Details

Testosterone is a naturally occurring sex hormone that is produced in a man's testicles. Small amounts of testosterone are also produced in a woman's ovaries and adrenal system. Testosterone injection is used in men and boys to treat conditions caused by a lack of this hormone, such as delayed puberty, impotence, or other hormonal imbalances. Testosterone injection is also used in women to treat breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. You should not receive testosterone if you are allergic to it, or if you have prostate cancer male breast cancer a serious heart condition severe liver disease severe kidney disease or if you are pregnant or may become pregnant. To make sure testosterone is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have diabetes enlarged prostate heart disease or coronary artery disease a history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot high cholesterol or triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood) breast cancer (in men, or in women who have hypocalcaemia) liver or kidney disease if you are bedridden or otherwise debilitated or if you take a blood thinner. Testosterone should never be used in pregnancy.

Typical Uses

Testosterone is used in men who do not make enough of a natural substance called testosterone. In males, testosterone is responsible for many normal functions, including growth and development of the genitals, muscles, and bones. It also helps cause normal sexual development (puberty) in boys. Testosterone belongs to a class of drugs known as androgens. It works by affecting many body systems so that the body can develop and function normally. Testosterone may also be used in certain adolescent boys to cause puberty in those with delayed puberty. It may also be used to treat certain types of breast cancer in women.

Side Effects

Common testosterone side effects include nausea or vomiting changes in skin colour increased or ongoing erection of the penis impotence, ejaculation problems, decreased amounts of semen, decrease in testicle size painful or difficult urination shortness of breath (even with mild exertion) chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder swelling in your ankles or feet, rapid weight gain signs of a blood clot in the lung - chest pain, sudden cough, wheezing, rapid breathing, coughing up blood signs of a blood clot in your leg - pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in one or both legs high levels of calcium in the blood-stomach pain, constipation, increased thirst or urination, muscle pain or weakness, joint pain, confusion, and feeling tired or restless or liver problems - upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Drug Interactions

• Testosterone+anisindione- Using anisindione together with testosterone may cause you to bleed more easily. You may need a dose adjustment based on your prothrombin time.
• Testosterone+dicumarol- Using dicumarol together with testosterone may cause you to bleed more easily. You may need a dose adjustment based on your prothrombin time.
• Testosterone+leflunomide- Leflunomide may cause liver problems, and using it with other medications that can also affect the liver such as testosterone may increase that risk. Because leflunomide can stay in your blood for a prolonged period after the last dose, interactions with other drugs may occur for some time even after you have stopped taking it. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications.
• Testosterone+mipomersen- Mipomersen may cause liver problems, and using it with other medications that can also affect the liver such as testosterone may increase that risk. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol to no more than one drink per day while being treated with these medications.
• Testosterone+warfarin- Using warfarin together with testosterone may cause you to bleed more easily. You may need a dose adjustment based on your prothrombin time.

Mechanism of action

Testosterone is a hormone produced by the body and is essential for the growth, development, and functioning of the male sexual organs (including formation of sperms, maintenance of libido) and development of masculine characteristics (development of facial, chest, pubic hair deepening of voice etc). Synthetic testosterone supplements work by replacing the testosterone that is normally produced in the body. When used to treat breast cancer, testosterone works by stopping the release of oestrogen.

Pregnancy Category : X