Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects of Androgel.
Chemical Name: TESTOSTERONE (tes-TOS-ter-one)
Androgel (30 50mg Packets) is an androgen hormone used in men to provide testosterone when the body cannot produce enough.
WARNING: Children who have been exposed to Androgel (30 50mg Packets) have developed symptoms such as enlarged genitals; increased pubic hair, erections, or sex drive; aggressive behavior; and increased bone age. Contact the child's doctor right away if any of these symptoms occur. Children should avoid contact with unwashed or unclothed application sites in men who use Androgel (30 50mg Packets). Closely follow the recommended instructions for use of Androgel (30 50mg Packets). Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with Androgel (30 50mg Packets). INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking anticoagulants (such as warfarin), beta-blockers (such as propranolol), insulin or other medicine for diabetes, carbamazepine, corticosteroids (such as prednisone), corticotropin (ACTH), or oxyphenbutazone. DO NOT START OR STOP any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions including liver or kidney problems, enlarged prostate, swelling or fluid build-up (edema), heart problems (such as congestive heart failure), cancer, chest pain, coronary artery disease, diabetes, high cholesterol levels, high blood calcium levels, high blood pressure, obesity, lung problems, trouble breathing during sleep (apnea), or allergies (especially to soy products). Tell your doctor if you are using insulin. USE OF ANDROGEL (30 50 mg PACKETS) IS NOT RECOMMENDED in women. USE OF ANDROGEL (30 50 mg PACKETS) IS NOT RECOMMENDED in men with cancer of the breast or prostate. Use of Androgel (30 50mg Packets) in children under age 18 is not recommended. Discuss with your doctor the risks and benefits of giving Androgel (30 50mg Packets) to your child. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about using Androgel (30 50mg Packets).
Follow the directions for using Androgel (30 50mg Packets) provided by your doctor. Androgel (30 50mg Packets) has a MEDICATION GUIDE approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Read it carefully. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have about Androgel (30 50mg Packets). Androgel (30 50mg Packets) is applied once daily, usually in the morning, to clean, dry skin on the shoulders or upper arms. Some brands of Androgel (30 50mg Packets) may also be applied to the lower stomach (abdomen). Check your patient leaflet or ask your doctor or pharmacist if your brand may be used on the abdomen. DO NOT ALLOW another person to apply Androgel (30 50mg Packets) for you. DO NOT APPLY Androgel (30 50mg Packets) to the genitals or groin area, on broken or irritated skin, or on open sores. Androgel (30 50mg Packets) may come in a packet or in a pump bottle. IF YOU ARE USING PACKETS, open the medicine packet and squeeze either a portion or the entire contents of the packet into your hand and apply to the skin. If only a portion of the gel is squeezed from the packet at a time, repeat the application until the entire contents of the packet has been applied, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. IF YOU ARE USING THE PUMP BOTTLE, prime the pump the first time you use it by fully depressing the pump 3 times. Throw away any medicine that comes out during priming. Pump either a portion or the entire amount of medicine prescribed by your doctor into your hand and apply to the skin. If only a portion of the dose is applied at a time, repeat the application until the entire dose has been applied, unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Allow several minutes for the medicine to dry before dressing. COVER ALL SITES of application with clothing to prevent transfer of Androgel (30 50mg Packets) to other persons. If direct skin-to-skin contact with another person is expected, wash the application site well with soap and water to remove the medicine. WASH YOUR HANDS with soap and water immediately after using Androgel (30 50mg Packets). AVOID SHOWERING OR SWIMMING for at least 5 hours after applying Androgel (30 50mg Packets). You may shower or swim after 2 hours with some brands of Androgel (30 50mg Packets). Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about how long you should wait after applying Androgel (30 50mg Packets) before you shower or swim. STORE ANDROGEL (30 50 mg PACKETS) at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from heat, moisture, and light. Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store in the bathroom. KEEP ANDROGEL (30 50 mg PACKETS) out of the reach of children and away from pets. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF ANDROGEL (30 50 mg PACKETS), use it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. DO NOT use 2 doses at once.
DO NOT USE ANDROGEL (30 50 mg PACKETS) if you have had an allergic reaction to it or are allergic to any ingredient in this product. TELL YOUR DOCTOR before you use Androgel (30 50mg Packets) if you are allergic to alcohol or soy products. DO NOT CHANGE YOUR DOSE OF ANDROGEL (30 50 mg PACKETS) or use Androgel (30 50mg Packets) for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor. Large doses of Androgel (30 50mg Packets) may lower your sperm count. Discuss any questions or concerns with your doctor. DO NOT CHANGE from Androgel (30 50mg Packets) to other testosterone products without talking with your doctor. The application site and/or dose may not be the same as other testosterone products. Laboratory and/or medical tests, including blood counts, prostate specific antigen (PSA), liver function, blood cholesterol, blood calcium levels, and blood testosterone levels may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. KEEP ALL DOCTOR AND LABORATORY APPOINTMENTS while you are using Androgel (30 50mg Packets). ANDROGEL (30 50 mg PACKETS) MAY AFFECT CERTAIN LAB TEST RESULTS. Make sure laboratory personnel and your doctors know you use Androgel (30 50mg Packets). BEFORE YOU HAVE ANY MEDICAL OR DENTAL TREATMENTS, EMERGENCY CARE, OR SURGERY, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using Androgel (30 50mg Packets). PATIENTS WHO USE androgens (such as testosterone) may have an increased risk for prostate cancer. Check with your doctor if you have questions about your risk for prostate cancer while you use Androgel (30 50mg Packets). Androgel (30 50mg Packets) may cause dizziness. DO NOT DRIVE, OPERATE MACHINERY, OR DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS until you know how you react to Androgel (30 50mg Packets). Using Androgel (30 50mg Packets) alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. ANDROGEL (30 50 mg PACKETS) IS FLAMMABLE. Do not store or use near an open flame or while smoking. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. AVOID DIRECT CONTACT of treated skin with other people. IF UNWASHED OR UNCLOTHED TREATED SKIN comes into direct contact with the skin of another person, the other person should wash the general area of skin with soap and water as soon as possible. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if your female partner develops masculine signs such as unusual body hair growth or loss, significant increase in acne, or deepening voice. CAUTION IS ADVISED WHEN USING ANDROGEL (30 50 mg PACKETS) IN THE ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially enlarged prostate or prostate cancer. ANDROGEL (30 50 mg PACKETS) HAS BEEN SHOWN TO CAUSE HARM TO THE HUMAN FETUS. PREGNANT WOMEN SHOULD AVOID SKIN CONTACT with Androgel (30 50mg Packets) and with any unwashed or unclothed skin to which Androgel (30 50mg Packets) has been applied. If a pregnant woman should come into contact with Androgel (30 50mg Packets) or any unwashed or unclothed skin where the medicine has been applied, she should wash the general areas of contact with soap and water as soon as possible and contact her doctor. IF YOU HAVE DIABETES, Androgel (30 50mg Packets) may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely and ask your doctor before adjusting the dose of your diabetes medicine.
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while you are using Androgel (30 50mg Packets) include acne, breast tenderness or enlargement, change in sex drive, headache, and redness or irritation at the application site. If they continue or are bothersome, contact your doctor. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience calf or leg pain, swelling, or redness; change in the size or shape of the testicles; new or worsening trouble urinating (such as frequent urination, weak urine stream, or inability to urinate); dark urine; excessive daytime sleepiness; frequent, prolonged, or painful erections; memory problems; mood or mental changes (such as anxiety, depression, hostility, suicidal thoughts); interrupted breathing while sleeping; loss of appetite; nausea; pale stools; severe or persistent headache; shortness of breath; skin discoloration; stomach pain; swelling of the ankles, feet, or legs; trouble sleeping or other sleep changes; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting; unexplained or unusual weight gain; or yellowing of the skin or eyes. AN ALLERGIC REACTION to Androgel (30 50mg Packets) is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your healthcare provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions for Androgel
IF OVERDOSE IS SUSPECTED, wipe off gel. Contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include one-sided weakness, slurred speech, confusion, or blurred vision or other vision problems.
DO NOT SHARE ANDROGEL (30 50 mg PACKETS) with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE ANDROGEL (30 50 mg PACKETS) for other health conditions. IF YOU WILL BE USING ANDROGEL (30 50 mg PACKETS) FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, be sure to obtain necessary refills before your supply runs out. CHECK WITH YOUR PHARMACIST about how to dispose of unused medicine.
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