Testosterone for Osteoporosis
Examples
|
| testosterone | Androderm, AndroGel, Delatestryl, Depo-Testosterone, Testoderm |
Men can take testosterone by:
- Receiving a shot into the muscle (intramuscular
injection, or IM) every 2 to 3 weeks.
- Using an adhesive patch
(transdermal) that is applied to the skin every night. Two types of patches can
be used:
- Testoderm, which is applied to the
scrotum.
- Androderm, which is applied to other areas of a man's
body, such as his back, upper arms, abdomen, or thighs.
- Rubbing a gel (AndroGel) on the shoulders, upper
arms, or abdomen once a day.
How It Works
Men who have low naturally occurring
testosterone take testosterone medicine to bring their levels back to normal.
This slows bone thinning and reduces calcium loss.
Why It Is Used
Testosterone is used to prevent
osteoporosis in men who have low testosterone levels.
Testosterone is not used to prevent or treat osteoporosis in women.
How Well It Works
Testosterone may improve bone
thickness, especially in the bones of the spine (vertebrae), but the evidence
is not clear.1
Many men with low
testosterone levels report that they feel better and have increased energy
while taking testosterone.
Side Effects
Side effects of testosterone
include:
- An elevated number of red blood cells (polycythemia), which can increase the risk of stroke or heart attack.
- Swelling in the hands and
feet.
- Increase in size of the prostate gland
(hyperplasia).
- Enlargement of the breasts (gynecomastia). This is
rare.
- Painful erections (rare).
- Problems with the
function of the liver (rare).
The most common side effect of using the adhesive patch
(transdermal) testosterone is redness and itching at the application
sites.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug
Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
Testosterone should not be used
if you are taking the supplement dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). DHEA is a human
steroid hormone that decreases with age. It frequently is advertised as a
"rejuvenation" supplement. DHEA may increase testosterone levels, and the
combination of the two therapies may be dangerous. Too much testosterone may
cause
seizures,
hepatitis, problems with blood clot formation, or
other serious health problems.
Many other supplements may
interact with testosterone. Be sure to tell your doctor about any
nonprescription medicines, supplements, or herbs you are taking.
Older adult men with low testosterone levels are twice as likely to break
a hip as men with normal testosterone levels.
Testosterone is not
used to treat osteoporosis in women.
Testosterone
should not be taken by men who have prostate cancer.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.
References
Citations
- Ebeling P (2008). Osteoporosis in men. New England Journal of Medicine, 358(14):
1474–1482
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Carla J. Herman, MD, MD, MPH - Geriatric Medicine |
|---|
| Last Revised | November 10, 2010 |
|---|
Last Revised:
November 10, 2010
Ebeling P (2008). Osteoporosis in men. New England Journal of Medicine, 358(14):
1474–1482
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