What are the uses of Danazol?

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Danazol drug has dosage forms are 50mg, 100mg and 200mg capsules. The drug has weak metabolic and androgenic properties, without the effects of estrogen and progestogen.

1. What are the effects of Danazol?

Danazol is indicated for the following cases:
Treatment of symptomatic relief of endometriosis cases, reducing ectopic foci. Danazol can be used in combination with surgical treatments or hormone therapy alone in people who have not responded to other treatments or are intolerant/contraindicated to hormone therapy; Prophylactic treatment of hereditary angioedema in women and men; Treatment of menorrhagia due to uterine dysfunction; Treatment of benign breast diseases (benign fibroadenoma in women or benign breast enlargement in men); Endometrial thinning before surgery. In addition, the use of Danazol is contraindicated in the following cases:
Pregnant or lactating women; Patient has abnormal vaginal bleeding (cause unknown); Patients with liver failure, heart failure, kidney failure, porphyrinuria; People who are allergic to danazol or its ingredients; People with active thrombosis, history of thrombosis or thromboembolic disease; People with androgen-dependent tumors; Do not use Danazol concurrently with simvastatin.

2. How to take Danazol

Drugs are taken orally. The drug should not be taken with a greasy meal. When used in women, treatment should be started from the first day of the menstrual cycle or when laboratory results confirm that the patient is not pregnant.

3. Dosage of Danazol

Dosage depends on the subject (adult or child) and the health condition to be treated. Specifically:
3.1 Dosage in adults Dosage for each disease is as follows:
Mild endometriosis: Use 100-200mg/time, 2 times/day, continuous treatment for 3-6 months (necessary treatment can be up to 9 months). Treat until menstrual bleeding stops; Moderate and severe endometriosis: 400mg/time, 2 times/day, continuous treatment for 3-6 months (it can be treated up to 9 months if necessary). The dose can be adjusted according to the patient's response and tolerability; Treatment before endometrial curettage: 400-800mg/day divided into 4 times, continuous treatment for 3-6 weeks; Benign fibroadenoma: Use 50-200mg/time, 2 times/day, continuously for 3-6 months. The dose may be changed according to the patient's response; Breast enlargement in men: 200mg/day, divided into 4 times. If there is no response after 2 months, increase the dose to 400mg/day, divided into 4 times. For adolescents and adult men, the initial dose is 400 mg/day in 4 divided doses. The maximum dose is 800mg/day, divided into 4 doses. The average duration of treatment for this condition is 6 months; Hereditary angioedema: 200mg/time, 2-3 times/day depending on the patient's response. Once the appropriate dose is reached, the dose can be gradually reduced to 50% or less over 1 to 3 months. If an episode of acute angioedema occurs, increase the dose to 200 mg/day. During the dose adjustment period, the doctor should closely monitor the patient; Menorrhagia due to dysfunction: Use 200mg/day for a short time. After 3 months, check again to adjust accordingly. 3.2 Dosage in children Dosage for each disease is as follows:
Enlarged breasts in adolescent boys: Use as adults; Hereditary angioedema: Indication of Danazol treatment if other therapies are not effective, children with angioedema causing abdominal pain more than once/month, need to use the lowest effective dose, interrupt treatment regimen interval and closely monitored. The dose for long-term prophylaxis is 50-200mg/day (2.5mg/kg/day), used every other day or every 3 days. The dose for short-term prophylaxis is 300mg/day (5mg/kg/day), administered 5 days before surgery or dental procedure, 48 hours after surgery.

4. Side effects of the drug Danazol

Some side effects when using Danazol drugs include:
Common: Increased hair growth, smaller breasts, oily skin or hair, hair loss, acne breakouts, weight gain, edema, voice changes; hot flashes, nervousness, sweating, vaginal dryness, burning or bleeding; menstrual cycle disorders (amenorrhea or long menstrual cycles); increased serum transaminases; depression, fatigue, dizziness, mood swings; urticaria, facial edema, itching, sensitivity to light; muscle spasms, cramps, painful swelling of the joints, stiffness, back pain; Uncommon: Jaundice, hepatitis; Benign intracranial hypertension with headache, nausea, vomiting, disturbance of field of vision; hypertension, tachycardia, thromboembolism; Rare: Clitoral enlargement, testicular atrophy, blood stasis in the liver, hepatocellular carcinoma or malignant liver tumor (if prolonged treatment), convulsions, chromosomal-fixed erythema, leukopenia, leukopenia platelets, eosinophilia,...

5. Be careful when using Danazol

Some notes patients need to remember when using Danazol:
The drug has moderate activity of testosterone, can cause androgenic effects. Users of the drug should use non-hormonal methods of contraception; Danazol should be used with caution in patients with a history of convulsions, edema, cardiovascular disease, liver and kidney disease, migraine syndrome; Patients treated with Danazol should have liver function tests periodically because this drug can cause liver dysfunction; Danazol users should test periodically every 3-4 months on the volume, consistency of semen, sperm count and motility; Monitor the ability to get an erection due to the influence of the drug on male sex hormones. This effect may persist after discontinuation of the drug; For women, the drug Danazol can inhibit ovulation, reduce sex drive; With long-term use, Danazol can cause hepatotoxicity, benign or malignant hepatocellular tumors. Complications of the disease such as abdominal bleeding can be life-threatening; When treated with Danazol, patients may have symptoms of pseudotumor brain, need to check regularly and stop the drug immediately, transfer to a neurologist for treatment; Danazol can cause disturbances in blood lipoproteins, so when using the drug, it is necessary to pay attention to the risk of coronary artery disease; Breast cancer should be excluded before treatment with Danazol in patients with fibrocystic breast. If the tumor increases in size, the patient needs to have tests to exclude breast cancer; Use caution when using Danazol in patients with other endocrine-metabolic diseases such as hypoparathyroidism, diabetes or people with low blood calcium; Pregnant women should not use Danazol because the drug harms the fetus, can cause miscarriage; Danazol passes into breast milk, may cause adverse reactions in nursing infants, so it is necessary to stop the drug or stop breastfeeding when the mother uses this medicine.

6. Danazol drug interactions

Some drug interactions Danazol should be noted:
Avoid combining Danazol with: Anti-diabetic drugs (insulin, sulphonamide to lower blood glucose) because danazol causes diabetes; Danazol may increase the effect of: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, carbamazepine, tacrolimus, cyclosporine, vitamin K antagonists; Do not use Danazol with statins because of the increased risk of rhabdomyolysis, In addition, high-fat foods increase serum drug concentrations, food slows the process of reaching maximum drug concentrations (Cmax) in the blood. serous. Therefore, Danazol should not be taken with meals. Also, do not drink alcohol while you are taking Danazol because it can cause difficulty breathing, nausea.
Danazol is effective in the treatment of diseases such as endometriosis, benign breast tumors, angioedema,... When taking the drug, patients need to follow the doctor's instructions to avoid side effects. Adverse side effects may occur.
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