"Androgel": instructions for use, reviews. Drug analogues

Virtually all functions of the body of a man depend on the presence in his organs of a sufficient number of male sex hormone androgen. It is synthesized in large quantities in the sex glands (testicles), and in smaller ones in the adrenal cortex. Without testosterone or with its lack, the secondary sexual characteristics in boys and men develop weakly or 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 very often lingering, and in some cases, men have to take hormones almost all of life. The most effective tool in this case is the "Androgel" preparation, which we will try to detail and use in this article in this article.

Description of the preparation, composition

The preparation is issued in the form of a viscous gel and is intended for external use. Despite this, he has the property of systemic influence on the body, so the vacation of "Androgel" from pharmacies is carried out solely on the prescription of the attending physician. This is due to the fact that uncontrolled use of testosterone can cause hyperandrogenation, which can manifest as acne and atypical in intensity and localization of body hair growth in both men and women.

The active substance of the drug is testosterone, or rather, its ethers. 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 ingredient.

The auxiliary substances that make up the preparation "Androgel" 1% are purified water, sodium hydroxide, isopropyl myristate, carbopol and ethanol. Due to this composition, the gel is quickly absorbed and leaves no greasy marks on clothes.

The drug "Androgel" has a weak characteristic smell of alcohol. The drug looks like a transparent viscous colorless or pearly substance. Packaged gel in small bags of 2.5 or 5 grams, the amount of the drug in this case is designed for one application. The bags, in turn, are placed in a cardboard box (30 pieces each) along with instructions for the use of the drug.

Pharmacological properties of the medicinal product

Androgenic hormones, including testosterone, which is part of Androgel, as well as its metabolite dihydrotestosterone, affect the following processes in the male 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;
• Development of muscles;
• Regulation of pituitary secretion of gonadotropins;
• Regulation of urinary excretion of various compounds.

Speaking in a simpler language, all these processes can be characterized 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 substances necessary for the construction of protein cells: sulfur, phosphorus and potassium. Thanks to this and achieved a significant increase in muscle mass of the body. In addition, the use of "Androgel" promotes fixation in the bones of calcium.

As can be seen from the above list, testosterone is very important for a male body. "Androgel" contains a therapeutic dose of this hormone and is intended, first of all, 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 with the second day after the beginning of hormonal therapy with the use of the drug "Androgel", a photo of which you can see further, there is a stable change in the blood composition in the positive direction. At the same time, testosterone concentration does not undergo unnatural fluctuations during the day, which in itself can cause deterioration of the patient's condition.

Another advantage of the drug "Androgel" is the absence of changes on the part of the liver, which when injected or administered orally with hormones can be expressed in peak values of testosterone in the tissue of the organ at different times of the day. The complete excretion of metabolites of testosterone from the body occurs within 3-4 days after the withdrawal of the drug "Androgel".

Indications for the use of the drug "Androgel"

Indications for use as the main therapeutic drug "Androgel" is a decrease in the level of testosterone in the body of a man. Signs of such hormonal deficiency may be the underdevelopment or regression of secondary sexual characteristics and the violation of certain sexual functions. In addition, testosterone deficiency can be expressed in a change in the structure of the body as a female, the presence of excess weight, imbalance of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as frequent mood swings, depressive states and the like.

The drug "Androgel" instruction for use recommends appointing patients only after a comprehensive examination for lack of other diseases that led to the above changes. It should be noted that this drug can not be prescribed for the treatment of infertility and impotence, which is provoked by causes not related to the level of testosterone.

Often, the drug "Androgel" (analogs and other dosage forms) is used by athletes trying to regulate the ratio of fat and muscle tissue in favor of the latter. However, this phenomenon can not be called therapeutic use. In addition, independent prescribing of such drugs can cause irreversible changes in patients, which will subsequently be difficult to eliminate. Therefore, in most countries the only way to get the original drug "Androgel" is the prescription of the attending physician. Otherwise, there is no guarantee that a person will not show a number of side reactions from many organs and systems.

Contraindications

The external drug "Androgel", which is highly controversial, has a number of contraindications, which must always be taken into account when appointing it to the patient. The drug can not be used if:

1. The man has such diseases as breast carcinoma or oncological neoplasms in the prostate (confirmed or in doubt).
2. There is information about the presence in men of allergic reactions to the components of the drug or directly to testosterone.

The drug "Androgel" instruction recommends the use with caution in the following diseases:

• Heart diseases, including heart failure and ischemic disease;
• The presence of malignant neoplasms in any organ, including the skin;
• Epilepsy;
• migraine;
• Renal and hepatic insufficiency;
• Arterial hypertension;
• Respiratory diseases in a chronic form.

According to the 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 representatives of the beautiful half of mankind are unacceptable to use the drug "Androgel". For women, it poses a certain danger, since its use can cause atypical changes in their body in the form of:

• Increased hair growth on the body by the male type;
• Alopecia;
• Acne;
• Change in physique to male type.

Very often this drug is used by athletes engaged in power sports. It is worth noting that testosterone, which is the main active substance of the drug, is detected during the examination for doping. That is why it is often not used to treat professional athletes.

How and where to apply "Androgel"

The individual therapeutic dose of the drug "Androgel" is determined by the attending physician according to the results of the conducted examination of the patient. The most often recommended application of 5 grams of gel per day, the maximum dose usually does not exceed 10 grams of drug per day. If the patient has symptoms during the treatment that indicate the need to reduce or increase the initially prescribed dosage, the correction should be carried out stepwise: increasing or decreasing the amount of gel by 2.5 grams per day.

The drug "Androgel" instructions for use recommends applying at the same time (preferably in the morning) on the previously cleaned and dry skin. Preferably, the gel is applied to the area of the forearms, shoulders and abdomen. It is inadmissible to have various types of injuries in the area of the drug (scratches, rubs, diaper rash, etc.). Do not rub the drug, just distribute it evenly over the surface of the body and allow to dry for at least 3 minutes. Do not apply the drug to the genitals and genital area.

After the patient applied the gel "Androgel" to the body, he should wash his hands thoroughly with warm water and soap. It is important to carry out to prevent the drug from getting on the body surface of people in contact with it.

Side effects and overdose

Among the side effects and undesirable effects caused by the use of Androgel, the instructions for use include skin reactions in the form of rashes, redness, dryness, and rashes of type acne. All these symptoms appear, as a rule, as a result of exposure to the skin of the alcohol that enters the drug. In addition, during the use of the drug in patients the following symptoms can be observed:

• Headache and dizziness;
• Paresthesia, hyperesthesia, memory impairment (including amnesia);
• Polycythemia and lowering lipid levels in laboratory tests;
• Gynecomastia and mastodynia;
• Mood swings, depression, nervousness;
• Increased blood pressure;
• Increase in body weight;
• Frequent and prolonged erections;
• diarrhea;
• alopecia.

Concerning the use of the drug "Androgel", experts' reviews contain information on the absence of documented overdose facts, since the amount of testosterone that is absorbed by the body through the skin does not exceed 14%, as we mentioned earlier. When the dosage is reduced or the drug is withdrawn, the body functions are gradually restored, which have been disturbed.

Interaction of Androgel with other drugs

Hormonal preparations (and Androgel in particular) require caution when used in conjunction with other medicines. So, the appointment of anticoagulants together with testosterone presupposes a constant control of prothrombin time, especially at the beginning and at the end of the course of hormone therapy. With special caution, it is worthwhile appointing joint application of "Androgel" with corticosteroid preparations, since their interaction often increases the risk of developing strong swelling, including internal edema.

In other respects, 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 medications 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 present in the body of women, however in very small quantities. This is why women do not need additional doses of this organic compound administered externally, injectively or orally. Experts argue that the excess of testosterone in the body of a woman can lead to irreversible consequences, especially if it happened during the formation of the body's basic systems or during pregnancy.

Physicians with the appointment of the drug "Androgel", leave from pharmacies which is carried out exclusively on prescription, it is important to inform patients about precautions, compliance with which must be precise and rigorous. First, the rules for using this drug require certain intervals of time between applying the product to the skin and contacting the patient with other people, including during intercourse. This period of time must remain at least six hours.

If the patient using the Androgel drug is forced to contact other people in 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 of natural material (cotton, linen, etc.). In short, it is necessary to completely exclude the risk of getting the product in pure form or from the patient's skin to the surface of the body of a healthy person, especially women and children.

As the main recommendations for protection from the effects of the drug on people in contact with those who use Androgel, the instructions for use suggest that they implement the following actions:

1. Wash hands every time after applying the gel to the skin.
2. After drying, cover the area with clothing.
3. Take shower procedures before direct contact with people who do not show testosterone treatment.

Women who are partners in therapy with testosterone should also take precautions: after contact with the partner's skin, it is important to rinse as quickly as possible with the soap those areas of the body that Androgel could get on. When a rash resembling acne appears on the skin, changes in growth and the location of hair on the body, which can talk about the beginning of hyperandrogenization, a woman should consult a doctor.

Do the "Androgel" gels have analogues?

Analogues of the drug "Androgel" experts consider all medicines with the content of esters of natural testosterone. Unlike the dosage form referred to in the article, they must be taken orally or injectively. For example, the drug "Andriol" in the form of tablets, containing a therapeutic dose of testosterone undecanoate. This compound has the property of dissolving in fats, in particular, in oleic acid, which is also included in each tablet. The main feature of this analogue of "Androgel" is the assimilation scheme: hormones enter the systemic bloodstream through the lymphatic system of the small intestine, bypassing the liver. Thus, there is a more complete assimilation of the hormone and rapid achievement of its normal concentrations in the blood.

Another analogue of the drug "Androgel" - "Testosterone-propionate", which also contains active esters of testosterone. This drug is administered to the patient by intramuscular injection, and, unlike other drugs, provides a normal testosterone content in the blood for four weeks after a single injection. The only drawback of this dosage form is the high risk of an overdose of testosterone.

Reviews about Androgel from doctors and patients

About the medicine "Androgel" the patients had a very ambiguous opinion. On the one hand, judging by laboratory studies, men who suffer from a deficiency of testosterone in the body, there is a normalization of its content in the blood. However, they are often disturbed by a variety of undesirable effects, ranging from a disorder of stools and frequent mood changes and ending with baldness. About a quarter of patients note that the gel irritates the skin and causes acne (acne) on the back, chest and forearms. Negative reviews of the drug were also obtained from men who with the help of Androgel hoped to restore the potency, which was not caused by the lack of testosterone in the body.

Doctors in turn talk about a very high effectiveness of the drug, which is combined with safety of use (provided that the requirements set forth in the instruction are fulfilled). Most experts are confident that the side effects, as well as complications after the use of the drug "Androgel" in men are caused by uncontrolled use of the drug, which consists in exceeding the dosage or completely in the unauthorized use of the drug to eliminate problems such as impotence, weakened erectile function or insufficient development Musculature. In this case, a man can develop not only side effects, but also disrupt his own production of the hormone, which in the future can lead to disastrous consequences.