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Danazol
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Description
Danazol is a medication that is used to treat endometriosis (abnormal growth of the uterus/womb lining), fibrocystic breast disease (a non-cancerous condition in which breasts are swollen and tender), and hereditary angioedema (an allergic condition that causes episodes of swelling in the hands, feet, face, airway, or intestines).
Danazol shows side effects like weight gain, sweating, nervousness, irritability, etc. Inform your doctor if any of these side effects worsen or persist for a long time.
Danazol can be taken with or without food. It is recommended that you take it at the same time every day. Your doctor will decide the dosage of this medicine based on the indication you are taking it for.
Danazol is not recommended if you have an abnormal vaginal bleeding episode that has not been diagnosed by a doctor, porphyria (a rare genetic disorder of the blood characterized by a defect in the synthesis of haemoglobin), heart problems or a history of a heart attack or angina (chest pain). Inform your doctor if you have any kidney problems, diabetes, or any other medical conditions. Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. This medicine may not be safe for breastfeeding mothers; nevertheless, consult your doctor before taking this medicine while breastfeeding.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Danazol
Acne
Weight gain
Changes in menstrual cycle
Decrease in breast size
Vaginal dryness and irritation
Sweating and flushing
Oily skin or hair
Hirsutism
Peeling and blistering of skin
Deepening of the voice
Uses of Danazol
What is it prescribed for?
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition in which the lining of your uterus/womb starts to grow abnormally. Its symptoms are pelvic pain, painful periods, excessive bleeding, pain with intercourse, etc. Danazol works to treat endometriosis by shrinking the displaced tissue of your uterus.
Fibrocystic breast disease
Fibrocystic breast disease is a condition characterized by swollen, tender breasts, with the presence of non-cancerous lumps. Danazol is used to treat such conditions. It works by blocking the release of hormones that cause lumps and pain in the breast.
Hereditary angioedema
Hereditary angioedema is an inherited condition characterized by episodes of abnormal swelling of the face, hands, feet, or airways.Danazol increases certain natural substances in your body. This helps in reducing the episodes of abnormal swelling of the face, hands, and feet.
Concerns
Commonly asked questions
Onset of action
The amount of time required for Danazol to show its action is not clinically established and may vary depending on the dose and condition you are being treated for.Duration of effect
The amount of time for which Danazol remains active in the body is not clinically established.Safe with alcohol?
Consumption of alcohol is not recommended during treatment with Danazol due to the increased risk of severe side effects such as shortness of breath, vomiting, restlessness, etc.Is it habit forming?
No habit forming tendencies were reported for Danazol.Usage in pregnancy?
Danazol is not recommended for use during pregnancy as it may cause harm to your foetus. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant.Usage while breast-feeding?
It is not known if Danazol passes into the breastmilk. If you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor to understand the potential risks and benefits before taking this medicine.
Allergy
Danazol is not recommended for treatment if you have a known history of allergy to Norethisterone. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any allergic reactions like itching anywhere on your body, skin, rashes, swelling on the face and lips.
Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding
Danazol is not recommended for use if you have an abnormal vaginal bleeding episode that has not been diagnosed by a doctor. If you have any menstrual abnormalities, report them to your doctor immediately.
Severe liver disease
Danazol is not recommended if you have severe liver problems. This medicine breaks down in your liver and is excreted through urine. If you have a damaged liver, the medicine will get accumulated inside and lead to toxicity and can worsen your condition. Inform your doctor about any liver problems that you have.
Porphyria
Porphyria is a rare genetic disorder of the blood characterized by a defect in the synthesis of haemoglobin. Danazol is not recommended if you have porphyria as it may worsen your condition.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Danazol is not recommended for use during pregnancy as it may cause harm to your foetus. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant.
Breast-feeding
It is not known if Danazol passes into the breastmilk. If you are breastfeeding, consult your doctor to understand the potential risks and benefits before taking this medicine.
General warnings
Migraine
Migraine is a type of headache that can cause severe throbbing pain in the head, mostly confined to one side. Danazol should be used with caution if you have a migraine since it may cause a migraine-like headache and may interfere with the anti-migraine treatment.
Sports
It is advised to not indulge in certain sports while Danazol is consumed. Archery, racing, shooting and other high-risk sports should be avoided. You should refer to the list of medicine published by the World Anti-Doping Agency which is not to be taken while participating in specific sports events.
Kidney disease
Danazol is excreted via the kidney and may get accumulated in your body if your kidneys are not functioning properly. This can increase the risk of severe side effects. Hence, this medicine should be used with caution if you have severe kidney problems.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition in which there is an increase in blood sugar levels. Danazol may interfere with your blood sugar control; hence, use it with caution.
Weight Gain
Danazol may lead to weight gain, especially when you take it for a long period of time.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of Danazol take the dose as soon as you remember it. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed one.
Overdose
Seek emergency medical treatment or contact the doctor in case of an overdose of Danazol.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
N/A
Instructions
Consumption of alcohol is not recommended during treatment with Danazol due to the increased risk of severe side effects such as shortness of breath, vomiting, restlessness, etc.
Interaction with Medicine
Pimozide
Warfarin
Leflunomide
Disease interactions
Disease
Information not available.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
CPK
CPK isoenzymes test is a way to measure the levels of creatine phosphokinase (an enzyme important for muscle function) in your bloodstream. Danazol may interfere with the laboratory tests for CPK and this may result in inaccurate test results. It is advised that you inform the doctor about treatment with Danazol before undergoing any laboratory test.
Glucose
Danazol may interfere with the laboratory tests for glucose and this may result in inaccurate test results. It is advised that you inform the doctor about treatment with Danazol before undergoing any laboratory test.
Take Danazol as instructed by the doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts than prescribed or share this medicine with other people.
Consult the doctor if you experience any undesirable effects. Ensure that the treatment course is completed.
Do not stop the use of this medicine without consulting your doctor.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Danazol acts on the ovaries (small, almond-shaped organs located on either side of the uterus/womb and the pituitary gland (a pea-sized gland located at the base of your brain that produces hormones that control various processes in the body) to reduce the abnormal growth and spread of cells in the conditions of endometriosis and fibrocystic breast disease. For the condition of hereditary angioedema, Danazol increases certain natural substances in your body. This helps in reducing the episodes of abnormal swelling of the face, hands, and feet.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Antigonadotropic agents
Schedule
Schedule H
Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov. 2021. DailyMed - DANAZOL capsule. [online] Available at: [Accessed 15 November 2021].
Drugs, H., 2021. Danazol: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: [Accessed 15 November 2021].
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. [online] Available at: [Accessed 15 November 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 2 Mar 2023
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.