Duphaston in pregnancy – indications and effects of the drug

Duphaston – what is the drug and how does it work?

Duphaston drug contains the active substance dydrogesterone. It is a synthetic steroid hormone that is equivalent to natural progesterone. Taking the drug in the right dose helps replenish the female hormone and restore hormonal balance.

Duphaston is a drug available only by prescription. Its adoption and dosage can only be decided by a doctor. In the case of this hormone replacement therapy, treatment is always tailored individually, according to the needs of the patient and the identified health problem.

When to use Duphaston?

The use of the drug Duphaston during pregnancy or as part of combating various types of health problems is always individual. Taking the prescribed doses is done orally, Duphaston is a film-coated tablet. It is worth adding that the indications for the use of Duphaston are wide, taking into account the branch of medicine that is gynecological pharmacology.

As a rule, Duphaston is not taken throughout the cycle, while with multidirectional action, the use of Duphaston can be continuous. Find out when progesterone deficiency should be compensated by taking dydrogesterone. Duphaston is used most often when a patient is diagnosed:

• endometriosis,
• Menstrual disorders and abnormal bleeding,
• premenstrual syndrome,
• painful periods,
• menopause and the patient’s associated malaise.

Importantly, the Duphaston drug can also be used as part of infertility treatment when a woman is diagnosed with too low levels of progesterone. In such a situation, it is very difficult to get pregnant or maintain a pregnancy, and problems are caused by corpus luteum insufficiency.

A drug containing dydrogesterone, Duphaston is also administered to patients who are already pregnant when they are at risk of premature delivery or are at risk of miscarriage (both threatened and habitual miscarriages).

Duphaston in pregnancy: indications for use

By the 18th week of pregnancy, a woman’s body should naturally produce an increased amount of progesterone, which affects the maintenance of pregnancy. If its concentration is too low, Duphaston hormone replacement therapy is implemented. It is this medication that is supposed to help maintain the pregnancy until the placenta is formed.

Duphaston in pregnancy is used:

• In order to minimize the risk of miscarriage,
• When a pregnant woman is diagnosed with uterine contractions, and these can cause
  premature labor
  .

Use of Duphaston and pregnancy

Duphaston drug is completely safe and can be used during pregnancy without the risk of miscarriage or various unpleasant health consequences for the mother and the developing fetus. Duphaston is an alternative to natural progesterone, it will not disrupt the pregnancy, on the contrary, in numerous cases it will help maintain it.

Duphaston dosage in pregnancy and beyond

Only the doctor can decide on the dosage of Duphaston, taking into account the patient’s health condition and the diagnosed problem that the synthetic progesterone is supposed to combat. It should be borne in mind that taking Duphaston during pregnancy may have a completely different maximum concentration of dydrogesterone than when treating endometriosis, infertility or menstrual disorders. It is recommended that Duphaston is always taken at the same time, so that the body becomes accustomed to the regular intake of the drug and a stable concentration of dydrogesterone.

Learn the standard dosage of Duphaston for the most common reasons for using this drug. Thus:

• Duphaston in pregnancy women usually take in the first trimester, that is, until the end of the 12th. week of pregnancy. The drug is supposed to prevent miscarriage. As a rule, it is taken every day at a dose of 2 tablets of 10 mg per day,
• Duphaston for irregular periods is taken in the second half of the cycle until the 1st day of the new cycle. Most often it is recommended to take the drug in the amount of 1 film-coated tablet of 10 mg per day,
• Duphaston for the treatment of endometriosis is generally taken from the 5th to the 25th day of the cycle in the amount of 1-3 film-coated tablets per day.

Contraindications to taking Duphaston drug

Dydrogesterone can cause sensitization, which is an important contraindication for the use of this drug. Other contraindications include:

• Cancer, the development of which can be affected by progesterone levels,
• Genital tract bleeding of undetermined cause.

Particular caution in the use of Duphaston should be exercised if the patient is or has been struggling with cardiovascular diseases

What side effects can Duphaston cause?

Most patients tolerate well taking the drug in coated Duphaston tablets. However, synthetic progesterone in this form can cause:

• headache,
• migraine,
• nausea,
• dizziness,
• breast tenderness,
• Drowsiness and excessive fatigue in the first hours after taking Duphaston. It is recommended that the patient not drive independently during this time.

What side effects of taking Duphaston are still possible for pregnant women? Minor spotting or bleeding from the genital tract may be a cause for concern, but they are usually perfectly safe and usually resolve spontaneously by three months.

If the side effects persist for a long time or the patient notices an increase in their severity, she should consult her health care provider. Although no overdose of Duphaston has been reported, excess progesterone in this form can effectively reduce the comfort of daily functioning.

Duphaston drug and breastfeeding

In the case of the drug Duphaston, no negative effects have been confirmed, taking into account the health and development of a naturally fed child. It is not known whether dydrogesterone crosses into milk after oral administration. During breastfeeding, the use of Duphaston should always be consulted with a doctor.

Duphaston in pregnancy – possible interactions with other drugs

Women who plan to use hormone replacement therapy with Duphaston should tell their doctor about other medications, if they are taking any. It turns out that combining certain medications with Duphaston can be associated with severe complications and side effects, such as genital tract bleeding.

With which drugs should dydrogesterone therapy not be combined? These include:

• Anticonvulsant drugs, such as phenytoin,
• Antiviral drugs, for example, ritonavir,
• Antibacterial drugs, including nevirapine,
• estrogen-containing therapeutic agents,
• Herbal preparations that include sage, St. John’s wort or ginkgo in their composition.

Duphaston and alcohol consumption – is it safe?

The doctor categorically forbids combining the drug with alcohol. Such a mixture can exacerbate the occurrence of side effects. The ban primarily affects pregnant women, for whom Duphaston helps to sustain pregnancy, minimize the risk of miscarriage and premature birth.

Duphaston drug – price

Duphaston, an oral hormonal drug that regulates sexual function, is available as film-coated tablets. The package contains 20 tablets, and each tablet contains 10 mg of active substances.

Want to know how much Duphaston costs? This drug is issued only by prescription, and its price depends on the pharmacy where it is available. The average price of Duphaston is currently 26-36 zlotys.

FAQ

• What is the drug Duphaston and for what purpose is it used?

Duphaston’s formulation includes dydrogesterone, a synthetic steroid hormone that supplements progesterone deficiencies. In gynecological pharmacotherapy, Duphaston is used to treat endometriosis, relieve menopause or irregular and painful periods. Duphaston in pregnancy prevents miscarriages and replaces natural progesterone, which prevents premature births.

• How does Duphaston work in pregnancy?

Duphaston in pregnancy supplements progesterone deficiency. The composition of the drug includes dydrogesterone, a synthetic steroid hormone. The drug is most often used to minimize the risk of threatened and habitual miscarriage, Duphaston also prevents premature births.

• What side effects can Duphaston cause?

Duphaston is a safe hormonal drug that most often has no negative side effects in pregnant women as well. Duphaston overdose has also not been reported. The drug in some cases can aggravate headache, nausea and cause purpura of the genital tract, which usually disappears spontaneously.