|
|
Long Acting Injectable Testosterone(The Gender Centre advise that this article may not be current and as such certain content, including but not limited to persons, contact details and dates may not apply. Where legal authority or medical related matters are cited, responsibility lies with the reader to obtain the most current relevant legal authority and/or medical publication.) Many of you may have heard about a "new" long acting form of injectable testosterone that is available in the U.S.A. and the U.K. Known as Nebido in the U.S.A., it has now been approved for use in Australia under the name Reandron 10001. Both Reandron and Nebido are oily injections that contain 1000mg of testosterone undecanoate. These pharmaceuticals are the first preparations that allow the individual to drastically reduce the number of injections to approximately four per year, once testosterone levels are stabilised. Previously the only other option for long lasting testosterone delivery was the implant, otherwise known as "pellets". This is a procedure where local anaesthetic is generally applied to an area of skin, usually on the abdomen or buttock, where the pellets will be placed. A number of small "pellets" are then placed under the skin. These are expected to last four to six months2. Andrology Australia has estimated that approximately ten percent of the pellets inserted force themselves to the surface of the skin. Many of you, who are not using implants, are using the injectable forms of testosterone marketed as Sustanon and Primoteston. These are also both oily injections that are generally injected every ten days to three weeks depending on your current dosage and testosterone levels. While these are both 1ml injections, Reandron is a 4ml solution, injected intramuscularly. As with all medications however, there are side effects. Many of you would be aware of the patient leaflet supplied with all vials of testosterone that indicate possible side effects. Reandron is no different. While a data sheet on Reandron itself is not widely available at the time of writing, a simple Internet search for a Patient Information Leaflet for Nebido highlighted some of the common (more than one in a hundred) side effects. These include diarrhoea, leg-pain, dizziness / headache, breathing problems, acne, itching, and breast-pain and enlargement. Some of the other effects known to occur in this preparation included weight gain, muscle cramps, nervousness, hostility, depression, sleep apnoea, water retention, skin conditions and balding3. This, of course, does not mean that these symptoms will occur in all individuals who use the preparation. It is, however, always wise to weigh up the options available to you. It is most important to inform your doctor of any medical issues or concerns you may have so that the most suitable preparation can be chosen for you. References
Polare is published in Australia by The Gender Centre Inc. which is funded by the Department of Community Services under the S.A.A.P. Program and supported by the N.S.W. Health Department through the AIDS and Infectious Diseases Branch. Polare provides a forum for discussion and debate on gender issues. Advertisers are advised that all advertising is their responsibility under the Trade Practices Act. Unsolicited contributions are welcome, though no guarantee is made by the Editor that they will be published, nor any discussion entered into. The editor reserves the right to edit such contributions without notification. Any submission which appears in Polare may be published on our internet site. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, The Gender Centre Inc.I, the Department of Community Services or the N.S.W. Department of Health. |
|
  |
||
Accessed 09 March 06