Before Using

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of testosterone topical gel in children. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of testosterone topical gel in the elderly. However, elderly patients may be at an increased risk for developing heart and blood vessel problems, or prostate problems (including prostate cancer), which may require caution in patients receiving this medicine.

Breastfeeding

Studies in women breastfeeding have demonstrated harmful infant effects. An alternative to this medication should be prescribed or you should stop breastfeeding while using this medicine.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Anisindione
  • Apixaban
  • Bupropion
  • Dabigatran Etexilate
  • Dicumarol
  • Edoxaban
  • Insulin
  • Insulin Aspart, Recombinant
  • Insulin Bovine
  • Insulin Degludec
  • Insulin Detemir
  • Insulin Glulisine
  • Insulin Lispro, Recombinant
  • Levoketoconazole
  • Methotrexate
  • Paclitaxel
  • Paclitaxel Protein-Bound
  • Phenprocoumon
  • Rivaroxaban
  • Warfarin

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

  • Licorice

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

  • Allergy to alcohol or soy products or
  • Breast cancer (males) or
  • Prostate cancer, known or suspected—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.
  • Blood clotting problems (eg, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism) or
  • Diabetes or
  • Enlarged prostate or
  • Heart attack, history of or
  • Hypercalcemia (high calcium in the blood) or
  • Hyperlipidemia (high lipid or cholesterol in the blood) or
  • Lung disease or breathing problems (eg, sleep apnea) or
  • Problems with passing urine or
  • Stroke, history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
  • Heart disease (eg, congestive heart failure) or
  • Kidney disease or
  • Liver disease—Use with caution. Testosterone may cause edema (fluid retention) in patients with these conditions.

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