Almost all the functions of a man’s body depend on the presence in his organs of a sufficient amount of the male sex hormone androgen. It is synthesized in large quantities in the gonads (testicles), and in smaller quantities in the adrenal cortex. Without testosterone or its deficiency, secondary sexual characteristics in boys and men develop poorly or are absent altogether. In addition, this hormone affects the condition of the hair, skin, bone tissue, many internal organs. One of the systemic diseases caused by a lack of testosterone is called hypogonadism. His treatment is often very protracted, and in some cases men have to take hormones almost their whole lives. The most effective remedy in this case is the Androgel drug, the reviews and instructions for the use of which we will try to describe in detail in this article.
Description of the drug, composition
The drug is available in the form of a viscous gel and is intended for external use. Despite this, he has the property of a systemic effect on the body, so the release of Androgel from pharmacies is carried out exclusively by prescription by the attending physician. This is due to the fact that the uncontrolled use of testosterone can cause hyperandrogenization, which can manifest itself in the form of acne and atypical in intensity and localization of hair growth on the body in both men and women.
The active substance of the drug is testosterone, or rather, its esters. Depending on the volume of one packet with the gel, the amount of active substance in the preparation can be as follows:
- one dose containing 2.5 g of the drug contains 25 mg of testosterone;
- one dose containing 50 mg of the drug contains 50 mg of the active substance.
Excipients that make up the Androgel preparation 1% are purified water, sodium hydroxide, isopropyl myristate, carbopol and ethanol. Thanks to this composition, the gel is quickly absorbed and does not leave greasy marks on clothes.
The Androgel preparation has a weak characteristic odor of alcohol. The medicine looks like a transparent, viscous, colorless or pearlescent substance. The gel is packed in small bags of 2.5 or 5 g, the amount of the drug is calculated for one application. Sachets, in turn, are placed in a cardboard package (30 pieces each) along with instructions for using the drug.
Pharmacological properties of the drug
Androgen hormones, including testosterone, which is part of Androgel, as well as its metabolite dihydrotestosterone affect the following processes in a man’s body:
- development and preservation of secondary sexual characteristics;
- development of external and internal genital organs;
- regulation of protein metabolism in the body;
- uniform distribution of subcutaneous fat ;
- muscle development;
- regulation of pituitary secretion of gonadotropins;
- regulation of urinary excretion of various compounds.
In simple terms, all these processes can be described as anabolic effects on the body. It consists in stimulating the formation of protein in the body, as well as in the delay in the tissues and organs of the substances necessary for the construction of protein cells: sulfur, phosphorus and potassium. Due to this, a significant increase in muscle mass is achieved. In addition, the use of Androgel promotes fixation in the bones of calcium.
As can be seen from the list above, testosterone is very important for the male body. “Androgel” contains a therapeutic dose of this hormone and is intended primarily to eliminate its deficiency in the body. It should be noted that no more than 14% of the applied dose is absorbed through the skin. Within 24 hours, the active substance enters the systemic circulation. Starting from the second day from the start of hormonal therapy with the use of the Androgel preparation, the photo of which you can see later, a steady change in the blood composition is observed in a positive direction. At the same time, the concentration of testosterone does not undergo unnatural fluctuations during the day, which in itself can cause a deterioration in the patient's condition.
Another advantage that the Androgel medicine has is the absence of changes in the liver, which, when injected or taken orally, can be expressed in peak values of testosterone in the organ tissue at different times of the day. Complete elimination of testosterone metabolites from the body occurs within 3-4 days after the cancellation of the Androgel drug.
Indications for the use of the drug Androgel
Indications for use as the main therapeutic agent of the Androgel drug is a decrease in the level of testosterone in the body of a man. Signs of such hormonal insufficiency can be underdevelopment or regression of secondary sexual characteristics and a violation of certain sexual functions. In addition, testosterone deficiency can be expressed in a change in the body structure of a female type, the presence of excess weight, an imbalance in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as frequent mood swings, depressive states, and the like.
The drug Androgel, the instructions for use recommend that patients should be prescribed only after a comprehensive examination for the absence of other diseases that led to the above changes. It is worth noting that this drug can not be prescribed for the treatment of infertility and impotence, which is triggered by reasons not related to the level of testosterone.
Often, the Androgel drug (analogues and other dosage forms) are used by athletes trying to regulate the ratio of fat and muscle tissue in favor of the latter. However, this phenomenon cannot be called use for therapeutic purposes. In addition, the self-administration of drugs of this kind can cause irreversible changes in patients, which will subsequently be difficult to eliminate. Therefore, in most countries, the only way to get the original Androgel drug is through a doctor’s prescription. Otherwise, there is no guarantee that a person will not manifest a number of adverse reactions from many organs and systems.
Contraindications
The external drug Androgel, reviews of which are very mixed, has a number of contraindications, which should always be taken into account when prescribing it to a patient. The drug can not be used if:
- A man has diseases such as breast carcinoma or cancer of the prostate (confirmed or questionable).
- There is evidence of the presence in men of allergic reactions to the components of the drug or directly to testosterone.
The drug "Androgel" instruction recommends use with caution in the following diseases:
- heart diseases, including heart failure and coronary heart disease;
- the presence of malignant neoplasms in any organ, including on the skin;
- epilepsy;
- migraine;
- renal and hepatic insufficiency;
- arterial hypertension;
- chronic respiratory diseases.
According to studies, these diseases are most often complicated when taking testosterone, since this hormone can directly affect the circulatory system, as well as a number of other functional areas in the body.
But the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity should not use the Androgel drug. For women, it poses a certain danger, since its use can cause atypical changes in their body in the form of:
- enhanced body hair growth in the male type;
- alopecia;
- acne;
- physique changes in the direction of the male type.
Very often, this drug is used by athletes involved in power sports. It is worth noting that testosterone, which is the main active ingredient of the drug, is detected during a doping test. That is why it is often not used to treat professional athletes.
How and where to apply Androgel
The individual therapeutic dose of the Androgel preparation is determined by the attending physician according to the results of a patient examination. The most often recommended application is 5 g of gel per day, the maximum dose usually does not exceed 10 g of the drug per day. If the patient develops symptoms during treatment that indicate the need to reduce or increase the initially established dosage, the adjustment must be carried out stepwise: increasing or decreasing the amount of gel by 2.5 g per day.
The Androgel preparation is recommended for use at the same time (preferably in the morning) on pre-cleaned and dry skin. In this case, it is preferable to spread the gel on the region of the forearms, shoulders and abdomen. Any kind of injuries (scratches, abrasions, diaper rash, etc.) is unacceptable in the field of application of the medicine. You do not need to rub the medicine, just distribute it with an even layer on the surface of the body and let it dry for at least 3 minutes. Application of the drug to the genitals and genital area is not allowed.
After the patient has applied the Androgel gel on the body, he must wash his hands thoroughly with warm water and soap. This is important to prevent the drug from reaching the body surface of people in contact with it.
Side effects and overdose
Among the side and undesirable effects that cause the use of the Androgel preparation, the instructions for use include skin reactions in the form of a rash, redness, dryness and rashes of the type of acne. All these symptoms appear, as a rule, as a result of exposure to the skin of the alcohol that is part of the drug. In addition, during the use of the drug, patients may experience the following symptoms:
- headache and dizziness;
- paresthesia, hyperesthesia, impaired memory (including amnesia);
- polycythemia and decreased lipid levels in laboratory tests;
- gynecomastia and mastodynia;
- mood swings, depression, nervousness;
- increase in blood pressure;
- weight gain;
- frequent and prolonged erections;
- diarrhea;
- alopecia.
Regarding the use of the Androgel drug, expert reviews contain information about the absence of recorded overdose facts, since the amount of testosterone that is absorbed by the body through the skin does not exceed 14%, as we mentioned earlier. With a decrease in dosage or drug withdrawal, a gradual restoration of body functions that have been impaired occurs.
Interaction of the Androgel drug with other drugs
Hormonal drugs (and Androgel in particular) require caution when used in conjunction with other drugs. So, the appointment of anticoagulants together with testosterone implies constant monitoring of prothrombin time, especially at the beginning and at the end of a course of hormonal therapy. With special caution, it is worth prescribing the combined use of Androgel with corticosteroid drugs, since their interaction often contributes to an increased risk of developing severe edema, including internal ones.
Otherwise, the use of a gel with drugs does not pose a serious danger to the patient's body. Nevertheless, it is recommended to always inform the attending physician about the drugs taken. This will help to calculate all possible risks and choose the least safe combination of drugs.
Is Androgel Safe for Women? Precautionary measures
Testosterone is an androgen, that is, a hormone responsible for the proper functioning of the male body. Of course, it is also present in the body of women, but in very small quantities. That is why women do not require additional doses of this organic compound, administered topically, injectively or orally. Experts say that excess testosterone in a woman’s body can lead to irreversible consequences, especially if this happened during the formation of the body’s basic systems or during pregnancy.
When prescribing the Androgel drug, the dispensing from pharmacies of which is carried out exclusively by prescription, it is important for patients to inform patients about precautions, the observance of which must be accurate and rigorous. Firstly, the rules for the use of this drug require compliance with certain time intervals between applying the product to the skin and the patient’s contact with other people, including during intercourse. This period of time should leave at least six hours.
If the patient using the Androgel preparation is forced to contact other people after less time, it is recommended to take a shower or cover the part of the body on which the gel was applied with clothing made from natural material (cotton, linen, etc.). In a word, it is necessary to completely eliminate the risk of the product getting in its pure form or from the patient’s skin to the surface of a healthy person’s body, especially women and children.
As the main recommendations for protecting against the effects of the drug on people in contact with those who use Androgel, the instructions for use suggest that they take the following actions:
- Wash hands every time after applying the gel to the skin.
- After drying, cover the application area with clothing.
- Take shower procedures before direct contact with people who are not indicated for testosterone treatment.
Women whose partners are undergoing testosterone therapy should also take precautions: after contact with the partner’s skin, it is important to wash with soap and water those areas of the body that Androgel could get into. When a rash resembling acne appears on the skin, changes in the growth and location of hair on the body, which can indicate that hyperandrogenization has begun, a woman needs to see a doctor.
Does Androgel gel have any analogues?
Experts consider all medicines containing esters of natural testosterone to be analogues of the Androgel preparation. Unlike the dosage form, which is discussed in the article, they must be taken orally or injection. For example, the Andriol drug in tablet form containing a therapeutic dose of testosterone undecanoate. This compound has the ability to dissolve in fats, in particular in oleic acid, which is also part of each tablet. The main feature of this Androgel analogue is the assimilation scheme: hormones enter the systemic circulation through the lymphatic system of the small intestine, bypassing the liver. Thus, there is a more complete assimilation of the hormone and the rapid achievement of its normal concentrations in the blood.
Another analogue of the Androgel preparation is Testosterone Propionate, which also contains active testosterone esters. This drug is injected into the patient's body intramuscularly by injection and, unlike other drugs, provides normal testosterone in the blood for four weeks after one injection. The only disadvantage of this dosage form is the high risk of an overdose of testosterone.
Reviews about the drug Androgel from doctors and patients
Patients have a very mixed opinion about the Androgel medicine. On the one hand, judging by laboratory studies, in men suffering from testosterone deficiency in the body, their blood levels are normalized. However, they are often worried about a wide variety of undesirable consequences, ranging from upset stools and frequent mood swings to baldness. About a quarter of patients note that the gel is irritating to the skin and causes the formation of acne (acne) on the back, chest and forearms. Negative reviews about the drug were also received from men who, with the help of Androgel, hoped to restore potency, which was not caused by testosterone deficiency in the body.
Doctors, in turn, talk about the very high effectiveness of the drug, which is combined with the safety of use (provided that the requirements set forth in the instructions are met). , , «» , , , . , , .