases the level of testosterone in the blood and affects other indicators of the analysis of sex hormones.
When treating patients with diabetes mellitus, it is necessary to adjust the dose of insulin.
Patients of childbearing age need to make sure that there is no pregnancy before starting treatment, therapy should be started on the first day of menstruation.
During the period of taking the drug, it is recommended to use non-hormonal contraception.
The use of the drug is possible in the treatment of children with premature sexual development.
Application during pregnancy and lactation
The drug is contraindicated during pregnancy and lactation. In women of reproductive age, pregnancy should be excluded before starting treatment with Danazol, and therapy is recommended to start on the first day of menstruation. In patients with amenorrhea, it is advisable to test for the absence of pregnancy before starting the use of the drug.
Taking Danazol in high doses excludes ovulation. However, ovulation is likely at low doses, so non-hormonal methods of contraception must be used during treatment with the drug.
Drug interactions
When used simultaneously with indandione derivatives and coumarin anticoagulants, Danazol enhances their effect, increasing the risk of bleeding.
The drug affects carbohydrate metabolism, when combined with oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin, weakens their effect, promotes growth
concentration of glucose in the blood.
Danazol increases plasma levels of glucagon, cyclosporine and tacrolimus (the risk of nephrotoxicity increases).
The drug inhibits the metabolism of antiepileptic drugs, such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, simultaneous use causes an increase in their concentration in the blood.
According to the instructions, Danazol can reduce the effect of antihypertensive drugs.
The drug can cause hypercalcemia when combined with alfacalcidol in primary hypoparathyroidism.
Analogs
Danazol's analogs are: Danol, Danoval.
Terms and conditions of storage
Keep out of reach of children and protected from light.
Terms of dispensing from pharmacies
Dispensed by prescription.
Reviews about Danazol
Reviews of Danazol range from positive to sharply negative. Patients often report serious side effects associated with taking the drug. Mostly these include headache, blood pressure surges and heart palpitations. Some reviews indicate that, despite the long course of treatment with Danazol, after its cancellation, the disease quickly returned.
The price of Danazol in pharmacies
The price of Danazol at the moment remains unknown, since only its analogues are on sale.
Maria Kulkes Medical journalist About the author
Education: First Moscow State Medical University named after I. M. Sechenov, specialty "General Medicine".
Information about the drug is generalized, provided for informational purposes only and does not replace the official instructions. Self-medication is hazardous to health!
