Andriol Testocaps Side Effects

Andriol Testocaps are a synthetic version of testosterone, and doctors use it to treat hypogonadism. This drug can cause a number of negative side-effects, and patients suffering from certain pre-existing conditions should avoid using Andriol.

Identification

• Andriol Testocaps are a synthetic, orally administered version of the naturally occurring steroid hormone testosterone. Each pill contains 40 mg of testosterone undecanoate. They are manufactured by the German pharmaceutical company Schering-Plough and available for sale and use in Europe and Canada.

Use

• Drugs.com reports that doctors can prescribe Andriol to treat hypogonadism, a condition in which the body no longer produces enough testosterone naturally. Andriol is also indicated for use in starting pubertal development in adolescent boys suffering from delayed-onset puberty. Doctors have also used Andriol to treat breast cancer in women.

  As men age, their natural testosterone production decreases, and Andriol can be used to supplement this deficit as part of a regimen called hormone replacement therapy. Typical dosages begin at three to four caplets daily, taken with water, and can be adjusted to one to three daily caplets.

  Bodybuilders consider Andriol a safe, though mild, orally available version of testosterone, and use it illicitly to promote rapid gains in lean muscle mass and bone density.

Contraindications

• Excess dosages of testosterone can enlarge the prostate and exacerbate existing prostate cancer in men suffering from that disease. Men with prostate cancer should not take this drug. Additionally, drugs.com reports that men with male breast cancer should also avoid Andriol.

  The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has categorized testosterone as a Pregnancy Category X drug, which means that it is known to cause birth defects in developing fetuses. Drugs.com warns that women who are pregnant or seeking to become pregnant should not take Andriol.

  Externally administered testosterone will also affect the activity of anti-coagulants, blood thinners and will affect blood sugar levels. Patients taking these drugs, or diabetics using insulin should discuss their dosages with a physician.

Hepatotoxicity

• Drugs.com reports that excess levels of externally administered testosterone can result in peliosis hepatitis, a potentially fatal condition in which blood-filled cysts form inside the liver and/or spleen. Exogenous testosterone is also known to alter liver enzyme levels.

Virilization

• As an androgen, Andriol exerts masculinizing effects, which may include deepening of the voice, excess growth of facial or body hair, male-pattern baldness, acne and oily skin. Women are more likely than men to suffer these effects, and may also experience a disruption of their menstrual cycle.

  Additionally, excess testosterone can enlarge the prostate and lead to difficult urination, cause erectile dysfunction that ranges from priapism (constant erection) to impotence and can alter libido. Men may also experience gynecomastia (the development of male breasts), and testosterone can enlarge a woman's clitoris. Both gynecomastia and enlarged clitoris are not reversible and may require surgery to correct.

Other Side Effects

• Testosterone can affect blood serum cholesterol levels, and drugs.com reports that this can lead to arteriosclerosis, clotting problems, hypertension, stroke and/or congestive heart failure. Also, testosterone can cause excess water retention, putting a strain on the kidneys and possibly causing kidney disease.

  Users have also experienced allergic reactions to testosterone that include jaundice, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain and edema.

  Excess testosterone has also caused psychological side-effects that include dizziness, moodiness, headaches, irritability, aggression, depression and paranoia.