With progesterone deficiency, the doctor may prescribe Dufaston. The method of use of the drug depends on the underlying diagnosis and related health problems. In its molecular component, chemical properties and pharmacological composition, the active component of the drug is close to progesterone produced by the body on its own. Therefore, unlike many similar drugs of natural origin, it does not cause specific side effects.
Dosage form
It is a special-purpose drug "Dufaston". The method of application is dictated by its form of release. The drug is released in the form of enteric-coated pills, which contain 10 mg of the main active ingredient - didrogisterone.
Tablets are packed in cardboard packs that contain one blister. Each contains 20 pills.
Active components
The presence of 10 mg of dydrogestiron is characterized by the drug Duphaston. The composition of the drug is also supplemented with auxiliary components that do not affect the therapeutic effect, but are necessary for the formation of the pill itself and giving it a characteristic shape:
- corn starch;
- hypromellose;
- silicon dioxide;
- lactose monohydrate;
- magnesium stearate;
- colloidal dioxide.
The tablets are enteric coated, which consists of Opadray Y-1-7000, and also has the following substances:
- titanium dioxide;
- polyethylene glycol 400;
- hypromellose.
The tablets are round, convex in shape, they are engraved in the form of the letter S.
When appointed
The drug has its own specific focus. It is necessary in conditions where signs of progesterone deficiency are clearly expressed in the body.
Why is Duphaston prescribed? As a hormone replacement treatment, when a woman has disorders in the body associated with the onset of menopause, whether natural or caused by a surgical method. The medicine is necessary to neutralize the negative effect of the intensely produced estrogens on the endometrial cavity in the uterus. The main indications for the appointment may be the following conditions:
- Dysmenorrhea, disruptions in the menstrual cycle, irregular periods.
- Endometriosis in its various manifestations.
- Uterine bleeding caused by dysfunctional changes in the body.
- Infertility in women, which is diagnosed with luteal insufficiency.
- Premenstrual syndrome and its consequences.
- The threat of miscarriage, with similar conditions in history or occurring for the first time, if the tests show a lack of their own level of progesterone.
- Secondary amenorrhea. It is necessary to prescribe the drug together with estrogens.
Duphaston should be prescribed only by the attending physician on the basis of analyzes, a collected medical history and examination of the patient.
Are there any contraindications?
Why tablets "Duphaston" are described in detail in the instructions, but first of all, it is important to study information about contraindications to their use. Of course, only a doctor should prescribe, he also takes into account all the consequences of such treatment. However, the patient should be familiar with the list of diagnoses in which the medication should not be taken:
- If lactose intolerance is identified, which is genetically determined.
- In the presence of hypersensitivity or a clear allergic reaction to dydrogesterone and any other component of the drug.
- With the delivered and confirmed malabsorption syndrome.
- If the body has an insufficient level of lactose.
The doctor always evaluates the collected history of each of his patients. If there are indications of skin itching in a previous pregnancy, then tablets can be taken only under the strict supervision of a specialist.
Due to the fact that the drug is often prescribed together with estrogen preparations, special care must be taken in the following cases:
- in the presence of diabetes;
- if migraine is often disturbed;
- persistent disorders in the functioning of the liver and / or kidneys were recorded;
- when a remedy is prescribed against the background of the presence of cardiovascular pathologies;
- if there were cases of epilepsy.
Pills can also not be taken if the patient has a poor digestibility of carbohydrates or a metabolic disorder.
How does it affect the body
A complete analogue of progesterone is the main active ingredient of the pills - dydrogesterone. How "Dufaston" acts on the body, completely depends on its main component. Getting from the gastrointestinal tract into the bloodstream, the drug exerts natural changes in the secretion of the endometrium. It does not affect thermoregulation, therefore, women can always determine the moment the egg leaves the ovary (ovulation) by temperature jump. The active component binds to blood proteins, has a beneficial effect on the reproductive system. Progestin receptors inside the uterine mucosa act selectively.
Dufaston: method of application
The tablets are for oral use only. The annotation contains indicative intake regimens, but they are intended for informational purposes only. For each specific patient, the dosage of the therapeutic agent should be selected by the attending physician. If hormonal disorders are recorded, then the appointment is possible only with favorable blood tests and an ultrasound scan. Consider sample treatment regimens and methods for taking pills, depending on the diagnosis.
With endometriosis
If the patient is worried about the growing endometrium in the uterine cavity, then after all the tests and a reliable diagnosis, the medicine is prescribed in the following dosage:
- One pill in the morning, at lunch, and in the evening. A double prem may be recommended if the course of the disease is not complicated.
- It is recommended to take tablets from 5 to 25 days of the female cycle. However, recommendations for continuous use of the drug may be given. How to take "Duphaston": before or after a meal? There is no clear answer in the instructions, so you can use pills at any time.
You can’t prescribe a medicine for yourself if you suspect endometriosis, because the symptoms of the disease may indicate a completely different pathology.
Infertility treatment
If the cause of infertility is a lack of a natural level of progesterone, then the doctor may prescribe Dufaston. The start of the pill should coincide with the 14th day of the menstrual cycle, and the end suggests 25 days. For the treatment of infertility, you need to take 1 tablet per day. The duration of the course is usually at least six months.
If a woman has a long-awaited pregnancy during therapy, then the interruption of Dufaston should not be abrupt. The gynecologist usually recommends continuing to take the medication according to the scheme recommended for menacing miscarriage.
Prevention of miscarriage
In conditions that threaten a late miscarriage, pills are taken only under the supervision of a doctor according to the following scheme:
- 40 mg of the active ingredient, which is 4 tablets once;
- then you need to take one pill every 8 hours;
- treatment is carried out until the threat of miscarriage and related symptoms disappear completely.
If a woman has several cases of miscarriage that occurred before the 20th week, then to prevent such cases, the gynecologist may advise taking 1 pill twice a day. The dosage is gradually reduced.
Menstrual cycle problems
In case of malfunctions in the menstrual cycle, the appointment of Duphaston is also shown. The method of application depends on the specific diagnosis.
If you are concerned about premenstrual syndrome or dysmenorrhea, as well as during irregular periods, you need to take two tablets twice a day. However, the reception scheme differs:
- if dysmenorrhea is being treated, then the pills are drunk from the 5th to the 25th day of the woman’s monthly cycle
- with premenstrual syndrome, it is necessary to take the drug from 11 to 25 days of the female cycle.
It is worth considering that with amenorrhea, estrogens will be prescribed together with Dufaston, which must be drunk from 1 to 25 days of the cycle once a day.
With uterine bleeding
If the patient is threatened with dysfunctional uterine bleeding, then with the aim of such a condition, a remedy is prescribed from 11 to 25 days of the cycle. It is necessary to take one pill in the morning and in the evening. If bleeding has already begun, then to stop them, drink 1 tablet twice a day for a week.
Hormone replacement therapy
The medication is recommended for hormone replacement therapy. However, the drug is prescribed in different combinations:
- The cyclic method of taking estrogen. Use 1 tablet in the last two weeks of taking female hormones.
- Continuous reception scheme. If estrogens are prescribed throughout the entire female cycle, then Duphaston drink 1 pill in the first two weeks.
The daily dose of the drug can be doubled by the doctor, but only by ultrasound or biopsy.
"Duphaston" - is it a hormonal drug or not?
In fact, the drug is an analogue of natural progesterone, but its active component is of synthetic origin. Thanks to this, the drug does not cause side effects that are characteristic of natural hormonal agents:
- anabolic effect;
- thermogenic activity;
- estrogenic activity;
- glucocorticoid effect;
- endogenous effect;
- bleeding disorder.
But "Duphaston" is a hormonal drug with a synthetic substance in it, so it has all the effects of progesterone. The medicine has a beneficial effect on the endometrium and has a positive effect on the lipid composition of the blood, which is important during menopause.
If taken only as prescribed by the doctor, it does not cause Dufaston side effects. Reviews show that there are no negative consequences from treatment. Exceptions are only those women who decide to prescribe a drug for themselves.
Possible negative consequences
Usually, no side effects occur while taking Dufaston. Patient reviews confirm that the medicine is well tolerated and gives the desired effect. However, sometimes negative consequences from taking are possible, which is confirmed by some responses of women.
Headache and migraine are relatively common side effects. It is rare to find complaints about:
- Breakthrough bleeding from the uterus (to prevent it is usually recommended to increase the dosage).
- Hemolytic anemia.
- Minor disturbances in the liver, which is manifested in weakness, general malaise and pain in the abdomen.
- Allergic reactions resulting in rash, itching, swelling, and hives.
- Hypersensitivity of the mammary glands.
- The appearance of peripheral edema.
So far, cases of overdose have not been recorded. However, if you accidentally exceed the prescribed dose, gastric lavage is recommended. Further, only symptomatic therapy is suggested.
Pregnancy therapy
In the early stages of bearing a child, Dufaston can be recommended. The instructions for pregnancy clearly indicate that the medication does not adversely affect the fetus and the body of the expectant mother. Moreover, such statements are confirmed not only by numerous patient reviews, but also by medical practice.
Often women are interested in why Duphaston tablets, why they are needed during pregnancy. During the bearing of a child, progesterone coming from outside is able to protect the fetus, which is considered by the body as a foreign body. Taking the drug is necessary to protect against immunological rejection of the unborn baby. Tablets have the following effect:
- reduce the sensitivity of the myometrium;
- reduce contractile activity of the walls of the uterus;
- prepare the endometrium for implantation of the ovum.
Currently, the medication is often used in gynecological practice and is used in the treatment of infertility, threatening miscarriage and habitual miscarriage.
The need for admission during pregnancy
The drug "Dufaston" protects against progesterone deficiency. Instructions for use during pregnancy states that the appointment of the drug should only be administered by a doctor. Initially, tablets can be recommended for preparing the endometrium to attach a fertilized egg and prevent an early miscarriage.
If pregnancy has already begun, then do not immediately abandon Dufaston therapy. The instructions for use during pregnancy indicate that tablets are necessary for:
- prevention of spontaneous abortion;
- prevent habitual miscarriage, if this has previously happened;
- increase the natural level of progesterone.
Features of reception during pregnancy
Duphaston tablets are taken orally. The instructions for pregnancy indicate the following information:
- With threatening abortion. 4 tablets are prescribed once, then every 8 hours, 1 pill. The doctor cancels the drug only after removing all the symptoms.
- If a history of miscarriages. It is necessary up to 20 weeks of pregnancy to take 1 tablet in the morning and evening. Dosage is reduced gradually based on analyzes.
The term for taking Dufaston is always determined individually for each patient. During pregnancy, drinking pills is necessary only as prescribed by the gynecologist. Dosage can also be adjusted by a doctor. Drink plenty of water is necessary "Duphaston." Before or after eating, take pills, there are no instructions in the instructions. Judging by the reviews of women, many people prefer to take pills before meals, so as not to harm the gastric mucosa. Others prefer to dine first and only then drink a pill. This position is explained by the fact that the drug is hormonal, which is destroyed by exposure to hydrochloric acid produced before meals.
Reviews about the drug
As medical practice and patient reviews show, Dufaston is well tolerated because it does not have estrogenic properties. Unlike similar hormonal drugs, the drug does not affect the mucous membrane of the genital organs, does not cause deviations in the development of the fetus, and does not distort the development of the male fetus. Often women are afraid to use hormonal drugs during pregnancy because of the fear of a boy having secondary sexual characteristics of a girl and vice versa. In this case, all fears are not substantiated, which is confirmed by many years of experience in use.
Women note that pills do not lead to weight gain or it is extremely rare. Also, coarsening of the voice is not fixed, acne is not disturbing and there is no excessive hair growth while taking synthetic hormone. Blood coagulation is also not significantly affected.
Of course, there are also negative reviews. In some patients, frequent migraines are recorded with the use of pills. There are also uterine bleeding, but with regular medical supervision, this condition is quickly regulated by increasing the dosage.
The drug has proven itself when necessary to maintain pregnancy. Women note good health and the absence of signs of a wounded miscarriage. Many managed to maintain pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby only on the background of taking "Duphaston" and its competent dosage set by the attending physician.