Conception of a child and normal bearing of a fetus is impossible without certain conditions, one of which is a sufficient amount of progesterone. This hormone is normally produced in the second half of the menstrual cycle and prepares a woman's uterus for pregnancy.
If it is not enough or is completely absent, the fertilized egg cannot gain a foothold, and a miscarriage begins. In such situations, women who want to preserve the pregnancy are prescribed special drugs, which include Duphaston. What kind of medicine is this, why is it most often recommended to use when planning pregnancy from 16 to 25 days of the cycle, according to what scheme is it taken and what analogs can be replaced?
Release form
The medication is represented by convex round tablets coated with a white shell. There is a risk on one side of the drug. The drug is placed in blisters of 14 or 20 pieces, and one pack contains from 20 to 112 tablets. In such forms as vaginal suppositories, gel, capsules or ampoules for injection, Duphaston is not available.
Composition
The main component of Duphaston is called dydrogesterone. Its amount in each tablet is 10 mg. To this synthetic substance are added magnesium stearate, lactose monohydrate and hypromellose, as well as silicon dioxide and corn starch. Such ingredients create a dense core of the tablet, and polyethylene glycol 400, hypromellose and titanium dioxide are used to make the drug shell.
How does it work?
The active component of Duphaston (dydrogesterone) is similar to natural progesterone. It is similar to the hormone produced by the corpus luteum in its molecular structure and pharmacological and chemical properties. However, since this substance is not classified as a derivative of testosterone, when it is taken, there are no side effects characteristic of synthetic progestogens. In addition, Dufaston lacks anabolic, androgenic, thermogenic, glucocorticosteroid and estrogenic activity.
When taken orally, the medication selectively affects the endometrium. However, it does not suppress ovulation and does not disrupt the menstrual cycle.
If a woman wants to become pregnant, but she has progesterone deficiency, Duphaston replenishes the missing progesterone, which contributes to the conception and maintenance of pregnancy.
Indications
Duphaston is used in women who have a progesterone deficiency. The tablets are prescribed:
- with infertility caused by luteal insufficiency;
- with miscarriage or with its threat, if it is associated with a drop in progesterone levels;
- with endometriosis;
- with an irregular menstrual cycle;
- with premenstrual syndrome;
- with dysfunctional bleeding from the uterus;
- with secondary amenorrhea.
In addition, the drug is prescribed for hormone replacement therapy in order to neutralize the negative effects of estrogen.
Contraindications
Duphaston is forbidden to drink to women who have hypersensitivity to any of the components of the tablets or who have serious liver diseases. The drug is also contraindicated in malabsorption syndrome, galactose intolerance or lactase deficiency.
If a woman was previously pregnant and she had itchy skin during gestation, taking Dufaston requires caution. In addition, the medication is not prescribed when breastfeeding a baby.
Side effects
In some women, treatment with Dufaston provokes a headache, an allergic reaction, migraine, and liver dysfunction. In rare cases, the drug has become the cause of hemolytic anemia, uterine bleeding, increased sensitivity of the mammary glands and peripheral edema.
If any of these side effects manifested itself while taking the pills, be sure to tell the doctor about it and undergo additional examinations to identify intolerance and choose another medication.
Instructions for use
Duphaston tablets are swallowed with water. A single dose of the drug is usually 1 tablet, and the dosage regimen depends on the diagnosis. For example, if a woman is diagnosed with infertility, then the medication should be taken from the 14th to the 25th day of the cycle, 1 time per day. Such treatment is carried out continuously for several menstrual cycles in a row (at least six) and continues in the first trimester of pregnancy or even longer.
Duphaston is most often prescribed from 16 to 25 days of the cycle, since women with a menstrual cycle of 28 days are in the majority. The drug is taken after ovulation.
If a woman becomes pregnant and has a threat of abortion, it is recommended to take 4 tablets once, and then drink one tablet every 8 hours until the symptoms completely disappear.
In the case of a habitual abortion, Dufaston is taken in advance and pills are taken twice a day until the 20th week of pregnancy, and then it is canceled with a gradual decrease in the dose.
With irregular periods or in order to prevent dysfunctional bleeding, the drug is prescribed from 11 to 25 days of the cycle, 1 tablet twice a day.
Overdose
There have been no cases of hospitalization due to excess dosage of Dufaston. If a woman accidentally drinks more pills, it is recommended to flush the stomach. If the general condition worsens, you should consult a doctor.
Interaction with other drugs
The manufacturer does not mention the incompatibility of Duphaston with any other drugs. However, some drugs that affect liver function (for example, rifampicin or phenobarbital) can also affect the metabolic transformations of dydrogesterone, which will reduce its effect.
Terms of sale and storage
You can buy Dufaston in a pharmacy by prescription, paying an average of 500-550 rubles for 20 tablets.
The shelf life of the medication is 5 years. If it has expired, the use of the medicine is contraindicated. It is recommended to store tablets in a dry place where the temperature does not rise above +30 degrees.
Reviews
The use of Duphaston when planning pregnancy and for other indications is generally responded well. Women in most cases praise such hormonal pills and confirm their positive effect on the ability to maintain pregnancy and safely bear the baby.
According to them, the drug is tolerated normally, does not provoke weight gain, mood changes, weakness and other negative effects. The disadvantages of such a tool are often not noted. Only occasionally do women complain about its high price, but many consider it justified.
For more information on the effect of duphaston in planning pregnancy, see the following video.
Analogs
The most popular analogue of Duphaston is a drug called Utrozhestan... Both drugs are able to replace the missing progesterone, thereby supporting conception and preventing miscarriage in the first trimester.
In addition, both medicines are prescribed after ovulation when planning pregnancy. With a cycle time of 28 days, the most common scheme is from 16 to 25 days. If pregnancy has occurred, both Duphaston and Utrozhestan continue to be taken up to 7-8 weeks or longer, and then carefully canceled with a decrease in dosage for several days.
However, these medicines also have certain differences:
- Utrozhestan contains micronized progesterone, and the main component of Duphaston only resembles this hormone in its structure, although it acts in the same way.
- Differences in the composition cause different side effects of drugs - if Utrozhestan can provoke lethargy, fatigue, bad mood, drowsiness and similar symptoms, then taking Duphaston does not cause them.
- The production of Duphaston began much earlier than the manufacture of Utrozhestan, therefore such a drug has been more studied and has undergone much more clinical trials.
- Duphaston has no effect on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. In addition, such a medicine has a much smaller list of contraindications.
- Utrozhestan is presented in capsules, which can be used in two ways, and Duphaston is released only in the form of tablets, which are prescribed orally. If a pregnant woman has severe toxicosis, Utrozhestan is more suitable for her, because it can be inserted into the vagina, and this will not affect the general condition of the patient.
- The cost of Duphaston is slightly higher than that of Utrozhestan capsules, which is sometimes a reason to prefer the second drug.
Both medications receive positive reviews from patients and doctors, so it cannot be said that one of them is better than the other. It is difficult to determine which remedy is more suitable for a particular woman. It is best to entrust this choice to the attending physician, who will first examine the expectant mother, and then send her to the necessary laboratory tests.
Only after passing the tests and evaluating the results can it be decided whether a woman needs Dufaston or Utrozhestan, and which drug is preferable to treatment.
