Agovirin Depot

What is Agovirin Depot?

Agovirin Depot is a brand name for the medication testosterone isobutyrate. It is an androgen and anabolic steroid medication, which is an ester of testosterone. Unlike many other testosterone esters that are in oil solutions, Agovirin Depot is formulated as a microcrystalline aqueous suspension. It is administered via intramuscular injection and is used to treat conditions such as low testosterone levels (hypogonadism) in men and delayed puberty in boys. It has also been used in masculinizing hormone therapy for transgender men.

Side Effects and Benefits

Benefits:

• Treatment of hypogonadism: It helps to restore testosterone levels in men with low production.

• Masculinizing effects: It can induce male characteristics such as deeper voice, facial and body hair growth, muscle growth, and fat redistribution.

• Improved well-being: It can lead to a better sex life, improved mood, and increased confidence.

• Bone and muscle development: It aids in building muscle mass and developing bones.

Side Effects:

Side effects of testosterone therapy, including Agovirin Depot, can vary and may include:

• Injection site reactions: Pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site.

• Hormonal and physical changes:

  • Acne

  • Male-pattern baldness (if genetically predisposed)

  • Enlarged breasts (gynecomastia)

  • Enlargement of the clitoris in transgender men.

  • Changes in body odor and skin

  • For children and adolescents, it can cause premature closure of growth plates.

• Psychological effects: Anxiety, irritability, depression, and mood swings.

• Cardiovascular risks: Increased risk of heart attack and stroke. It can also cause fluid retention (edema) and may worsen pre-existing heart, kidney, or liver conditions.

• Other:

  • Increased risk of prostate cancer, especially in older men.

  • Increased blood clotting problems.

  • Sleep apnea may be exacerbated.

  • Can affect cholesterol and blood glucose levels.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Effective for treating conditions caused by low testosterone.

• The depot formulation provides a prolonged duration of action, requiring less frequent injections compared to other forms of testosterone.

Cons:

• Requires administration by intramuscular injection, which can be painful.

• The microcrystalline suspension requires a larger needle (21 gauge) than oil-based solutions.

• Not as widely available as other testosterone esters like enanthate and cypionate; it is primarily sold in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

• Potential for serious side effects, including cardiovascular and liver issues.

Dosage and Frequency

The specific dosage and frequency can vary depending on the individual patient's condition and response to the medication. However, typical administration for Agovirin Depot is an intramuscular injection once every 1 to 2 weeks. A common dose is 50 mg per ampoule.

Half-Life and Detection Time

• Half-life: Agovirin Depot (testosterone isobutyrate) has a prolonged duration of action, approximately 2 weeks. The half-life of testosterone itself in the body is quite short (2-4 hours), but the ester slows its release, making the medication last much longer.

• Detection time: The detection time for testosterone esters in drug tests can be very long. For athletic or anti-doping purposes, testosterone and its metabolites can be detectable for several weeks or even months after the last injection, depending on the dose, frequency, and specific testing method.

Sterogenic, Progestronic, and Prolactin Effects

• Estrogenic effects: Testosterone is converted into estradiol (an estrogen) by the enzyme aromatase. Therefore, taking testosterone, including Agovirin Depot, produces weak estrogenic effects. This can lead to side effects like gynecomastia (enlarged male breasts) and fluid retention.

• Progestronic effects: Testosterone and its esters do not have significant progestronic activity. Progestins are a class of steroids that bind to the progesterone receptor.

• Prolactin effects: Androgens like testosterone can indirectly influence prolactin levels, but they are not known to have a direct prolactin-increasing effect. High estrogen levels resulting from aromatization can, however, increase prolactin, which in turn can contribute to gynecomastia.

Anabolic Androgenic Ratio

The anabolic androgenic ratio is a way to compare the anabolic (muscle-building) effects of a steroid to its androgenic (masculinizing) effects. Testosterone is the benchmark, and its ratio is considered to be 1:1. This means it has an equal potential for both muscle-building and masculinizing effects. While some synthetic steroids are designed to have a higher anabolic ratio, testosterone itself has a balanced effect.