Testosterone

TESTOSTERONE- testosterone gel
Actavis Pharma, Inc.

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Testosterone gel 1% is indicated for testosterone replacement therapy in adult males for conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone:

• Primary hypogonadism (congenital or acquired): testicular failure due to cryptorchidism, bilateral torsion, orchitis, vanishing testis syndrome, orchiectomy, Klinefelter’s syndrome, chemotherapy, or toxic damage from alcohol or heavy metals. These men usually have low serum testosterone concentrations and gonadotropins (follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone [LH]) above the normal range.
• Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (congenital or acquired): gonadotropin or luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) deficiency or pituitary-hypothalamic injury from tumors, trauma, or radiation. These men have low testosterone serum concentrations but have gonadotropins in the normal or low range.

Limitations of use:

• Safety and efficacy of testosterone gel 1% in men with “age-related hypogonadism” (also referred to as “late-onset hypogonadism”) have not been established.
• Safety and efficacy of testosterone gel 1% in males less than 18 years old have not been established [see Use in Specific Populations (8.4)].
• Topical testosterone products may have different doses, strengths, or application instructions that may result in different systemic exposure [see Dosage and Administration (2) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

Prior to initiating testosterone gel 1%, confirm the diagnosis of hypogonadism by ensuring that serum testosterone concentrations have been measured in the morning on at least two separate days and that these serum testosterone concentrations are below the normal range.

2.1 Dosing and Dose Adjustment

The recommended starting dose of testosterone gel 1% is 50 mg of testosterone (one tube) applied once daily (preferably in the morning) to clean, dry intact skin of the shoulders and/or upper arms.

Dose Adjustment To ensure proper dosing, serum testosterone concentrations should be measured. Morning, pre-dose serum testosterone concentrations should be measured approximately 14 days after initiation of therapy to ensure proper serum testosterone concentrations are achieved. If the serum testosterone concentration is below the normal range (300 ng/dL to 1,000 ng/dL), the daily testosterone gel 1% dose may be increased from 50 mg testosterone (one tube) to 100 mg testosterone (two tubes) once daily.

The maximum recommended dose of testosterone gel 1% is 100 mg once daily.

The application site and dose of testosterone gel 1% are not interchangeable with other topical testosterone products.

2.2 Administration Instructions

Upon opening the tube the entire contents should be squeezed into the palm of the hand and immediately applied to the shoulders and/or upper arms (area of application should be limited to the area that will be covered by the patient’s short sleeve T-shirt (see figure below). Do not apply testosterone gel 1% to the genitals or to the abdomen.

Application sites should be allowed to dry for a few minutes prior to dressing. Hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and water after testosterone gel 1% has been applied. Avoid fire, flame or smoking during the application of testosterone gel 1% until the testosterone gel 1% has dried [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2, 5.16)].

In order to prevent transfer to another person, wear clothing to cover the application sites. If direct skin-to-skin contact with another person is anticipated, the application sites must be washed thoroughly with soap and water [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

The patient should avoid swimming or showering or washing the administration site for a minimum of 2 hours after application [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Strict adherence to the following precautions is advised in order to minimize the potential for secondary exposure to testosterone from testosterone-treated skin:

• Children and women should avoid contact with unwashed or unclothed application site(s) of men using testosterone gel 1%.

• Testosterone gel 1% should only be applied to the upper arms and shoulders. The area of application should be limited to the area that will be covered by a short sleeve T-shirt.

• Patients should wash their hands with soap and water immediately after applying testosterone gel 1%.

• Patients should cover the application site(s) with clothing (e.g., a T-shirt) after the gel has dried.

• Prior to situations in which direct skin-to-skin contact is anticipated, patients should wash the application site(s) thoroughly with soap and water to remove any testosterone residue.

• In the event that unwashed or unclothed skin to which testosterone gel 1% has been applied comes in direct contact with the skin of another person, the general area of contact on the other person should be washed with soap and water as soon as possible.

figure1

3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS

Testosterone gel 1% is a clear to translucent hydroalcoholic gel, for topical use and is available in a unit-dose tube. Each tube contains 50 mg testosterone in 5 g of gel.

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS

• Testosterone gel 1% is contraindicated in men with carcinoma of the breast or known or suspected carcinoma of the prostate [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
• Testosterone gel 1% is contraindicated in women who are pregnant. Testosterone can cause virilization of the female fetus when administered to a pregnant woman [see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.1,8.2)].

5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

5.1 Worsening of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and Potential Risk of Prostate Cancer

• Patients with BPH treated with androgens are at an increased risk for worsening of signs and symptoms of BPH. Monitor patients with BPH for worsening signs and symptoms.

• Patients treated with androgens may be at increased risk for prostate cancer. Evaluate patients for prostate cancer prior to initiating and during treatment with androgens [see Contraindications (4)].