Duphaston 10 mg is a medication that contains the active substance – dydrogesterone. This is an artificially produced hormone that is very similar to the hormone naturally generated in your body – progesterone. It is noteworthy that medications like Duphaston are referred to as progestogens.
Duphaston helps the body overcome problems caused by the deficiency of a progestogen (progesterone). This hormone is normally produced in the ovaries. In the bodies of some women who take only estrogen, the lining of the uterus may abnormally thicken. Taking Duphaston prevents this.
More specifically, the composition of Duphaston includes the active substance – 10 mg of dydrogesterone, and excipients: lactose monohydrate, hypromellose, corn starch, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate, macrogol 400, coloring agent: titanium dioxide (E171).
Duphaston 10 mg is a white, round tablet with a dividing line and the marking 155. It is noteworthy that it can be used both independently and together with estrogen. This depends on the purpose for which you are taking Duphaston.
The medication works like natural progesterone. It does not suppress ovulation, therefore, it does not have a contraceptive effect. Duphaston 10 mg relaxes the muscles of the uterus and has a positive effect on the lining, which supports the maintenance of pregnancy.
Duphaston is dispensed from pharmacies by prescription and cannot be taken without authorization.
This medication is taken for various purposes, as prescribed by a doctor. More specifically, Duphaston 10 mg is used in the following cases:
Conditions caused by insufficiency of the luteal phase of the cycle: dysmenorrhea, menorrhagia, secondary amenorrhea;
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in combination with estrogen;
Contraception (individually or in combination with estrogen);
Endometriosis;
Some forms of hirsutism;
Palliative treatment of metastatic endometrial cancer;
Breast and kidney tumors;
Natural progesterone is used during artificial insemination and also in cases of luteal phase deficiency;
It is also used when pregnancy termination is caused by progesterone deficiency.
Duphaston is also used to treat problems caused by an insufficient amount of progesterone in the body.
Specifically, its indications are:
Relief of painful menstruation;
Treatment of infertility caused by low levels of progesterone;
Control of irregular menstruation;
Relief of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS);
Restoration of menstruation stopped before menopause (amenorrhea);
Prevention or stopping of unusually prolonged or heavy menstrual cycles occurring at the onset of menopause;
Treatment of menopause symptoms – hormone replacement therapy (HRT), used together with estrogen.
Duphaston is used only by a doctor's prescription. It is essential to ensure the safety of the medication before taking it. There are a number of cases when Duphaston should not be taken.
Do not take Duphaston if:
You have a tumor that worsens with progestogen;
You have an unusual or heavy menstrual cycle and your doctor does not know about it;
You are allergic to any component of the medication
Before taking Duphaston, consult your doctor if you have: depression; liver problems; a rare inherited blood disorder. It is noteworthy that hormone therapy, despite its benefits, carries certain risks that should be discussed by the patient and the doctor.
Before starting treatment, your doctor will ask you about your personal and family medical history. You may need a breast or abdominal examination. After starting treatment, it is important to visit your doctor regularly – at least once a year.
Duphaston contains lactose. Therefore, if you have an intolerance to similar substances, which is a rare inherited condition, talk to your doctor before taking this medication.
Heart disease – Hormone replacement therapy is not recommended for women who have had heart disease. If you feel chest pain that spreads to your arm or neck, contact your doctor immediately. Stop taking hormones until your doctor authorizes you to resume.
Stroke – Hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of stroke by about 1.5 times. This risk increases with the patient’s age.
The risk of blood clotting also increases, especially during the first year of treatment. The risk of thrombosis is high if you are older, have cancer, are overweight, take estrogen, are pregnant or have recently given birth, if you or someone in your family has had thrombosis, or if you have been immobile for a long time due to surgery, trauma, etc. Accordingly, if you have: painful swelling in your leg, sudden chest pain, or difficulty breathing, contact your doctor immediately and stop taking hormones.
Breast cancer – Hormone replacement therapy, especially estrogen–progestogen, increases the risk of breast cancer. This risk is increasing.
Cancer and hyperplasia of the uterine lining – In women who still have their uterus and take only estrogen as HRT, there is an increased risk of cancer and hyperplasia (overgrowth) of the uterine lining. Taking Duphaston together with estrogen (for at least 12 days a month or a full 28-day cycle, or continuously combined therapy) reduces this risk.
Ovarian cancer is much rarer than breast cancer.
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any medication. This includes medications that do not require a prescription or are herbal. They may weaken the effect of Duphaston or cause unwanted reactions.
Duphaston is not intended for children who have not yet started their menstrual cycle, and its safety and effectiveness have not been studied in adolescents aged 12–18 years.
There is no evidence that dydrogesterone reduces fertility if taken according to a doctor’s recommendations.
The medication may be used during pregnancy only in cases of artificial insemination. If the patient becomes pregnant during treatment or plans pregnancy, she must consult a doctor.
Do not take Duphaston while breastfeeding. It is not known whether Duphaston passes into breast milk. However, studies on other progestogens show that they pass into breast milk in small amounts.
After taking Duphaston, you may feel drowsy or dizzy, especially in the first few hours after taking it. Therefore, do not drive or use machinery until you are certain that you feel well.
Duphaston is often prescribed at 10–20 mg per day. Dosing mainly depends on the purpose of treatment, the patient's clinical condition, and the therapeutic effect of the medicine. The medication is used only as prescribed by a doctor.
Swallow the tablet with water. You may take it with or without food. If you take more than one tablet a day, spread your doses throughout the day. Try to take the medicine at the same time every day. The tablet has a score line only to make swallowing easier.
As with all medicines, Duphaston can have side effects. During treatment, you should follow these recommendations:
Periodic screening of the breast, uterus, and cervix;
Observe for any breast changes, for example: skin dimpling, nipple changes, or lumps.
Swelling of the skin around the face or throat, causing difficulty breathing (angioedema);
Vaginal bleeding of unknown etiology;
Liver problems;
Allergic reactions – difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure;
Headache;
Migraine;
Nausea;
Breast pain or sensitivity;
Painful, heavy, or irregular menstrual cycles;
Absence of menstruation or infrequent cycles;
Weight gain;
Rash, severe itching, or hives;
Depression;
Dizziness;
Vomiting;
Low levels of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia);
Fluid retention in the body;
Breast swelling;
Tumor growth influenced by progesterone;
Worsening of porphyria (a rare pigment blood disorder).
It is noteworthy that side effects may occur both in young and older patients. In such cases, it is essential that the doctor be informed and act accordingly.
