Table 4.

Testosterone preparations, recommended doses, advantage, side effects and cost

Route of delivery	Generic name (Formulation)	Trade name	Dose	Advantage	Disadvantage
Oral	(i) Testosterone Undecanoate	a) Andriol Testocaps (40 mg)	a) 120-200 mg/day in divided doses for 2-3 weeks. Maintenance dose 40 mg TDS	a) Increased insulin sensitivity, improved lipid profile, increased myocardial circulation, increased calcitonin.	a) Short half life requires frequent dosing. Prolonged use may cause hepatotoxicity and altered lipid profile.
	(ii) Mesterolene	b) Proviron Restore (25mg)	b) 100-150 mg daily	b) Estrogen antagonist – Does not aromatize, Does not inhibit gonadotrophin secretions or spermatogenesis	b) Rapidly reduced to inactive metabolite and does not provide complete supplementation.
Injectable	(i) Testosterone Cypionate (ii) Enanthate	a) Depot – Testosterone b) Testoviron	a) 200-400 mg every 2 weeks IM or 100mg / week 250-500 mg/	Good clinical response	a) No circadian variation in serum testosterone levels. Supra physiologic levels in first 2-3
		Depot	3rd week		days with greater frequency of side effects. Suppresses LH levels in 33% cases
Buccal	Testosterone	Striant	2 × 30 mg daily	−	−
	Bioadhesive buccal system
Subcutaneous	Testoderm Implants	−	1200 mg every	−	−
			6 months
Transdermal	i) Testosterone Patch	a) Androderm Testoderm TTS (2.5mg)	2.5 mg twice daily	a) No injections b) Mimics circadian variation. c) Good clinical response d) Does not require frequent office visits.	a) Local skin irritation b) Inadequate levels
	ii) Testosterone Gel	b) Androgel Testogel Cernos Oel (1%) 5 gm/10 gm unit (10 mg testosterone / gm)	1% testosterone in 5-10 g Oel once daily. Gradually increased to 7.5-10gm
	iii) Transcrotal patch iv) Spray	c) Testodrem (6 mg) Testospray (12.5 mg testosterone/spray	50-100mg/day shoulder/upper arm