Danazol
About Danazol
Danazol belongs to the class of drugs called synthetic steroids used to treat endometriosis and breast cysts. Endometriosis is a disorder in which the tissue lining the uterus (endometrium) grows on the ovaries, bowel, or tissues lining the pelvis. The most common symptom is pelvic pain.
Danazol contains Danazol which works by suppressing the activity of ovaries. Thus, it decreases the amount of estrogen in the body and induces temporary menopause. Thereby, it shrinks the tissue outside the uterus or stops its growth.
Take Danazol as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Danazol for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you based on your medical condition. In some cases, you may experience sore throat, hoarse voice, hair loss, excessive hair growth on the body or face, stomach pain, skin rashes, or chest pain. Most of these side effects of Danazol do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if the side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
If you are allergic to Danazol or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Danazol is contraindicated in pregnant and breastfeeding women. You are recommended to avoid or limit consumption of alcohol with Danazol as it may cause shortness of breath or make you feel sick. Drive only if you are alert as Danazol may cause dizziness, vertigo (spinning feeling), or blurred vision. If you are about to undergo any surgery, please inform your doctor that you are taking Danazol as it may increase the effect of certain anesthetics.
Uses of Danazol
Medicinal Benefits
Danazol contains Danazol which decreases the amount of estrogen in the body by suppressing the activity of ovaries. Thus, Danazol induces temporary menopause and shrinks the tissue outside the uterus or stops its growth. Also, Danazol works by inhibiting the release of hormones in the body that cause breast pain and lumps.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Danazol
- Sore throat
- Hoarse voice
- Hair loss
- Excessive hair growth on body or face
- Stomach pain
- Skin rashes
- Chest pain
Drug Warnings
If you are allergic to Danazol or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. Danazol is contraindicated in pregnant and breastfeeding women. It is advised to use effective non-hormonal contraceptives to avoid pregnancy while taking Danazol as it may cause birth defects. You are recommended to avoid or limit consumption of alcohol with Danazol as it may cause shortness of breath or make you feel sick. Drive only if you are alert as Danazol may cause dizziness, vertigo (spinning feeling), or blurred vision. If you are about to undergo any surgery, please inform your doctor that you are taking Danazol as it may increase the effect of certain anesthetics. If you have pain while moving your legs or arms, stop taking Danazol and consult a doctor immediately as this might be due to a blood clot.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Danazol may interact with blood thinners (warfarin), immunosuppressants (tacrolimus, ciclosporin), cholesterol-lowering medicines (simvastatin), medicines used to treat vitamin D deficiency (alfacalcidol), steroid hormones (progesterone, testosterone, estrogen).
Drug-Food Interaction: Danazol may interact with alcohol. Therefore, avoid or limit consumption of alcohol with Danazol as it may cause shortness of breath or make you feel sick.
Drug-Disease Interaction: If you have porphyria (a blood disorder), unusual vaginal bleeding, blood clots, liver, kidney or heart disease, high blood pressure, polycythemia (blood gets thicker), fits, diabetes, lipid disorders (blood fat problems), migraine or cancer, inform your doctor before taking Danazol.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid or limit alcohol consumption with Danazol as it may cause shortness of breath or make you feel sick.
Pregnancy
unsafeDanazol is not recommended for pregnant women as it may cause birth defects. Please consult a doctor if you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy.
Breast Feeding
unsafeDanazol is contraindicated in breastfeeding women as small amounts of Danazol may be excreted in breast milk. Please consult a doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Driving
cautionDanazol may cause dizziness, vertigo (spinning feeling) or blurred vision. Therefore, avoid driving if you experience any of these symptoms after taking Danazol.
Liver
cautionTake Danazol with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required. Avoid taking Danazol if you have severe liver disease.
Kidney
cautionTake Danazol with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required. Avoid taking Danazol if you have severe kidney disease.
Children
cautionPlease consult a doctor regarding the use of Danazol in children.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Avoid fried and processed foods.
- Include fiber-rich foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables in your diet.
- Avoid refined carbohydrates that are high in sugars.
- Replace animal proteins (like eggs, fish, and meat) with vegetable protein sources (nuts, seeds, and beans).
- Avoid drinking excess alcohol or caffeinated drinks as they can worsen the symptoms.
- Maintain a healthy weight, and do moderate exercise regularly.
- Avoid smoking and alcohol intake.
Special Advise
- If you are supposed to take Danazol for more than 6 months, your doctor may recommend an ultrasound test to check your liver condition.
- Regular blood tests are recommended while taking Danazol to monitor liver functioning and blood levels.
- Danazol may affect the results of certain blood tests used to check liver and thyroid function, hormone testosterone levels, sugars, fats, and protein levels in the blood. Therefore, inform your doctor that you are taking Danazol before undergoing any tests.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Endometriosis: It is a disorder in which the tissue lining the uterus (endometrium) grows on the ovaries, bowel or tissues lining the pelvis. The most common symptom is pelvic pain. Other symptoms of endometriosis include lower back pain, painful periods, heavy menstrual bleeding, pain following sexual intercourse or discomfort with bowel movements.
Breast cysts (lumps): These lumps are non-cancerous but may be painful. Breast lumps may be caused due to milk cysts (sacs filled with milk) that may occur during breastfeeding, fibrocystic breasts (breast tissue feels lumpy), injury or mastitis (infection of breast).
FAQs
Danazol contains Danazol that works by suppressing the activity of ovaries. Thus, it decreases the amount of oestrogen in the body and induces temporary menopause. Thereby, it shrinks the tissue outside the uterus or stops its growth.
You are not recommended to use a contraceptive pill with Danazol as it may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives. Therefore, it is advised to use effective non-hormonal contraceptives such as Intra-Uterine Device or barrier method in conjunction with contraceptive jelly or foam. However, please consult a doctor if you have any concerns regarding this.
Danazol may be used to treat breast lumps when other treatments have not worked. Danazol inhibits the release of hormones in the body that cause breast pain and lumps.
Danazol may cause changes in blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is advised to regularly monitor blood sugar levels while taking Danazol and inform your doctor if you have diabetes before taking Danazol.
You are not recommended to take Danazol with simvastatin as it may increase the levels of simvastatin in the blood and increase the risk of liver damage and rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue). However, please consult a doctor before taking Danazol with other medicines.
Danazol is not recommended for patients suffering from severe liver disease as it may worsen the condition. Therefore, inform your doctor if you have any liver disease before taking Danazol.
