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|Danazol

DANAZOL (Systemic)

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S.—

• Danocrine

In Canada—

• Cyclomen

Generic name product may be available in the U.S.

Category

• Angioedema, hereditary, prophylactic
• Gonadotropin inhibitor

Description

Danazol (DA-na-zole) may be used for a number of different medical problems. These include treatment of:

• Pain and/or infertility due to endometriosis;
• A tendency for females to develop cysts in the breasts (fibrocystic breast disease); or
• Hereditary angioedema, which causes swelling of the face, arms, legs, throat, windpipe, bowels, or sexual organs.

Danazol may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

This medicine is available only with your doctor"s prescription, in the following dosage form:

• Oral
• Capsules (U.S. and Canada)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For danazol, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to danazol, androgens (male hormones), or anabolic steroids. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Danazol is not recommended for use during pregnancy, since it may cause a female baby to develop certain male characteristics.

Breast-feeding—Breast-feeding is not recommended while you are taking this medicine because it may cause unwanted effects in the baby.

Children—Danazol may cause male-like changes in female children and cause premature sexual development in male children. It may also slow or stop growth in any child.

Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information comparing use of danazol in the elderly with use in other age groups, danazol has effects similar to androgens (male hormones). Androgens used in older males may increase the risk of developing prostate enlargement or cancer.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking danazol, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Anticoagulants (blood thinners)—Danazol may increase the effects of these medicines and possibly increase the risk of severe bleeding
• Tacrolimus (e.g., Prograf)—Danazol may increase the effects of tacrolimus by increasing the amount of that medicine in the body

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of danazol. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Blood clotting disorders or
• Severe liver disease or
• Tumor caused by too much male hormones or
• Tumor on the genitals or
• Unusual bleeding from the vagina—Danazol should not be used when these conditions exist

• Porphyria—This condition may be made worse

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus—Danazol may increase blood glucose (sugar) levels

• Epilepsy or
• Heart disease or
• Kidney disease or
• Migraine headaches—These conditions can be made worse by the fluid retention (keeping too much body water) that can be caused by danazol

Proper Use of This Medicine

In order for danazol to help you, it must be taken regularly for the full time of treatment as ordered by your doctor.

Dosing—The dose of danazol will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor"s orders or the directions on the label . The following information includes only the average doses of danazol. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of capsules that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problems for which you are taking danazol .

• For capsules dosage form:
  • Adults and teenagers:
    • For treatment of endometriosis: 100 to 400 milligrams (mg) two times a day for at least three to six months, and possibly for nine months.
    • For treatment of fibrocystic breast disease: 50 to 200 mg two times a day for six months or until signs of the disease go away, whichever comes first.
    • For prevention of attacks of hereditary angioedema: 200 mg two or three times a day. The dose may be lowered, depending upon your condition.
  • Children: Dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage—To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Precautions While Using This Medicine

Your doctor should check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine does not cause unwanted effects.

Contact your doctor if you are a female and have a larger clitoris (sexual organ), deepening of your voice, or unnatural hair growth after taking danazol . Your doctor may advise you to stop taking the medicine so these effects do not get worse.

For patients with diabetes :

• This medicine may affect blood glucose (sugar) levels. If you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine glucose test or if you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Danazol may cause your skin to be more sensitive to sunlight than it is normally. Exposure to sunlight, even for brief periods of time, may cause a skin rash, itching, redness, or other discoloration of the skin, or a severe sunburn. When you begin taking this medicine:

• Stay out of direct sunlight, especially between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., if possible.
• Wear protective clothing, including a hat. Also, wear sunglasses.
• Apply a sun block product that has a skin protection factor (SPF) of a least 15. Some patients may require a product with a higher SPF number, especially if they have a fair complexion. If you have questions about this, check with your health care professional.
• Apply a sun block lipstick that has an SPF of at least 15 to protect your lips.
• Do not use a sunlamp or tanning bed or booth.

If you have a severe reaction from the sun, check with your doctor .

If you are taking danazol for endometriosis or fibrocystic breast disease :

• During the time you are taking danazol, your menstrual period may not be regular or you may not have a menstrual period at all. This is to be expected when you are taking this medicine. If regular menstruation does not begin within 60 to 90 days after you stop taking this medicine, check with your doctor.
• During the time you are taking danazol, you should use birth control methods that do not contain hormones. If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.
• If you suspect that you may have become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and check with your doctor . Continued use of danazol during pregnancy may cause male-like changes in female babies.

Side Effects of This Medicine

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome:

Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.

Additional Information

Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses may not be included in product labeling, danazol is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:

• Gynecomastia (excess breast development in males)
• Menorrhagia (excessively long menstrual periods)
• Precocious puberty in females (premature sexual development)

Other than the above information, there is no additional information relating to proper use, precautions, or side effects for these uses.

Revised: 06/09/1999

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