From the Research
Visanne (Dienogest) 2 mg is primarily used to treat endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. The typical dosage is one 2 mg tablet taken daily without interruption. Dienogest works by reducing estrogen levels and suppressing the growth of endometrial tissue, which helps alleviate endometriosis symptoms such as pelvic pain, painful periods, and pain during intercourse.
Key Points
- Treatment is usually long-term, often continuing for months or years as needed for symptom control.
- Patients should take the tablet at approximately the same time each day with water, with or without food.
- Common side effects may include headaches, breast discomfort, mood changes, and irregular bleeding, particularly during the first months of treatment.
- While Visanne is not a contraceptive, it does suppress ovulation in many women. However, non-hormonal contraception methods are recommended if pregnancy prevention is needed.
- Improvement in symptoms is typically noticed within a few months of starting treatment, though individual responses vary. According to the most recent study 1, dienogest (2 mg/day) is comparable to the combined oral contraceptive pill (COC) Yasmin for the relief of endometriosis-associated pelvic pain and improvement in health-related quality of life.
Safety and Efficacy
- The study 1 found that dienogest was associated with fewer side effects and had a better safety and tolerability profile than COC.
- Another study 2 confirmed that dienogest is safe and effective for the treatment of endometriosis in a large Korean cohort.
- The Visanne Post-approval Observational Study (VIPOS) 3, 4 provided real-world insights into endometriosis management in Europe and found no safety signal regarding anemia for dienogest users, whereas a slight increase in depression risk cannot be excluded.