What Is Testosterone Gel?
Testosterone gel (
AndroGel®,
Testim®) is a prescription medication approved to treat low testosterone levels in men due to various causes. It is an anabolic steroid and is classified as a controlled substance in the United States. This means that special laws and regulations control its sale and use.
Just like any medicine, testosterone gel may cause side effects. However, not everyone who uses it will experience problems. In fact, most people tolerate it well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious reactions are less common.
Some of the most common side effects include but are not limited to:
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Using It?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking testosterone gel if you have:
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you are taking, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
How Does Testosterone Gel Work?
This medicine is used as a gel because it would have little effect on testosterone levels if taken by mouth. When medications are taken by mouth, they must first pass through the liver before they reach the bloodstream.
The liver metabolizes testosterone extensively before it has a chance to reach the bloodstream, and adequate blood levels of the medication usually cannot be achieved. However, when testosterone is applied to the skin, it bypasses the liver, allowing significant amounts of the hormone to reach the bloodstream.
When and How to Take This Medicine
Some general considerations for those using testosterone gel include the following:
- The medication is a gel that is applied to the skin once daily. It comes in single-use tubes (Testim), single-use packets (AndroGel), or multiuse pumps (AndroGel).
- Apply testosterone gel at the same time each day, preferably in the morning. Apply it to clean, dry, healthy skin on the shoulders or upper arms (for Testim) or the shoulders, upper arms, or abdomen (for AndroGel). Do not apply this product to the genitals.
- Make sure to wash your hands after applying the gel. Give the gel a few minutes to dry before you dress. Make sure to wait at least five or six hours before showering or swimming.
- Make sure to cover the application site (once the gel is dry) with clothing to minimize contact with women or children. You should wash the area thoroughly before any skin-to-skin contact, such as sexual intercourse.
- Until the gel dries, it is flammable. Stay away from open flame until the gel is dry.
- Ideally, the application site should not be washed for two hours after applying the product, to give the medication a chance to be absorbed.
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Do not increase your dose or take it more frequently than prescribed without your healthcare provider's approval.
The dose of testosterone gel your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- The particular product
- How you respond to this medication
- Your testosterone levels
- Other medications you are taking
- Other medical conditions you may have.
As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Can I Buy Testosterone Gel Without a Prescription?
No, you cannot legally buy testosterone gel without a prescription, as this is a controlled substance in the United States. In general, the over-the-counter "testosterone" gels and creams do not actually contain testosterone; they contain other hormones or substances that are claimed to increase testosterone levels.
What If I Overdose on the Medication?
It is not known what exactly to expect from an overdose. In one case, an individual who took too much injectable testosterone experienced a
stroke, probably related to extremely high hormone levels. It is not known if this is possible or likely with testosterone gel.
If you happen to overdose on this medication, seek immediate medical attention.
What Should I Do If I Miss a Dose?
If you happen to realize that you missed a dose shortly after the time you were supposed to apply it, you can either skip the missed dose or take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if you are more than a few hours late for your dose, it is best just to skip it and continue with your regular schedule tomorrow.
Who Makes Testosterone Gel?
Testim is made by Contract Pharmaceuticals Limited for Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
AndroGel is made by Laboratoires Besins International and is marketed and distributed by Unimed Pharmaceuticals, LLC, a subsidiary of Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Testosterone gel should be stored at room temperature, away from light and moisture. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children and pets.
The medication is available in the following strengths and forms:
- Testim 5 gram single-use tubes
- AndroGel 2.5 gram single-use packets
- AndroGel 5 gram single-use packets
- AndroGel 1.25 gram pump (which provides 60 doses, with 1.25 grams of medicine per dose).
Is There a Generic Version?
