Androderm

What is Androderm?

Androderm, also known by its generic name testosterone transdermal system, is a type of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). It is a self-adhesive patch that delivers a continuous, controlled dose of testosterone through the skin over a 24-hour period. It is prescribed for adult males who have a confirmed testosterone deficiency, a condition known as hypogonadism. This deficiency can be due to various reasons, such as testicular failure or problems with the pituitary gland.

Benefits and Side Effects

Benefits:

• Restores testosterone levels: Androderm works by raising testosterone levels in men with hypogonadism to a healthy range.

• Alleviates symptoms: This can help to alleviate symptoms associated with low testosterone, such as fatigue, reduced libido, and decreased muscle mass.

• Maintains male characteristics: It helps to maintain muscle and bone strength, body hair, a deep voice, and sexual desire.

Side Effects:

• Common Side Effects: The most frequent side effects are related to the application site, including skin irritation, itching, or redness. Other common side effects may include acne, headache, back pain, or mood changes.

• Serious Side Effects: More serious side effects can occur, and it's important to seek medical help if you experience them. These include:

  • Cardiovascular issues: There is a potential risk of heart attack, stroke, or blood clots.

  • Prostate issues: Worsening of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and an increased risk of prostate cancer, especially in older men.

  • Fluid retention: Swelling (edema) in the legs, ankles, or feet.

  • Sleep apnea: Worsening or development of sleep apnea.

  • Liver problems: While less of a risk with Androderm compared to some other forms of testosterone, liver problems can occur.

  • Polycythemia: An increase in the red blood cell count, which can increase the risk of blood clots.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Convenient once-daily application: The patch is applied once a day.

• Steady delivery: It provides a continuous, 24-hour delivery of testosterone, which mimics the body's natural circadian rhythm.

• Lower risk of secondary exposure: Compared to topical gels, there is a lower risk of accidentally exposing other people to the testosterone.

Cons:

• Skin irritation: A common complaint is skin irritation at the application site, which may require rotating the patch location.

• Patch may loosen or fall off: Strenuous activity or excessive sweating can cause the patch to come off.

• Discontinued in the U.S.: Androderm has been discontinued in the United States, so alternatives would need to be considered.

• Controlled substance: As a testosterone product, it is a controlled substance with a potential for misuse and dependence.

Dosage and Frequency

The recommended starting dose for Androderm is a 4 mg/day patch, applied nightly for 24 hours. The patches should be applied to a clean, dry area of intact, non-scrotal skin on the back, abdomen, thighs, or upper arms. It is crucial to rotate the application sites, with a 7-day interval between applications to the same site. Dosage adjustments may be made based on blood tests to ensure testosterone levels are within the normal range.

Half-Life and Detection Time

• Half-life: The apparent half-life of testosterone following the removal of an Androderm patch is approximately 70 minutes. This means that serum testosterone concentrations decrease rapidly after the patch is removed.

• Detection time: The detection time for testosterone, especially in the context of drug testing, can vary widely depending on the type of test (e.g., urine, blood, hair) and the dosage. The rapid decrease in serum levels after patch removal suggests that the drug would be cleared from the system relatively quickly. However, due to its nature as a testosterone product, it would likely be detectable for a period of time in doping control tests.

Sterogenic, Progestronic, and Prolactin Effects

• Progestronic effects: Testosterone itself has some weak progestogenic activity through its metabolites, but it is not considered a potent progestin. High doses of androgens can sometimes lead to a progestogenic effect, but this is not a primary characteristic of testosterone.

• Prolactin effects: Prolactin levels can be affected by sex hormones. While testosterone replacement therapy in men can sometimes have a mild effect on prolactin, it is not considered a primary or significant effect. High doses of testosterone can suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, which can indirectly affect other hormones.

• Sterogenic effects: Testosterone is a naturally occurring steroid hormone, and as such, its effects are "sterogenic" by definition. This refers to its ability to influence the development of male characteristics and body composition, including muscle growth and bone density. The term "sterogenic" is not typically used to describe side effects but rather the primary function of the hormone.

Anabolic Androgenic Ratio

Testosterone is the reference compound for the anabolic-androgenic ratio, and its ratio is 1:1. This means that it has equal anabolic (muscle-building) and androgenic (male-characteristic-promoting) effects.