Testosterone Transdermal Patch

• It is used to treat low testosterone levels.

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this medicine. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• If you have high blood sugar (diabetes), you will need to watch your blood sugar closely.
• There may be a higher chance of prostate cancer. Talk with the doctor.
• If you have an enlarged prostate, your signs can get worse while you use testosterone transdermal patch. Call your doctor if this happens to you.
• High blood pressure has happened with drugs like this one. Have your blood pressure checked as you have been told by your doctor.
• Treatment with this medicine may lead to higher cholesterol and triglycerides. The effect of these changes on heart health is not known. Talk with the doctor.
• Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
• This medicine may raise the chance of blood clots, a stroke, or a heart attack. Talk with the doctor.
• This medicine is an anabolic steroid. Anabolic steroid drugs have been abused and misused before. Anabolic steroid abuse can lead to dependence and very bad health problems. These health problems include heart or blood vessel problems, stroke, liver problems, and mental or mood problems. Talk with the doctor.
• The patch may have metal. Take off the patch before an MRI.
• If you are 65 or older, use testosterone transdermal patch with care. You could have more side effects.
• This medicine is not approved for treating low testosterone levels caused by getting older. Talk with your doctor.
• This medicine may affect sperm in men. This may affect being able to father a child. Talk with the doctor.

Use this medicine as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• This medicine may affect certain lab tests. Tell all of your health care providers and lab workers that you take testosterone transdermal patch.
• If you are taking warfarin, talk with your doctor. You may need to have your blood work checked more closely while you are taking it with this medicine.
• Wash your hands before and after use.
• Follow how to use as you have been told by the doctor or read the package insert.
• Do not use patches that are cut or do not look right.
• Put patch on clean, dry, healthy skin on back, belly, thigh, or upper arm.
• Do not put on an area that is bony. Do not put on an area that will have pressure on it for a long time while sleeping or sitting.
• Do not put on the genitals.
• Put on a new patch at the same time every night. Be sure to take off the old patch before you put on the new one.
• Move the patch site with each new patch. Do not put on the same site for 7 days.
• Do not bathe, shower, or swim for 3 hours after putting on.
• Do not cover the patch with other bandages or tape. If the patch does not stick well, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
• If your patch falls off before noon, put on a new patch and wear it until you put on a new patch at your normal time.
• If your patch falls off after noon, do not put on a new one. Wait and put on a new patch at your normal time.
• After you take off a skin patch, be sure to fold the sticky sides of the patch to each other.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Use a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not use 2 doses or extra doses.

• Store at room temperature. Do not freeze.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Store in pouch until ready for use.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to throw out unused drugs.

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.
• Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including prescription or OTC, natural products, or vitamins.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about testosterone transdermal patch, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medicine or any other medicine. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about testosterone transdermal patch. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. You must talk with the healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using testosterone transdermal patch.

Review Date: October 4, 2017

More Common Side Effects

Some of the more common side effects that can occur with use of testosterone transdermal patch include:

• redness, irritation, burning, and blisters at your application site

• back pain

If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious Side Effects

Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 9-1-1 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:

• Enlarged prostate. Symptoms can include:

  • increased urination at night
  • trouble starting your urine stream
  • urinating many times during the day
  • the urge to go to the bathroom right away
  • urine accidents
  • being unable to pass urine or weak urine flow

• Prostate cancer

• Blood clots in your lungs or the veins of your legs. Symptoms can include:

  • leg pain, swelling, or redness
  • difficulty breathing or chest pain

• Heart attack or stroke

• Lowered sperm count (when large doses of the drug are taken)

• Swelling of your ankles, feet, or body

• Enlarged or painful breasts

• Problems while you sleep (sleep apnea)

• Erections that last longer than 4 hours

Testosterone can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. 

To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Medications that might interact with this drug

Taking testosterone with certain drugs raises your risk of side effects from these drugs. Examples of these drugs include:

• Adrenocorticotropic hormone or corticosteroids. Taking testosterone with these drugs may increase fluid build-up (edema) in your body. Your doctor will monitor you closely for fluid build-up, especially if you have heart, liver, or kidney disease.

Certain drugs may not work as well if you take them while you take testosterone. Examples of these drugs include:

• Insulin. Taking testosterone may decrease your blood sugar level. If you are taking testosterone with insulin, your doctor may need to decrease your insulin dose.
• Blood thinners such as warfarin, apixaban, dabigatran, or rivaroxaban. Taking testosterone can change how your blood clots. If you also take a blood thinner, you may be at risk of bleeding more easily. Your doctor may need to decrease your dose of blood thinner while you take testosterone.

Men with liver disease

If you have liver disease, taking this drug may cause your body to retain fluid (edema). 

Men with heart disease

If you have heart disease, testosterone may cause salt and water retention. This may cause swelling with or without heart failure.

Men with kidney disease

If you have kidney disease or a history of kidney disease, taking this drug may cause your body to retain fluid (edema).

Men with breast cancer

You should not use this drug if you have breast cancer. Taking this drug may make your cancer worse.

Men with prostate cancer

You should not use this drug if you have prostate cancer. Taking this drug may make your cancer worse.

Men who are overweight

If you are overweight, taking this drug may make breathing while you sleep more difficult. It could lead to sleep apnea.

Men with diabetes

Taking this drug may decrease your blood sugar levels. If you treat your diabetes with insulin, your doctor may need to decrease your insulin dose.

Men with enlarged prostate

This drug may make the symptoms of your enlarged prostate worse. Your doctor will monitor you for worsening signs and symptoms while you take this drug.

For seniors

Testosterone replacement should not be used in seniors with age-related decreases in testosterone (andropause). There is not enough long-term safety information available to assess the risks of prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease or worsening of enlarged prostate in seniors.

For children

This medication has not been studied in children. It should not be used in people younger than 18 years. Use in children may cause their bones to mature more quickly without increasing height. This may cause a child to stop growing sooner than expected, and the child may be shorter.

All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:

• your age
• the condition being treated
• how severe your condition is
• other medical conditions you have
• how you react to the first dose

What are you taking this medication for?

Brand: Androderm

• Typical starting dosage: The usual starting dose is one 4-mg transdermal patch applied each night to your back, stomach, upper arm, or thigh. Do not use the same application site twice in 7 days. Take the previous day’s patch off before applying a new one.
• Dosage adjustments: Your doctor may adjust your dose depending on your morning testosterone levels. Usual maintenance doses are 2–6 mg per day.
• Maximum dosage: The maximum dose is 6 mg per day.

This medication should not be used in people younger than 18 years. Use in children may cause bones to mature more quickly without increasing height. This may cause a child to stop growing sooner than expected and as a result may have a shorter adult height.

Brand: Androderm

• Typical starting dosage: The usual starting dose is one 4-mg transdermal patch applied each night to your back, stomach, upper arm, or thigh. Do not use the same application site twice in 7 days. Take the previous day’s patch off before applying a new one.
• Dosage adjustments: Your doctor may adjust your dose depending on your morning testosterone levels. Usual maintenance doses are 2–6 mg per day.
• Maximum dosage: The maximum dose is 6 mg per day.

This medication should not be used in people younger than 18 years. Use in children may cause bones to mature more quickly without increasing height. This may cause a child to stop growing sooner than expected and as a result may have a shorter adult height.

Apply the drug at the same time each day

Store this drug carefully

A prescription for this medication is refillable

Travel

Self-management

Clinical monitoring

Not every pharmacy stocks this drug. When filling your prescription, be sure to call ahead

Insurance

Are there any alternatives?