All prescription testosterone products will now carry FDA warning labels that inform consumers about the health risks associated with testosterone abuse and dependency on the medication. The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has found it necessary to include safety information associated with testosterone and other anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). The FDA’s testosterone warnings are based off of a large amount of scientific literature and research published in the past few years.
What these studies have found and what the literature has shown is that testosterone and other AAS are susceptible to being abused by adults and adolescents, including athletes and body builders. Taking these types of medications in excess or not under the supervision of a doctor can lead to severe adverse reactions.
Testosterone abuse has been reported to cause heart failure, stroke, depression, hostility, aggression, liver toxicity, and male infertility. People abusing testosterone for long periods also report feeling withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, and insomnia when trying to wean off the drug.
What Does the FDA Hope to Achieve with Testosterone Warning Labels?
The new FDA testosterone warning labels will alert the prescriber of the risks of the medication as well as provide information for patients about the reported adverse outcomes associated with the drug. In addition to the warning, there will be information on the label that emphasizes the importance of measuring serum testosterone concentration if abuse is suspected.
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| Medications such as Testim are still effective solutions, when used correctly. Source: ct.gov |
The goal the FDA has for these warning labels is to inform both patient and doctor about the associated risks for misusing this drug. The warning labels are not intended to scare patients in need away from taking the drug altogether. With adequate guidance and supervision from a doctor, testosterone medications such as Testim are still effective solutions for those people with low hormone levels. The new warnings emphasize the importance of taking the medications as prescribed while aiming to decrease the abuse of these hormonal medications.
