When you’re beginning a new treatment, it’s natural to have a lot of questions. You’ll want to consider all the information so you can make a choice that’s best for you and your health. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about AndroGel. Click on each question and view the answers below.
General questions about AndroGel 1.62%
The difference between AndroGel 1.62% and AndroGel 1% has to do with the strength of the testosterone in each dose. Even though both are applied to the skin, AndroGel 1.62% is used differently than AndroGel 1%. The AndroGel 1% pump is no longer being manufactured.
AndroGel 1.62% dosage information:
- The recommended starting dose for AndroGel 1.62% is 40.5 mg of testosterone.
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Apply to shoulders and upper arms only.
- Do not apply AndroGel 1.62% to any other areas of the body, such as your stomach area (abdomen), penis, scrotum, chest, armpits (axillae), or knees.
- Avoid showering, swimming, or bathing for at least 2 hours after applying AndroGel 1.62%.
AndroGel 1% dosage information:
- The recommended starting dose for AndroGel 1% is 50 mg of testosterone.
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Apply to shoulders, upper arms, and/or stomach area only.
- Do not apply AndroGel 1% to any other areas of the body, such as your penis, scrotum, chest, armpits (axillae), knees, or back.
- Avoid showering, swimming, or bathing for at least 5 hours after applying AndroGel 1%.
No. Dosing and application sites for AndroGel 1.62% differ from AndroGel 1% and are not interchangeable.
AndroGel 1.62% is a prescription medicine that contains testosterone. AndroGel 1.62% is used to treat adult males who have low or no testosterone due to certain medical conditions. It should not be used in adult men who have low testosterone as a result of aging alone. It is not known if AndroGel 1.62% is safe or effective in children younger than 18 years old. Testosterone products that are applied to the skin may have different doses, strengths, or application instructions that may lead to different levels of testosterone in your body.
AndroGel 1.62% is a controlled substance (CIII) because it contains testosterone, which can be a target for people who abuse prescription medicines. Keep your AndroGel 1.62% in a safe place to protect it. Never give your AndroGel 1.62% to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms you have. Selling or giving away this medicine may harm others and is against the law.
AndroGel 1.62% is not meant for use in women.
Your doctor prescribed AndroGel 1.62% because you have an underlying medical condition that is causing your testosterone levels to be low and you have been diagnosed with a medical condition known as hypogonadism. AndroGel 1.62% is a daily testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) that can raise testosterone levels.
In a clinical study of 274 men who had low testosterone, some used AndroGel 1.62% and some used placebo. Of the men who used AndroGel 1.62% once daily for 16 weeks, 82% had their testosterone levels returned to normal compared to 37% of those who received placebo.
AndroGel 1.62% can cause serious side effects, including:
- If you already have enlargement of your prostate gland, your signs and symptoms can get worse while using AndroGel 1.62% (including changes in urination)
- Possible increased risk of prostate cancer
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs. Signs and symptoms of a blood clot in your leg can include leg pain, swelling, or redness. Signs and symptoms of a blood clot in your lungs can include difficulty breathing or chest pain
- Possible increased risk of heart attack or stroke
- In large doses, AndroGel 1.62% may lower your sperm count
- Swelling of your ankles, feet, or body, with or without heart failure. This may cause serious problems for people who have heart, kidney, or liver disease
- Enlarged or painful breasts
- Having problems breathing while you sleep (sleep apnea)
The most common side effects of AndroGel 1.62% include increased prostate specific antigen (a test used to screen for prostate cancer), mood swings, hypertension, increased red blood cell count, and skin irritation where AndroGel 1.62% is applied.
Do not use AndroGel 1.62% if you have breast cancer or have or might have prostate cancer.
AndroGel 1.62% is not meant for use in children under the age of 18, or men with low testosterone due to aging alone.
AndroGel 1.62% is not meant for use in women and must not be used in women who are or may become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
AndroGel 1.62% may harm the unborn or breastfeeding baby. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should avoid contact with the area of skin where AndroGel 1.62% has been applied.
Talk to your doctor before taking this medicine if you have any of the above conditions.
They should wash the exposed area well with plenty of soap and water right away. Stop using AndroGel 1.62% and call your doctor right away if you see any signs or symptoms of puberty in a child, or changes in body hair or increased acne in a woman, that may have occurred through accidental exposure to AndroGel 1.62%.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. When AndroGel 1.62% is used with certain other medicines, they can affect each other. Especially tell your doctor if you take:
- Insulin
- Corticosteroids
- Medicines that decrease blood clotting
AndroGel 1.62% may have an effect on how these medications work, so be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking these or any other medications.
If traveling by air, airport security may ask you about AndroGel 1.62%. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has specific guidelines for traveling with medically necessary liquids or gels in your carry-on. Visit www.tsa.gov for specific guidelines for traveling with medications.
General questions about AndroGel 1.62%
Before using a new bottle of AndroGel 1.62% for the first time, you will need to prime the pump. To prime the AndroGel 1.62% pump, slowly push the pump all the way down 3 times. Do not use any AndroGel 1.62% that came out while priming. Wash it down the sink to avoid accidental exposure to others. Your AndroGel 1.62% pump is now ready to use. You do not have to prime your pump every day, only the first time you use it.
Make your application part of your daily routine.
- Apply AndroGel 1.62% at the same time each morning. AndroGel 1.62% should be applied after showering or bathing to clean, dry, intact skin.
- Your healthcare provider will tell you how much AndroGel 1.62% to apply. If using the pump, once primed, slowly push the pump all the way down to dispense the gel. The gel can be dispensed either into the palm of the hand or directly onto the application site. If using the packets, you can open them by tearing open completely at the dotted line. Squeeze, from the bottom of the packet up so you’re sure the packet is empty, either into the palm of your hand or directly onto the application site. AndroGel 1.62% should be applied right away.
- Apply the gel to the application sites as directed in the chart below. These areas are your shoulders and upper arms, areas that will be covered with a short-sleeve T-shirt. Do not apply AndroGel 1.62% to any other parts of your body, such as your stomach area (abdomen), penis, scrotum, chest, armpits (axillae), or knees.
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you have applied the dose your doctor has prescribed for you.
It is important that you apply AndroGel 1.62% exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much AndroGel 1.62% to apply and when to apply it. Your healthcare provider may change your AndroGel 1.62% dose. Do not change your dose without talking to your healthcare provider.
Dosing Information for AndroGel 1.62% Pump
Find your dose as prescribed by your doctor
| Daily morning dose of testosterone | Number of pump presses |
Application method (using the palm of the hand) |
|---|---|---|
| 20.25 mg | 1 pump press | Apply 1 pump press to 1 upper arm and shoulder. |
| 40.5 mg | 2 pump presses | Apply 1 pump press to 1 upper arm and shoulder and then apply 1 pump press to the opposite upper arm and shoulder. |
| 60.75 mg | 3 pump presses | Apply 2 pump presses to 1 upper arm and shoulder and then apply 1 pump press to the opposite upper arm and shoulder. |
| 81 mg | 4 pump presses | Apply 2 pump presses to 1 upper arm and shoulder and then apply 2 pump presses to the opposite upper arm and shoulder. |
Dosing Information for AndroGel 1.62% Packets
Find your dose as prescribed by your doctor
| Daily morning dose of testosterone | Number of packets | Application method (using the palm of the hand) |
|---|---|---|
| 20.25 mg | One 20.25 mg packet | Apply one 20.25 mg packet to 1 upper arm and shoulder. |
| 40.5 mg | One 40.5 mg packet | Apply half of one 40.5 mg packet to 1 upper arm and shoulder and then apply the remaining amount to the opposite upper arm and shoulder. |
| 60.75 mg | One 40.5 mg packet and one 20.25 mg packet | Apply one 40.5 mg packet to 1 upper arm and shoulder and then apply one 20.25 mg packet to the opposite upper arm and shoulder. |
| 81 mg | Two 40.5 mg packets | Apply one 40.5 mg packet to 1 upper arm and shoulder and then apply one 40.5 mg packet to the opposite upper arm and shoulder. |
AndroGel 1.62% is not meant for use in women.
Apply AndroGel 1.62% only to areas that will be covered by a short-sleeve T-shirt, as shown in the shaded areas in the illustration. These areas are your shoulders and upper arms. Do not apply AndroGel 1.62% to any other areas of your body, such as your stomach area (abdomen), penis, scrotum, chest, armpits (axillae), or knees.
2 application sites
- Wash your hands with soap and water.
- Let the application sites dry.
- Cover the application sites with a T-shirt.
- If using the packets, throw away the packet in the trash out of the reach of children to avoid accidental exposure.
- Avoid showering, swimming, or bathing for at least 2 hours after you apply AndroGel 1.62%.
- Maintain your normal daily activities.
AndroGel 1.62% is flammable until dry. Let the gel dry before smoking or going near an open flame.
Hypogonadism, sometimes known as Low Testosterone, due to certain medical conditions requires ongoing treatment, so you must use AndroGel 1.62% daily, as prescribed by your doctor. If you stop, your testosterone levels may fall back to previous levels in 2 or 3 days.
Using AndroGel 1.62% every day can help raise your testosterone levels to the normal range and, with continued use, help keep them there.
In a clinical study of 274 men who had low testosterone, some used AndroGel 1.62% and some used placebo. Of the men who used AndroGel 1.62% once daily for 16 weeks, 82% had their testosterone levels returned to normal compared to 37% of those who received placebo.
However, if you stop using AndroGel 1.62% every day, your testosterone levels may fall back to your previous levels.
AndroGel 1.62% is a controlled substance (CIII) and can be a target for people who abuse prescription medicines. Keep your AndroGel 1.62% in a safe place to protect it. Store AndroGel 1.62% at room temperature. Keep it away from children. When it is time to throw away the pump, safely throw away used AndroGel 1.62% in household trash. Be careful to prevent accidental exposure of children or pets. Keep AndroGel 1.62% away from fire.
