What are the efficacy and main uses, wonderful effects, new clinical applications, and synonyms of Danazol? Let’s take a look at the detailed introduction below.

Danazol is also known as Anagonazole, Ethynyltestosterone, and Danazol.

Danazol, a pharmacological vaccine produced by artificial synthesis, is an isoxazole compound of 17a-ethynyl testosterone. This product is a weak androgen, with both protein anabolic effects and anti-estrogenic effects, but without estrogen and estrogen specificity. Its efficacy lies in the hypothalamic-pituitary-uterus-ovary axis, where it can inhibit the metabolism and release of adrenocorticotropic hormone, and it also affects the uterus and ovaries to influence the production of estrogen, lowering the body’s estrogen levels, and inhibiting the growth and development of the uterine wall and disordered uterine wall tissues, causing them to degrade and atrophy. In clinical medicine, it is primarily used to treat endometriosis, hemophilia, hereditary angioedema, and other diseases.

Production of traditional Chinese medicine vaccine capsules: each capsule contains 100mg, 200mg

Production precautions for vaccines

1. Severe heart, kidney, and liver dysfunction, epilepsy patients, pregnant women, and those breast-feeding are prohibited from using this product.

2. Oral administration of this product may cause weight gain, edema, hirsutism, hoarseness, acne, headache, liver function impairment, anxiety, and others. Most women experience amenorrhea, and a few have irregular vaginal bleeding.

Production of new clinical applications of vaccines

1. Danazol can significantly resist the endocrine environment conducive to the growth of endometriosis, causing the ectopic uterus to atrophy. Method: For patients with endometriosis, treatment should only begin after diagnosis by laparoscopy or laparotomy. The common dosage is 400mg/d, taken 2 to 4 times a day. Starting from the first day of the menstrual cycle (excluding pregnancy), the dosage can be increased to 600 to 800mg/d. For patients with poor tolerance to danazol, strict monitoring is necessary. Some suggest starting with a dose of 20mg/d and emphasize the necessity of contraception. The treatment period is generally 6 months, but it varies from person to person. For those preparing for surgical treatment for advanced endometriosis, treatment should be initiated 12 to 24 weeks before surgery; for women who do not want to become pregnant and are determined to refuse surgical treatment for painful endometriosis, treatment can be given for 52 to 72 weeks under strict monitoring of side effects. Danazol should not be used during pregnancy and lactation due to its metabolism in the liver, and it should be contraindicated in patients with liver function impairment, severe hypertension, congestive heart failure, and renal dysfunction.

2. Some use danazol to treat 12 children (11 girls and 1 boy) with pathologic precocious puberty. The initial dose was 5.510mg/(kg·d), taken twice a day, and the dose was reduced as soon as possible. The treatment duration was 3 to 3.5 years, which was very effective in controlling the development of secondary sexual characteristics without significant side effects. After taking the medication, girls’ breasts shrank, menstruation stopped, and blood estrogen levels decreased, while boys’ testicles shrank and blood testosterone levels decreased. However, it does not delay the rapid growth and maturation of bones.

3. Danazol for the treatment of infertility is used not only for infertility caused by uterine fibroids but also for infertility of unclear etiology. According to some studies on 40 women with unclear etiology of infertility, 21 women began to take 200mg of danazol daily from the first day of their menstrual period, for 100 days, and were then observed for 4 weeks and followed up for 6 months; another 19 women were given a placebo, for the same duration. Results: There was no pregnancy in the placebo group; 2 cases of ectopic pregnancy and 3 cases of term pregnancy in the danazol group.

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4. The treatment for breast fibrosis with danazol is 100-400mg/d, with a 60% success rate.

100% of the patients showed improvement in their symptoms, with the initial relief being breast pain and tenderness. The most significant improvement in pain occurred within 3 months of taking the medication, and the lump subsided and treatment was terminated after 32 months. Among the patients followed up, 1/3 experienced recurrence.

5. Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus It is reported that 2 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with early onset of menstruation were treated with danazol 400-600mg/d, resulting in clinical improvement and a decrease in anti-DNA antibody titers; 1 patient’s DNA hybridization concentration decreased from 70%-90% before treatment to 19% after treatment (the upper limit of normal people is 30%), and the dose of prednisolone decreased from 25mg and 20mg before treatment to 7.5mg and 9mg after treatment.

6. Treatment of Hereditary Angioedema It is reported that danazol has both long-term and short-term preventive effects on the onset of the disease. Used at a dose of 200-600mg/d, once a day, some reported that in 69 cases of long-term treatment (1-6 years), the initial dose was 600mg/d, and the dose was reduced by 100-200mg per day for 6-12 weeks until the disease symptoms were stabilized. Results: the frequency and severity of attacks in all patients decreased. The dose for controlling the onset of the disease varies from person to person, depending on the individual’s tolerance. Side effects are significant during long-term treatment, such as weight gain, muscle pain, headache, hematuria, abnormal liver function, and male characteristics. The incidence is associated with the dose. The author believes that danazol is the best drug for the treatment of this disease, but due to its side effects, close follow-up is necessary during long-term treatment.

7. Treatment of Primary Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura Danazol, also known as ethisterone, is commonly used in the treatment of endometriosis, menorrhagia, habitual abortion, and other diseases. In recent years, it has been found to have other important applications. Some people used danazol to treat 18 patients with refractory primary immune thrombocytopenic purpura with significant efficacy. Method of use: danazol 200mg taken orally, twice a day, for 3 months. Results: 5 cases were completely relieved, and the dose was maintained for follow-up for 1 year without recurrence. 6 cases showed partial improvement, with platelet counts reaching above 50 x 10^9/L, and in 2 cases, there were good responses during long-term treatment. 7 cases did not show significant efficacy.

8. Treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) The disease is a chronic autoimmune disease, in which patients have platelet surface-bound autoantibodies against platelets, which are easily engulfed and destroyed by the mononuclear phagocyte system. In the past, hormone therapy and traditional Chinese medicine were commonly used, but the efficacy was not satisfactory. In cases where the actual effect is still not ideal, splenectomy or immunosuppressive drugs can be used for treatment, and some patients still do not achieve satisfactory results [Li Dong’s new use of old medicine in the treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Chinese Hospital Pharmacology Journal, 1995, 15(1): 19]. Guo Rui and others treated 20 patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura with danazol, who had been treated with hormones for 4-6 weeks or more before treatment, and 13 of them had used vincristine or high-dose dexamethasone pulse therapy with poor efficacy. Results: After the use of danazol, 8 cases were cured, 5 had good efficacy, 4 improved, and 3 failed, with an overall efficacy of 85%. The mechanism of action of danazol is to correct abnormal T cell subsets, regulate T cell immune function, reduce antigen production, and reduce the clearance function of mononuclear macrophages against platelets coated with human immunoglobulin.

9. Treatment of nephrotic syndrome: It was reported that Fu Shuxia and others used danazol to treat patients with nephrotic syndrome, achieving good results. There were 15 cases of nephrotic syndrome type II, including 4 males and 11 females; the youngest was 19 years old, the oldest was 52 years old, with an average age of 27.2 years. The average dose of prednisone used was 3.04g, the minimum was 1.5g, and the maximum was 10.9g, which was ineffective. Proteinuria was still 7.08g/d. Danazol 0.2g, 3/d, was then administered orally, and dual嘧达莫, Tiaowei No.1 (containing anisodamine, scutellaria, and chuanxiong), tripterygium, and heparin were used. Results: After 38 days of danazol treatment, 8 cases showed proteinuria below 0.3g/d, with symptom regression, normal blood routine, and renal function. Only 1 case was ineffective. After proteinuria <0.5g/d, danazol 0.1g was taken daily to maintain and follow up, and proteinuria continued to decrease. By 2 to 5 months, there were no recurrences.

10. Treatment of lupus nephritis: Two patients with lupus nephritis were treated with danazol, with satisfactory results. Method: Danazol 600mg/d was administered in three divided doses, combined with prednisone 30mg/d, tripterygium, Tiaowei No.1, and blood transfusion interruption, etc. One patient was hospitalized for 28 days, and the other for 23 days. Results: Both patients showed complete disappearance of rashes and significant improvement in symptoms, with proteinuria decreased. After the symptoms improved, danazol was changed to 0.2g/d to maintain the treatment course, and no significant side effects were observed.

11. Treatment of chronic cystic mastitis: This disease is a common benign breast disease, and there is currently no ideal treatment method. Some used danazol to treat 20 patients with moderate to severe chronic cystic mastitis, and 18 cases showed symptom regression after 5 months of medication, and 2 cases showed significant improvement. Method: Starting from the second day after the onset of menstruation, danazol is taken at a dose of 100mg, twice a day, orally, and after one month, the dose is changed to 100g, once a day. Each case was treated for 5 months and the efficacy was observed.

12. Treatment of uterine fibroids: 50 patients with uterine fibroids were divided into danazol treatment group and mefen treatment group to carry out innovative research. Results: The pain and lower abdominal坠痛 in the treatment group were relieved, and anemia was corrected. After 3 months of treatment, the difference in the shrinkage of uterine fibroids between the two groups was significant (P<0.05). The authors believe that danazol provides a method for the treatment of uterine fibroids and can be used as a conservative therapy before surgery for uterine fibroids and during the menopausal period for women. [Peng Xuefeng, Wei Ainmin. Clinical Experiment of Danazol Treatment for Uterine Fibroids. Practical Clinical Medicine, 2002(5):60]