What Is Depo-Testosterone?
Depo-Testosterone (testosterone cypionate injection) is an androgen indicated for replacement therapy in the male in conditions associated with symptoms of deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone including, 1) Primary hypogonadism (congenital or acquired) - testicular failure due to cryptorchidism, bilateral torsion, orchitis, vanishing testis syndrome, or orchidectomy; and 2) Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (congenital or acquired) - gonadotropin or LHRH deficiency, or pituitary-hypothalamic injury from tumors, trauma, or radiation.
What Are Side Effects of Depo-Testosterone?
Common side effects of DEPO -Testosterone include:
- enlarged breasts in men
- prolonged erections
- excess hair growth
- male pattern of baldness
- skin rash
- acne
- water retention
- nausea
- alterations in liver function tests
- increased or decreased sex drive
- headache
- anxiety
- depression
- numbness and tingling
- allergic reactions, and
- pain and inflammation at the injection site
Dosage for Depo-Testosterone
The suggested dosage for DEPO-Testosterone Injection varies depending on the age, sex, and diagnosis of the individual patient. Dosage of DEPO-Testosterone is adjusted according to the patient's response and the appearance of side effects.
What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Depo-Testosterone?
DEPO-Testosterone may interact with oral anticoagulants, oxyphenbutazone, and insulin. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
Depo-Testosterone During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
DEPO -Testosterone is not recommended for use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Additional InformationOur DEPO -Testosterone (testosterone cypionate injection) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
QUESTION
Testosterone is a chemical found only in men. See AnswerGet emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Tell your caregivers right away if you have a tight feeling in your throat, a sudden urge to cough, or if you feel light-headed or short of breath during or shortly after receiving the injection.
You will be watched closely for at least 30 minutes to make sure you do not have a reaction to the injection.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder;
- shortness of breath, breathing problems at night (sleep apnea);
- swelling in your ankles or feet, rapid weight gain;
- a seizure;
- unusual changes in mood or behavior;
- increased or ongoing erection of the penis, ejaculation problems, decreased amounts of semen, decrease in testicle size;
- painful or difficult urination, increased urination at night, loss of bladder control;
- 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
- high potassium level--nausea, weakness, tingly feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement;
- liver problems--right-sided upper stomach pain, vomiting, loss of appetite, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
- signs of a blood clot deep in the body--swelling, warmth, or redness in an arm or leg;
- signs of a blood clot in the lung--chest pain, sudden cough, wheezing, rapid breathing, coughing up blood; or
- signs of a stroke--sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), severe headache, slurred speech, balance problems.
Women receiving testosterone may develop male characteristics, which could be irreversible if treatment is continued. Call your doctor at once if you notice any of these signs of excess testosterone:
- acne;
- changes in your menstrual periods (including missed periods);
- male-pattern hair growth (such as on the chin or chest);
- hoarse or deepened voice; or
- enlarged clitoris.
Your testosterone injections may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.
Common side effects (in men or women) may include:
- breast swelling;
- acne, increased facial or body hair growth, male-pattern baldness;
- increased or decreased interest in sex;
- headache, anxiety, depressed mood;
- increased blood pressure;
- numbness or tingly feeling;
- abnormal liver function tests;
- high red blood cell counts (hematocrit or hemoglobin);
- increased PSA (prostate-specific antigen); or
- pain, bruising, bleeding, redness, or a hard lump where the medicine was injected.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
SLIDESHOW
Low Testosterone (Low T) Treatments See SlideshowSIDE EFFECTS
The following adverse reactions in the male have occurred with some androgens:
Endocrine and urogenital: Gynecomastia and excessive frequency and duration of penile erections. Oligospermia may occur at high dosages.
Skin and appendages: Hirsutism, male pattern of baldness, seborrhea, and acne.
Cardiovascular Disorders: myocardial infarction, stroke.
Fluid and electrolyte disturbances: Retention of sodium, chloride, water, potassium, calcium, and inorganic phosphates.
Gastrointestinal: Nausea, cholestatic jaundice, alterations in liver function tests, rarely hepatocellular neoplasms and peliosis hepatis (see WARNINGS).
Hematologic: Suppression of clotting factors II, V, VII, and X, bleeding in patients on concomitant anticoagulant therapy, and polycythemia.
Nervous system: Increased or decreased libido, headache, anxiety, depression, and generalized paresthesia.
Allergic: Hypersensitivity, including skin manifestations and anaphylactoid reactions.
Vascular disorders: Venous thromboembolism.
Special senses: Rare cases of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR).
Miscellaneous: Inflammation and pain at the site of intramuscular injection.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Androgens may increase sensitivity to oral anticoagulants. Dosage of the anticoagulant may require reduction in order to maintain satisfactory therapeutic hypoprothrombinemia.
Concurrent administration of oxyphenbutazone and androgens may result in elevated serum levels of oxyphenbutazone.
In diabetic patients, the metabolic effects of androgens may decrease blood glucose and, therefore, insulin requirements.
Drug Abuse And Dependence
Controlled Substance
DEPO-Testosterone Injection contains testosterone, a Schedule III controlled substance in the Controlled Substances Act.
Abuse
Drug abuse is intentional non-therapeutic use of a drug, even once, for its rewarding psychological and physiological effects. Abuse and misuse of testosterone are seen in male and female adults and adolescents. Testosterone, often in combination with other anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), and not obtained by prescription through a pharmacy, may be abused by athletes and bodybuilders. There have been reports of misuse by men taking higher doses of legally obtained testosterone than prescribed and continuing testosterone despite adverse events or against medical advice.
Abuse-Related Adverse Reactions
Serious adverse reactions have been reported in individuals who abuse anabolic androgenic steroids and include cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular accident, hepatotoxicity, and serious psychiatric manifestations, including major depression, mania, paranoia, psychosis, delusions, hallucinations, hostility and aggression.
The following adverse reactions have also been reported in men: transient ischemic attacks, convulsions, hypomania, irritability, dyslipidemias, testicular atrophy, subfertility, and infertility.
The following additional adverse reactions have been reported in women: hirsutism, virilization, deepening of voice, clitoral enlargement, breast atrophy, male-pattern baldness, and menstrual irregularities.
The following adverse reactions have been reported in male and female adolescents: premature closure of bony epiphyses with termination of growth, and precocious puberty.
Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size and may include abuse of other agents, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Dependence
Behaviors Associated With Addiction
Continued abuse of testosterone and other anabolic steroids, leading to addiction is characterized by the following behaviors:
- Taking greater dosages than prescribed
- Continued drug use despite medical and social problems due to drug use
- Spending significant time to obtain the drug when supplies of the drug are interrupted
- Giving a higher priority to drug use than other obligations
- Having difficulty in discontinuing the drug despite desires and attempts to do so
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms upon abrupt discontinuation of use
Physical dependence is characterized by withdrawal symptoms after abrupt drug discontinuation or a significant dose reduction of a drug. Individuals taking supratherapeutic doses of testosterone may experience withdrawal symptoms lasting for weeks or months which include depressed mood, major depression, fatigue, craving, restlessness, irritability, anorexia, insomnia, decreased libido and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
Drug dependence in individuals using approved doses of testosterone for approved indications has not been documented.
Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Depo-Testosterone (Testosterone Cypionate Injection)
© Depo-Testosterone Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Depo-Testosterone Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors