Low testosterone level is a serious problem that must be addressed promptly to avoid complications.
Hence, you should consult a doctor to take the necessary treatments to regain your average T-hormone level.
Generally, doctors prescribe taking a self-injectable drug called Testosterone cypionate, which helps elevate testosterone concentration.
But, before using the medicine, you should have a brief knowledge of the drug, its warnings, and its side effects.
Hence, this article will cover all the essential details related to Testosterone cypionate for its safe and effective usage.
What Is Testosterone Cypionate?
Testosterone cypionate is a generic prescription drug primarily used[1] to treat medical conditions causing a lack of natural Testosterone in the body.
It is available in injectable forms that you could easily inject at home after getting the necessary guidance from the doctor.
Testosterone cypionate has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical usage.
But, the drug is a controlled substance; hence, the government regulates its availability and distribution.
You would find the medicine under the brand name called[2] Depo-Testosterone.
But, as Testosterone cypionate is a generic drug, you may find them in variable dosages at a cheaper cost than the brand-name version.
Use Of Testosterone Cypionate
Primarily, Testosterone cypionate is used to treat a sexual health condition in men called[3] hypogonadism.
In such a condition, men fail to produce sufficient Testosterone required by the body for different mechanisms.
Thus, a man suffers from several symptoms and effects related to low testosterone levels.
Generally, low Testosterone in men may cause several side effects and medical conditions, including[4] erectile dysfunction, low libido, mood swings, reduced growth, etc.
Hypogonadism in men could be differentiated into two categories[5]– primary and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.
Primary hypogonadism is a condition in which the man’s testicles fail to produce sufficient Testosterone.
On the other hand, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism refers to damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland in the brain, causing a lack of signal to testicles for testosterone production.
Thus, Testosterone cypionate consumption may help regain the testosterone levels in the bloodstream and reduce related symptoms.
Besides hypogonadism, the drug may help treat other medical conditions, including breast cancer and delayed puberty in teens.
Side Effects Of Testosterone Cypionate
People taking Testosterone cypionate to treat hypogonadism may face several side effects.
But, everyone consuming the medicine may or may not experience any side effects caused by the drug.
Generally, these side effects could be mild or severe depending upon an individual’s adaptability to the medicine.
Common Side Effects
Testosterone cypionate consumption may cause several mild side effects, which are as follows-
- Increased Aggression
- Breast Enlargement
- Acne
- Mood Swings
- Hair Loss
- Weight Gain
- Pain Or Irritation At The Injected Site
- Sleep Disturbances
- Loss Of Sperm Count
People consuming the medicine often observe any of these mild side effects, which rarely persist beyond a few weeks.
If the side effects last longer, you should immediately contact the concerned doctor for a checkup.
Serious Side Effects
In rare cases, Testosterone cypionate consumption turns risky for an individual.
The drug gives an unwanted reaction inside the body resulting in an increased risk of severe health problems.
Such a condition may arise due to overdosing or prolonged consumption of the Testosterone cypionate.
Here are some severe side effects people may experience due to Testosterone cypionate consumption.
- May Experience Irregular Or Increased Heartbeat.
- May Experience High Blood Pressure Or Hypertension Symptoms.
- May experience Priapism
- May Experience[6] Prostate Enlargement
- May Show Symptoms[7] Of Depression And Other Mental Health.
- May Develop Serious Liver Problems
- May Get Symptoms[8] Of A Heart Attack
- May Show Symptoms[9] Of A Stroke
- It May Cause[10] Pulmonary Embolism
Hence, immediately contact your doctor if you experience discomfort after taking medicine.
Testosterone Cypionate Interaction With Other Medicines
Generally, Testosterone cypionate may interact with several medicines you are taking for other health conditions and cause a severe issue with the existing problem.
Some of the drugs that interact with Testosterone cypionate are as follows-
-
Blood Thinners
People consuming blood thinners and Testosterone together may increase their risk of bleeding.
Blood thinners are drugs that may prevent[11] blood from clotting and reduce the risk of heart blockage and heart stroke.
-
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids and Testosterone cypionate may increase the risk of edema or fluid build-up. Thus, it may impact an individual with heart or liver problems.
-
Insulin
Insulin and testosterone cypionate may cause a significant drop in blood sugar levels or may even cause[12] hypoglycemia.
Warnings Of Testosterone Cypionate
Every drug has a few warnings that every individual should consider before consuming it.
Moreover, people should discuss or share their existing health conditions with doctors to determine the drug and dose to avoid complications.
-
May Develop Cancer
People consuming Testosterone cypionate regularly may increase their risk of developing breast or prostate cancer.
-
May Cause Heart Disease
Testosterone cypionate consumption could potentially increase[13] blood pressure and cause fluid build-up, increasing the risk of several heart diseases.
Moreover, people suffering from heart disease may experience increased symptoms of their condition.
-
May Cause Liver Problems
Generally, liver problems like reduced liver function and liver failure are observed due to[14] higher or prolonged drug consumption.
Moreover, people suffering from reduced liver function should consider consulting the doctor to discuss the effect and dosage of the medicine.
-
May Increase Risk For Diabetic Patients
Testosterone cypionate consumption may change an individual’s glucose tolerance and cause fluctuations in blood glucose levels.
Thus, people consuming the medicine should monitor their blood glucose levels to avoid severe health conditions.
-
May Cause Kidney Problems
People with existing[15] kidney disease may worsen their condition by consuming Testosterone cypionate.
Generally, the medicine is responsible for retaining salt and water that may cause kidney problems.
-
May Increase Risk For Polycythemia Patients
Polycythemia is a medical condition[16] in which the patients have a high red blood cell count.
Hence, consuming Testosterone cypionate may further increase the RBC count resulting in increased complications.
It is advised for polycythemia patients that they shouldn’t consume such medicine if hematocrit is more than 54%.
-
May Complicate Sleep Apnea
People suffering[17] from sleep apnea, i.e., breathing interruption while sleeping, should avoid taking Testosterone cypionate. Otherwise, the condition may worsen and cause irregular sleep at night.
-
May Affect Fetus During Pregnancy
Testosterone cypionate isn’t an appropriate medicine during pregnancy as it is a category X drug. Hence, the consumption by a pregnant woman may harm the growing fetus.
-
May Affect Senior Citizens
Men older than 65 should avoid taking Testosterone cypionate as it increases the risk of prostate cancer, prostate enlargement, and heart disease.
-
May Impact Children’s Growth
Testosterone cypionate is prescribed to adolescents facing delayed puberty due to low testosterone levels.
But, injecting the medicine into a child in the growing stage may cause faster maturation of bones without completing the growth.
Thus, short-height conditions could be seen in those children.
How To Take Testosterone Cypionate?
Dosages
Generally, Testosterone cypionate is available in injectable forms; hence, it should be an intramuscular shot or subcutaneous injection.
The dosage of Testosterone cypionate is determined by several factors, including an individual’s age, medical condition, and testosterone levels in the body.
But, the standard dose of Testosterone cypionate for safer usage is between 50mg/ml to 400 mg/ml once every two weeks.
Hence, an individual should avoid higher doses beyond 400 mg/ml.
How To Inject Testosterone Cypionate?
Testosterone cypionate is a self-injectable medicine; hence, an individual could easily inject it after a brief demonstration from the doctor.
Generally, Testosterone cypionate injections are injected as an intramuscular shot.
In short, you will release the medicine into the muscle mass, which would slowly enter the bloodstream.
The common sites for intramuscular shots include buttocks, thighs, and deltoid muscles.
Sometimes, doctors advise you to take medicine subcutaneously.
Hence, you have to inject the syringe beneath the skin to release the drug. But, it is rarely recommended by doctors to inject Testosterone cypionate.
What’s The Frequency Of The Dosage?
Primarily, the testosterone treatments include biweekly shots, i.e., you have to take the injection once every two weeks.
But, the frequency may vary depending upon the severity of the condition.
Generally, doctors ask for your serum testosterone concentration test to analyze the T concentration.
Later, they determine the best-suited treatment plan for a faster recovery.
Sometimes, the doctor terminates the treatment if the testosterone levels get normal before the expected time.
CONCLUSION
Testosterone replacement is a potential treatment to tackle low testosterone problems.
Hence, you should consult a healthcare specialist to discuss your concerns and treatment.
But, you should reveal all your medical history to get the proper treatment and avoid harmful effects.
Sources/References
Working4Health prefers using primary and verified references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and our primary references include peer-reviewed research, academic, and medical institution studies.
- Testosterone Injection. Available from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a614041.html
- Depo®-Testosterone.testosterone cypionate injection, USP CIII. Available from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/085635s029lbl.pdf
- Omeed Sizar; Janice Schwartz. Hypogonadism. Last Update: June 27, 2022. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532933/
- Hayder M. Al-Kuraishy and Ali I. Al-Gareeb. Erectile Dysfunction and Low Sex Drive in Men with Type 2 DM: The Potential Role of Diabetic Pharmacotherapy. J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 Dec; 10(12): FC21–FC26. Published online 2016 Dec 1. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2016/19971.8996
- Renato Fraietta, Daniel Suslik Zylberstejn, and Sandro C Esteves. Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism Revisited. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2013 Feb; 68(Suppl 1): 81–88. doi: 10.6061/clinics/2013(Sup01)09
- Depression. Available from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression
- Enlarged Prostate (BPH). Available from https://medlineplus.gov/enlargedprostatebph.html
- Heart Attack. Available from https://medlineplus.gov/heartattack.html
- Stroke. Available from https://medlineplus.gov/stroke.html
- Pulmonary Embolism. Available from https://medlineplus.gov/pulmonaryembolism.html
- Blood Thinners. Available from https://medlineplus.gov/bloodthinners.html
- Philip Mathew; Deepu Thoppil. Hypoglycemia. Last Update: July 23, 2022. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534841/
- What Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Available from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/high-blood-pressure
- J F Westphal, J M Brogard. Drug administration in chronic liver disease. Review Drug Saf. 1997 Jul;17(1):47-73. doi: 10.2165/00002018-199717010-00004. Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9258630/
- Kidney Disease. Available from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease
- Ashwin A. Pillai; Salman Fazal; Hani M. Babiker. Polycythemia. Last Update: July 10, 2022. Available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526081/
- What Is Sleep Apnea? Available from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/sleep-apnea
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Michael has been in the male wellness industry for 25+ years. Before joining Working For Health as a full-time male wellness journalist, he contributed to multiple online portals in the male wellness field. Before that, he has been an assistant to several sexologists.