Danazol

• Danazol is used for the treatment of endometriosis – an illness where some of the tissues that line the womb are found elsewhere in the body.
• It is also used to treat breast cysts (lumps) which may be painful, but not malignant.

When should one not use Danazol

• If you are allergic to danazol or any of the other ingredients of Danazol.
• If you are taking a cholesterol-lowering medicine called simvastatin. If you are not sure what this medicine is, please confirm with your doctor.
• If you have a rare inherited illness called porphyria that affects your metabolism.
• If you are pregnant, might become pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
• If you are breastfeeding.
• If you have severe kidney, liver or heart disease.
• If you ever had blood clots (thrombosis).
• If you have a type of cancer that is affected by hormones.
• If you have unusual vaginal bleeding which has not been checked by a doctor.

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Nausea
• Blurring of vision
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Acne

Other General Warnings

• You have any liver or kidney problems.
• You have an illness that could be made worse by fluid accumulation.
• You have high blood pressure or heart disease.
• You have diabetes.
• You have an illness called polycythemia, in which the blood gets thicker.
• You experience fits/seizures.
• You have blood fat problems called lipid disorders.
• You ever had an allergic reaction to a hormonal treatment similar to Danazol.
• You get migraines.
• You have cancer or possible breast cancer.

How Does It Work?

Interactions with other medicines

• Some medicines can affect the way Danazol works or this medicine itself can reduce the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time.
• Inform your doctor about all the medicines, supplements or herbals you are currently taking or might take to avoid any possible interaction.
• Particular care should be taken if you are taking medicines like steroids such as testosterone, estrogen, progesterone (including hormone replacement therapy/HRT) and statins such as simvastatin.
• Danazol may increase the effect of the medicines used for the treatment of epilepsy, fits or convulsions (anticonvulsants), medicines used to thin the blood (anticoagulants such as warfarin), anaesthetics, cyclosporine and tacrolimus - used to stop the rejection of organs after a transplant and alfacalcidol (a form of vitamin D) used for vitamin D deficiency and illnesses where there is not enough calcium in the blood.
• Danazol may lower the effect of the medicines used for treating diabetes, high blood pressure (anti-hypertensives) and migraine.

Overdose

Missed a Dose