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Testosterone Implant
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What you should know about this medicine
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This leaflet was written to help you understand your medicine. If you have any questions or worries ask your doctor or a pharmacist. At the end of the leaflet you will find a list of things to remember about your medicine.
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Please keep this leaflet until you have finished your medicine. You may want to read it again.
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What is a Testosterone Implant?
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Testosterone implants are pellets containing 50,100 or 250 mg of testosterone and are sold in a glass ampoule.
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Each implant is packed in a cardboard carton.
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There are no other ingredients in the pellet.
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These implants are used in hormone replacement therapy in men and women. Testosterone is a natural male hormone, known as an androgen, which controls normal sexual development in men.
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The product licence is held by:
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 Organon Laboratories Limited, Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 4FL.
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Testosterone implants are made by:
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 Organon Laboratories Limited, Newhouse Industrial Estate, Newhouse, Motherwell, Scotland, ML1 5SH.
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What are Testosterone Implants used for?
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Testosterone implants are used in testosterone replacement therapy for male sexual problems for example:
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impotence caused by hormonal disorders
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after castration or a similar problem called eunuchoidism
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decreased sex drive and decreased mental and physical activity
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infertility caused by low sperm count
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bone loss caused by low hormone levels.
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Implants can also be used in women together with other forms of hormone replacement therapy to relieve symptoms such as decreased sexual drive and loss of energy.
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Before your Implant is inserted Men
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Do you have or think you may have cancer of the prostate or breast?
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Women
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Do you think you may be pregnant?
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Are you breast-feeding?
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If the answer to any of these questions is YES,
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Did you tell your doctor at the last visit, or an earlier visit?
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If NOT, then you should do so as soon as possible. Even so your doctor may still want you to have the implant.
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What do you need to know before having an Implant?
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Extra supervision by you doctor may be necessary in some cases particularly the elderly.
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Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
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heart disease
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kidney disease
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liver disease
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high blood pressure
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epilepsy
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migraine
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Testosterone should be used carefully in women as it can cause hoarseness of the voice.
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In young boys testosterone can cause early sexual development and delay growth.
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What other medicines are you taking?
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Other medicines may affect how the testosterone implant works or testosterone may affect how they work.
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Certain types of drugs can cause more enzymes to be made in the liver. These are called "enzyme inducing drugs", for example medicines used to treat epilepsy; phenobarbitone. These drugs will affect the way Testosterone works.
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Tell your doctor if you are taking or intend to take any other medicines.
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How a Testosterone Implant is given How much
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The dose is chosen by your doctor. In men usually a dose of 100-600 mg implant is given, but this depends on each individual. In women a dose or 50-100 mg is usual, together with another form of hormone replacement therapy.
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How the implant is inserted
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Testosterone implants are inserted under the skin into the lower abdominal wall or buttock by your doctor. You are usually given a local anaesthetic in this area before the implant is inserted and the small cut made is dressed with a bandage afterwards.
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The implant usually lasts for 4-5 months.
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What to do if someone is accidentally given too much
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If the dose is too much it can cause a woman's voice to deepen and cause frequent erections in men. If this occurs tell your doctor immediately. He/she may want to remove the implant.
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What about side effects?
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Testosterone may cause side effects in some people.
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If you have any of the following side-effects tell your doctor. He may decide to stop treatment for a while.
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In men it may cause:
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prolonged painful erection
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increased sexual desire
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decreased amounts of ejaculation fluid
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low sperm count
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water retention
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In young boys, early sexual development, erections occurring more often than normal, enlarged penis, delayed growth.
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In women it may cause hoarseness of the voice and excess hair growth.
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Tell your doctor if you have any side effects which are serious or troublesome and if side effects continue.
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How should Testosterone Implants be stored
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Testosterone implants should not be used after the "use by" date on the pack. They should be stored below 25°C (room temperature) away from light. Keep out of reach of children.
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This information was written in August 1995
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Other things to remember about medicines
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This medicine has been prescribed for your current medical problems. Do not use it for other medical problems.
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Do not allow other people to use your medicines and do not use medicines meant for other people.
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Tell any doctor treating you what medicines you are taking. Always carry a medical information card showing which medicines you are using. This can also be very important if you are involved in an accident.
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Return any medicines that you do not use to the pharmacy, they will dispose of it safely.
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Make sure that other people you may live with or who look after you read this information.
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