Depo-Testosterone

Generic name: testosterone injection
Brand names: Aveed, Depo-Testosterone, Testosterone Cypionate, Testosterone Enanthate, Xyosted
Drug class: Androgens and anabolic steroids

Medically reviewed by A Ras MD.B

What is Depo-Testosterone?

Depo-Testosterone is a prescription medicine that is used to treat low testosterone levels.

Description

DEPO-Testosterone Injection, for intramuscular injection, contains testosterone cypionate which is the oil-soluble 17 (beta)- cyclopentylpropionate ester of the androgenic hormone testosterone.

Testosterone cypionate is a white or creamy white crystalline powder, odorless or nearly so and stable in air. It is insoluble in water, freely soluble in alcohol, chloroform, dioxane, ether, and soluble in vegetable oils.

The chemical name for testosterone cypionate is androst-4-en-3-one, 17-(3-cyclopentyl-1-oxopropoxy)-, (17β)-. Its molecular formula is C27H40O3, and the molecular weight 412.61.

The structural formula is represented below:

DEPO-Testosterone Injection is available in two strengths, 100 mg/mL and 200 mg/mL testosterone cypionate.

Each mL of the 100 mg/mL solution contains:
Testosterone cypionate	100 mg
Benzyl benzoate	0.1 mL
Cottonseed oil	736 mg
Benzyl alcohol (as preservative)	9.45 mg
Each mL of the 200 mg/mL solution contains:
Testosterone cypionate	200 mg
Benzyl benzoate	0.2 mL
Cottonseed oil	560 mg
Benzyl alcohol (as preservative)	9.45 mg

Before taking Depo-Testosterone, tell your doctor:

If you are allergic to Depo-Testosterone; any part of this medicine; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
If you are male and have breast or prostate cancer.
If you have any of these health problems: Heart disease, kidney disease, or liver disease.
If you are a woman. This medicine is not approved for use in women. If you are a woman using Depo-Testosterone, talk with your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on getting pregnant, or are breast-feeding.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this medicine.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take Depo-Testosterone with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Depo-Testosterone?

For all patients taking Depo-Testosterone:

Tell all of your health care providers that you take Depo-Testosterone. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
If you have high blood sugar (diabetes), you will need to watch your blood sugar closely.
There may be a higher chance of prostate cancer. Talk with the doctor.
If you have an enlarged prostate, your signs can get worse while you use Depo-Testosterone. Call your doctor if this happens to you.
High blood pressure has happened with Depo-Testosterone. Have your blood pressure checked as you have been told by your doctor.
High blood pressure can raise the chance of heart attack, stroke, or death from heart disease. If you have high blood pressure or heart disease, talk with your doctor.
If you have sleep apnea, talk with your doctor. Sometimes, sleep apnea has gotten worse in people using testosterone.
Treatment with Depo-Testosterone may lead to higher cholesterol and triglycerides. The effect of these changes on heart health is not known. Talk with the doctor.
Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
This medicine may affect certain lab tests. Tell all of your health care providers and lab workers that you take Depo-Testosterone.
Blood clots have happened with Depo-Testosterone. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a blood clot. Talk with your doctor.
This medicine is an anabolic steroid. Anabolic steroid drugs have been abused and misused before. Anabolic steroid abuse can lead to dependence and very bad health problems. These health problems include heart or blood vessel problems, stroke, liver problems, and mental or mood problems. Talk with the doctor.
High calcium levels have happened with drugs like this one in some people with cancer. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of high calcium levels like weakness, confusion, feeling tired, headache, upset stomach or throwing up, constipation, or bone pain.
If you are 65 or older, use Depo-Testosterone with care. You could have more side effects.
This medicine is not approved for treating low testosterone levels caused by getting older. Talk with your doctor.
This medicine may affect sperm in men. This may affect being able to father a child. Talk with the doctor.

Children:

Use with care in children. Talk with the doctor.
Some products have benzyl alcohol. Do not give a product that has benzyl alcohol in it to a newborn or infant. Talk with the doctor to see if this product has benzyl alcohol in it.
This medicine may affect growth in children and teens in some cases. They may need regular growth checks. Talk with the doctor.

How is Depo-Testosterone best taken?

Use Depo-Testosterone as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

It is given as a shot into a muscle.
If you will be giving yourself the shot, your doctor or nurse will teach you how to give the shot.
Wash your hands before use.
Be sure you know where to give the shot. If you are not sure where to give the shot, talk with the doctor.
Do not give into skin that is irritated, tender, bruised, red, scaly, hard, scarred, or has stretch marks.
Do not use if the solution is cloudy, leaking, or has particles.
This medicine is colorless to a faint yellow. Do not use if the solution changes color.
Throw away needles in a needle/sharp disposal box. Do not reuse needles or other items. When the box is full, follow all local rules for getting rid of it. Talk with a doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

Use a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
Do not use 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

What are the side effects of Depo-Testosterone that I need to call my doctor about immediately?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Signs of high blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight.
For males, erections (hard penis) that happen often or that last a long time.
Trouble passing urine, pain when passing urine, passing urine in a weak stream or drips, or passing urine more often.
Not able to control passing urine.
New or worse behavior or mood changes like depression or thoughts of killing yourself.
Enlarged breasts.
Breast pain.
Shortness of breath, a big weight gain, or swelling in the arms or legs.
Upset stomach or throwing up.
Trouble breathing when sleeping.
Feeling sleepy during the day.
Weakness on 1 side of the body, trouble speaking or thinking, change in balance, drooping on one side of the face, or blurred eyesight.
Change in color of skin.
Change in size or shape of testicles.
Call your doctor right away if you have signs of a blood clot like chest pain or pressure; coughing up blood; shortness of breath; swelling, warmth, numbness, change of color, or pain in a leg or arm; or trouble speaking or swallowing.
Liver problems have happened with drugs like this one. Sometimes, this has been deadly. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.

What are some other side effects of Depo-Testosterone?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

Headache.
Pimples (acne).
Diarrhea.
Emotional ups and downs.
Feeling tired or weak.
Trouble sleeping.
Irritation where Depo-Testosterone is used.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If overdose is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out Depo-Testosterone?

Store at room temperature. Do not freeze.
Store in the original container to protect from light.
Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.