Basic Information
- Habit forming? No
- Prescription needed? Yes
- Available as generic? Yes
- Drug class: Androgen
Uses
- Corrects male hormone deficiency.
- Reduces "male menopause" symptoms (loss of sex drive,
depression, anxiety).
- Decreases calcium loss of osteoporosis (softened bones).
- Blocks growth of breast-cancer cells in females.
- Corrects undescended testicles in male children.
- Reduces breast pain and fullness following childbirth.
- Augments treatment of aplastic anemia.
- Stimulates weight gain after illness, injury or for chronically
underweight persons.
- Stimulates growth in treatment of dwarfism.
Dosage & Usage Information
How to take:
Tablets or capsules--With food to lessen stomach irritation.
Injection--Once or twice a month.
When to take:
At the same time each day.
If you forget a dose:
Take as soon as you remember up to 2 hours late. If more than
2 hours, wait for next scheduled dose (don't double this dose).
What drug does:
Stimulates cells that produce male sex characteristics.
Replaces hormone deficiencies.
Stimulates red-blood-cell production.
Suppresses production of estrogen (female sex hormone).
Time lapse before drug works:
Varies with problems treated. May require 2 or 3 months of
regular use for desired effects.
Don't take with:
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.
Overdose
SYMPTOMS:
None expected.
WHAT TO DO:
Overdose unlikely to threaten life. If person takes much larger
amount than prescribed, call doctor, poison-control center
or hospital emergency room for instructions.
Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects
Life-threatening:
Intense itching, Seek emergency weakness, loss of treatment
immediately. consciousness.
Common:
- Acne or oily skin, deep voice, enlarged clitoris in females;
frequent erections, swollen breasts in men.
- Sore mouth; higher sex drive, decreased testicle size,
impotence in men.
Infrequent:
- Yellow skin or eyes.
- Depression or confusion, flushed face, rash or itch, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, swollen feet or legs, headache, shortness
of breath, rapid weight gain, chills, difficult urination;
vaginal bleeding in women; scrotum pain in men.
Rare:
- Hives, black stool.
- Sore throat, fever, abdominal pain.
- Appetite loss, halitosis.
Warnings & Precautions
Don't take if:
You are allergic to any male hormone.
Before you start, consult your doctor:
- If you might be pregnant.
- If you have cancer of prostate.
- If you have heart disease or arteriosclerosis.
- If you have kidney or liver disease.
- If you have breast cancer (males).
- If you have high blood pressure.
- If you have migraine attacks.
- If you have high level of blood calcium.
- If you have epilepsy.
Over age 60:
- May stimulate sexual activity.
- Can make high blood pressure or heart disease worse.
- Can enlarge prostate and cause urinary retention.
Pregnancy:
Risk to unborn child outweighs drug benefits. Don't use.
Breast-feeding:
Drug passes into milk. Avoid drug or discontinue nursing until
you finish medicine. Consult doctor for advice on maintaining
milk supply.
Infants & children:
Don't give to children younger than 2. Use with older children
only under medical supervision.
Prolonged use:
- Reduces sperm count and volume of semen.
- Possible kidney stones.
- Unnatural hair growth and deep voice in women.
- Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical
examinations or laboratory studies to check complete blood
counts (white blood cell count, platelet count, red blood
cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit).
Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.
Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
No problems expected.
Discontinuing:
No problems expected.
Others:
- May cause atrophy of testicles.
- Will not increase strength in athletes.
- May cause liver cancer.
- In women, may cause male-like changes such as deepened
voice, increased hair growth.
Possible Interaction with Other Drugs
