danazol

Generic Danocrine

Used for Endometriosis

Danazol treats endometriosis (a painful condition involving the tissue of your uterus), but it's not a first-choice medication because of the side effects.

Reviewed by:

Dalga Surofchy, PharmD, APh

Allison Gourley, PharmD

Last reviewed on May 31, 2021

What is Danazol?

What is Danazol used for?

Endometriosis (extra tissue growth in and around your uterus)
Hereditary angioedema (inherited condition that causes swelling in your lips and other body parts)

How Danazol works

Danazol is a gonadotropin inhibitor (blocker), which works to lower sex hormones in your body. By blocking some of these hormones, danazol stops tissue growth inside and around your uterus.

Drug facts

Common Brands	Danocrine(brand no longer available)
Drug Class	Gonadotropin inhibitor
Controlled Substance Classification	Not a controlled medication
Generic Status	Lower-cost generic available
Availability	Prescription only

Common Brands

Danocrine(brand no longer available)

Drug Class

Gonadotropin inhibitor

Controlled Substance Classification

Not a controlled medication

Generic Status

Lower-cost generic available

Availability

Prescription only

Side effects of Danazol

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

Weight gain
Acne
Swelling
Deepening of voice
Sweating or flushing

Less Common Side Effects

Liver problems

Danazol serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

Allergic reaction
Sudden liver problems
Clotting and deadly strokes

Source: DailyMed

The following Danazol side effects have also been reported

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 immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

For both females and males

Less common

Acne

dark-colored urine

increased oiliness of the hair or skin

muscle cramps or spasms

rapid weight gain

swelling of the feet or lower legs

unusual tiredness or weakness

Rare

Bleeding gums

bloating, pain, or tenderness of the abdomen or stomach

blood in the urine

burning, numbness, pain, or tingling in all fingers except the smallest finger

changes in vision

chest pain

chills

complete or partial numbness or weakness on one side of body

cough

coughing up blood

diarrhea

difficulty with speaking

difficulty with swallowing

discharge from the nipple

eye pain

fast heartbeat

fever

headache

hives or other skin rash

joint pain

light-colored stools

loss of appetite (continuing)

loss of muscle coordination

more frequent nosebleeds

muscle aches

nausea

purple- or red-colored, or other spots on the body or inside the mouth or nose

restlessness

shortness of breath

sore throat

sweating

tingling, numbness, or weakness in the legs, which may move upward to the arms, trunk, or face

unusual bruising or bleeding

unusual tiredness, weakness, or general feeling of illness

vomiting

yellow eyes or skin

For females only

More common

Decrease in the breast size

irregular menstrual periods

weight gain

Rare

Enlarged clitoris

hoarseness or deepening of voice

unnatural hair growth

For males only

Rare

Changes in semen

decrease in the size of the testicles

Some 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. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

For both females and males

Less common

Flushing or redness of the skin

mood or mental changes

nervousness

Rare

Increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight

For females only

Less common

Burning, dryness, or itching of the vagina

vaginal bleeding

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

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See more Danazol side effects

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Avg retail price

$113.32(Save 72.45%)

$31.22

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Pros and cons of Danazol

Pros

Works well to treat the pain caused from endometriosis
Medication available in a generic form which may make it more affordable

Cons

Can't use during pregnancy
Not a cure for endometriosis

Pharmacist tips for Danazol

Take danazol with or without food. Taking with food can help your body absorb the medication.
Don't take danazol while pregnant or if you're planning to get pregnant because it can cause serious harm to the unborn baby.
Your healthcare provider might ask you to start taking this medication while you're having your monthly period to make sure you are not pregnant.
Use non-hormonal birth control (e.g., condoms) while taking danazol to prevent pregnancy.

Common questions about Danazol

Although Danazol works well to lessen pain caused by endometriosis, it has some side effects that are hard to tolerate, such as acne, muscle cramps, swelling, deeper voice, hair growth (usually on face, chest and back), and weight gain.

Yes, it raises free testosterone in the body which is why it can cause some of the side effects mentioned before (acne, muscle cramps, swelling, deepening of voice, hair growth (usually on face, chest and back) and weight gain).

Yes, take Danazol during your period to make sure you are not pregnant while using Danazol. You can't use Danazol while pregnant because it can damage or harm your unborn baby. This is why it's best to start the medication during your menstrual cycle (period). You must also use a non-hormonal form of birth control, such as condoms, while taking Danazol.

No, the first-choice medications used for the treatment of pain related to endometriosis are combined (estrogen and progestin) birth control pills. These help with pain, have very few side effects, are affordable and easy to use.

There have been cases of some liver problems reported in people who have taken Danazol for a long time. This is why your healthcare provider will monitor your blood work to make sure you are safe.

Risks and warnings for Danazol

Danazol can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Risk factors: Pregnant women | Nursing mothers

Black Box Warning Danazol can harm an unborn baby. Women who are pregnant or planning for pregnancy can't take this medication. Your healthcare provider may ask you to take a pregnancy test before starting danazol.

Risk of blood clots

Black Box Warning Some people taking danazol have had strokes and blood clots. Don't take this medication if you’re likely to get blood clots. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have chest, arm, back, or neck pain; coughing up blood; numbness or weakness on one side of your body; trouble speaking or thinking; change in balance or change in eyesight; shortness of breath; or swelling, warmth, or pain in the leg or arm.

Liver disease

Risk factors: Long-term use of danazol

Black Box Warning People taking danazol for a long time are at higher risk for liver disease, which can lead to bleeding in the liver and liver damage. Contact your healthcare provider if you notice signs of liver problems (like dark urine, feeling tired, upset stomach, throwing up, or yellowing of your skin or eyes).

Increased pressure in the brain

Black Box Warning Some people taking danazol have had increased blood pressure in the brain. This can cause long-lasting loss of eyesight and sometimes death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have a bad headache, nausea, vomiting, or change in eyesight.

Danazol dosage

The average cost for 60 capsules of 200mg of Danazol is $114.18 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 75.86% off the average retail price of $473.05.

Capsule

Dosage	Quantity	Price as low as	Price per unit
50mg	30 capsules	$31.22	$1.04
100mg	60 capsules	$72.73	$1.21
200mg	60 capsules	$114.18	$1.90

See more Danazol dosage

Interactions between Danazol and other drugs

Danazol may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Danazol. Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

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 this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Simvastatin

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Anisindione
Atorvastatin
Bupropion
Dicumarol
Fluvastatin
Lovastatin
Pexidartinib
Phenprocoumon

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

See more Danazol interactions