dienogest at a glance
Medicine class
Progestogen
Licensed use
Treatment of endometriosis
Contraception
Not a contraceptive; use non-hormonal contraception if required
Food
May be taken with or without food
What is dienogest used for?
The selected UK product is licensed for:
Treatment of endometriosis.
How does dienogest work?
Dienogest activates progesterone receptors and moderately lowers oestrogen production. This makes endometriosis tissue less active and helps reduce associated pain.
dienogest preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 2 mg
How to take dienogest
Swallow the tablet with liquid if needed. It can be taken with or without food.
Hormonal contraceptives should be stopped before starting dienogest.
If contraception is needed, discuss a non-hormonal method.
Tell the prescriber if vomiting or diarrhoea may have reduced absorption.
dienogest side effects
Common or expected effects
- Changes in bleeding, including spotting, irregular bleeding or no bleeding
- Headache or migraine
- Breast discomfort
- Low mood, altered mood or sleep disturbance
- Acne or hair loss
- Nausea, abdominal pain, bloating or vomiting
- Weight increase
- Hot flushes, tiredness or irritability
Get urgent medical advice
- Heavy or persistent bleeding, particularly with marked weakness, breathlessness or faintness
- Possible blood-clot symptoms, such as one-sided leg swelling, sudden breathlessness or chest pain
- Severe upper-abdominal pain, abdominal swelling or signs of internal bleeding
- Severe or recurrent depression
dienogest in pregnancy
Dienogest should not be used during pregnancy. Contact the prescriber promptly if pregnancy is suspected; dienogest is not reliable contraception.
dienogest while breastfeeding
Treatment while breastfeeding is not recommended because it is unknown whether dienogest enters human milk. A clinician should weigh the benefits of breastfeeding against the need for treatment.
dienogest interactions
Dienogest is mainly metabolised by CYP3A4. Check prescribed, over-the-counter and herbal products with a pharmacist or prescriber.
Carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone and barbiturates
These enzyme-inducing antiseizure medicines can lower dienogest exposure and reduce its effect.
Rifampicin and rifabutin-like enzyme inducers
These can reduce dienogest effectiveness and alter bleeding.
St John’s wort
May lower dienogest exposure and reduce its effect.
Common questions about dienogest
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is dienogest a contraceptive?
No. Use a non-hormonal method if contraception is required.
Can dienogest change my periods?
Yes. Spotting, irregular, prolonged or infrequent bleeding—and sometimes no bleeding—are common.
Can dienogest affect mood?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.