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Drug Details

Testosterone Cypionate

( Depo-Testosterone )

Medically Reviewed by Dr. J.R.G. Peries, M.D – Cardiology

Last Reviewed: Apr 28, 2023

Drug Details

Generic Name:

Testosterone-Cypionate

Common Brands:

Depo-Testosterone, Testone CIK

Availability:

Prescription only

Therapeutic Class:

Androgens

Forms:

Injection

Administration:

Intramuscular

Therapeutic Uses:

Low testosterone level (hypogonadism) in males

Controlled Status:

Schedule III controlled substance

Testosterone-Cypionate Drug Class

Testosterone-Cypionate (tes-tos-ter-one-sip-eye-oh-nate) belongs to a group of medications called androgens.

Testosterone-Cypionate Age Range

Testosterone-Cypionate is approved for use in adult men and boys over the age of 14 years. Safety and efficacy in patients younger than 12 years have not been established.

Uses

Testosterone-Cypionate Uses

Testosterone-Cypionate injection is a prescription androgen used to treat symptoms of low testosterone in men who have hypogonadism (a condition in which the body does not produce enough natural testosterone). Testosterone-Cypionate is used only for men with low testosterone levels that are caused by certain medical conditions, including diseases of the testicles, pituitary gland, or hypothalamus that cause hypogonadism.

This medicine is not for use in treating the symptoms of low testosterone in men associated with aging (age-related hypogonadism).

There may be other uses of testosterone-cypionate — your healthcare professional or pharmacist can provide medical advice and give you more drug information on testosterone-cypionate.

Testosterone-Cypionate Mechanism of Action

Testosterone cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) is a testosterone replacement therapy that works in hypogonadism by replacing testosterone that your body is unable to make.

Testosterone-Cypionate Doses

Testosterone-Cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) is available as an injectable solution of 100 mg/mL and 200 mg/mL.The recommended dosage of Testosterone Cypionate Injection is 50 mg to 400 mg, administered every 2 to 4 weeks as a deep intramuscular injection in the gluteal muscle.

Your healthcare professional will work with you to find the appropriate dosage of testosterone cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) for you, as it depends on your age and the disease that's being treated. Your healthcare provider may adjust your dosage based on your testosterone blood levels, response to the medication, and adverse effects.

Directions

How To Use Testosterone-Cypionate

Testosterone-Cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) comes as a solution (liquid) to be injected into the buttock muscle, usually every 2 to 4 weeks by a nurse or doctor in an office setting or clinic.

This medication is usually given in a clinic or hospital. If you are administering this medication to yourself at home, learn all preparation and administration instructions from your healthcare provider beforehand. Visually inspect the product for any particles or discoloration before using. The liquid should not be used if either is present. Learn proper disposal and storage measures for medical supplies.

Your pharmacist will provide you with a medication guide along with each prescription and refill. Each time, make sure to read this information carefully.

Use this medicine regularly to achieve maximum benefit from it. Mark the days you will get an injection on a calendar to help yourself remember.

Ask your healthcare team regarding the use of testosterone-cypionate in children. Although this medicine may be recommended for children as young as 12 years old for specific conditions, precautions do apply.

Missed dose: If you forget to take a dose of testosterone-cypionate, call your doctor and tell them how long it’s been since you last injected testosterone cypionate. Your doctor will help you set up a new dosage schedule. Do not take two doses of testosterone-cypionate to make up for a missed dose.

Storage: Store testosterone-cypionate at room temperature (between 15-30°C or 59-86°F) away from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight. Keep all medications out of reach of children and pets.

Unused medicine: Throw away any expired or unused testosterone-cypionate. Do not flush the medicine down the toilet. The best way to dispose of medicines is through your local waste disposal company or a medication take-back program. Learn more about proper medication disposal.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary and may not contain all possible testosterone-cypionate information. Drug information contained in this medication guide may not be up to date. This sheet is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you have questions about testosterone-cypionate, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

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Side Effects

Testosterone-Cypionate Side Effects

Possible side effects of testosterone-cypionate are listed below. Tell your doctor if they are severe or do not go away after a few days.

Pain, redness, bleeding, hardness or bruising at injection site
Acne
Breast enlargement (gynecomastia) or pain
Hoarseness
Deepening of voice
Tiredness
Mood swings
Weight gain
Headache
Hair loss
Joint pain
Back pain
Problems falling asleep or staying asleep
Increased/decreased sexual interest
Decrease in sperm counts when the drug is used at high doses

Other more serious and potentially life-threatening effects of testosterone-cypionate are listed below. Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical help if you experience side effects such as:

Skin rash, hives, blisters, and other signs of allergic reactions
Lower leg pain, warmth, or redness
Nausea
Vomiting
Swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
Difficulty in breathing, particularly during sleep
Increase in frequency of erections
Erections that last longer than normal
Problems in urination, weak flow of urine, increased frequency, sudden need to urinate, blood in the urine
Yellowing of the skin or eyes
Pain in the upper right part of the stomach, loss of appetite, light-colored stools
Mood changes including anxiety, depression or becoming suicidal
Chest pain or discomfort in upper body
Weakness in one part or side of the body and slurred speech

The above list may not include all the possible side effects of testosterone-cypionate. Call your doctor or seek immediate medical help if you experience any severe side effects or unusual symptoms. You can also report unusual side effects to the Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Testosterone-cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) Overdose: In case of a known or suspected overdose, call your doctor or the local poison control center immediately. If the person can’t be awakened, has had a seizure, or has trouble breathing, call 911.

NOTE: Testosterone-cypionate is a prescription medication that is the property of the respective owners and is intended for use only by them. Never share your prescription medication with others or use someone else’s testosterone-cypionate.

Source: FDA

Warnings

Testosterone-cypionate Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Testosterone-cypionate can cause severe health problems, especially in certain high-risk patients. Some of the risks of testosterone-cypionate use include:

ABUSE, MISUSE, ADDICTION, AND DEPENDENCY FOR TESTOSTERONE: Testosterone-cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) is a controlled substance. Misuse of testosterone-cypionate means when it is used for medical conditions for which it was not intended, such as sexual dysfunction. Abuse of testosterone-cypionate means when it is intentionally used for non-medical purposes, such as to gain muscle mass and enhance athletic performance. Abuse or misuse can lead to major heart and mental health issues, including heart attack, heart failure, stroke, liver issues, depression, delusions, hallucinations, and aggressiveness. Dependency on this medication occurs when you depend on it to function optimally and have withdrawal symptoms when you reduce the dose or discontinue the medicine abruptly. Withdrawal symptoms include depression, sleeplessness, and a decrease in sexual desire. Depo-Testosterone abuse that goes on for a long time might become an addiction. Addiction can lead to behaviors like exceeding the recommended dosage, spending a lot of time searching for the medication when it's hard to find, struggling to stop using the medication even when you want to, giving the most importance to its use, and going through withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking the medication abruptly. To reduce the danger of misuse, abuse, dependency, and addiction, you should always take testosterone cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) as directed.
MAJOR ADVERSE CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS: Testosterone-cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) might increase your blood cholesterol levels, which can cause a heart attack. Additionally, testosterone cypionate by itself has the potential to result in sudden cardiac death, a stroke, or a heart attack. People with a history of heart disease are more at risk. If you experience chest pain, cold sweats, pain in your left arm, breathing difficulty, difficulty speaking or walking, or weakness on one side of your body, let your doctor know and get emergency help right away.
BLOOD CLOTS: Testosterone-cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) can result in blood clots in the lungs and legs, which can be fatal. Pain, swelling, or redness in the legs are signs of a blood clot in the legs. Breathlessness or chest pain are signs of a blood clot in the lungs. If you have any of these signs, inform your doctor immediately since you might need to stop your medicine.
LIVER DISEASES: Testosterone-cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) has the potential to harm the liver. If you take large doses of testosterone cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) for an extended period of time, you have a higher risk of developing serious liver disease that might result in liver cancer or death. If you experience stomach pain, light-colored stools, dark urine, or yellow eyes, you should tell your doctor immediately because you may need to stop taking the drug.
USAGE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH ENLARGED PROSTATE: Testosterone-cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) can lead to urinary tract blockage in people with an enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The symptoms increase and include pain, failure to urinate, or a variation in the amount of urination, elevated blood pressure, and blood in the urine. Before they get worse, discuss them with your doctor as soon as possible. The medication also has the potential to increase the risk of prostate cancer as well.
EDEMA: Testosterone-cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) can make your body retain more salt and water, which can result in swelling in your arms or legs, leading to a rapid increase in weight. If you also take other drugs like corticosteroids that make you swell, then this is more likely to occur. People with heart, liver, or kidney disorders may experience more severe symptoms. If you have any of these signs, consult your doctor since you might need to discontinue taking the drug.
HIGH LEVELS OF CALCIUM IN THE BLOOD: Testosterone-cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) can raise blood calcium levels, particularly in people with limited mobility. Excessive calcium can cause kidney problems, such as increased urination, thirst, stomach pain, and blood in the urine, as well as muscle weakness. Stop using this medication if this happens, and inform your doctor. Your doctor may request that you get your routine blood tests done while you are using testosterone-cypionate to ensure that your calcium levels are within the normal range.
USE IN CHILDREN: If a child receives a testosterone-cypionate injection, their bones may develop more quickly than usual. This implies that the growth in children might stop earlier than expected and can have an adult height shorter than expected.
Additionally, benzyl alcohol, a preservative, is present in testosterone-cypionate. Gasping syndrome is a significant adverse effect of this preservative that can affect young children and newborns. Breathing problems brought on by this syndrome can be fatal. It's essential to be aware of this possibility even though recommended dosages of testosterone-cypionate contain less benzyl alcohol than what is generally associated with this condition. Higher doses of the medicine and conditions where your liver and kidneys have trouble eliminating it from your body increase the probability of this condition.
NOT IN WOMEN: Testosterone-cypionate injection (Depo-Testosterone) is not indicated for use in women and is contraindicated in pregnant women. This medication may harm your unborn baby.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for medical advice and risk evaluation if you are at a high risk of complications or adverse effects from testosterone-cypionate use.

Precautions Before Starting Testosterone cypionate

Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to testosterone-cypionate, other medications, or any of the ingredients in testosterone injection products. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your healthcare provider a complete medical history. Testosterone-cypionate may not be right for people with certain medical conditions, such as cancer (e.g., breast cancer in men, prostate cancer), blood clots (e.g., in the leg, lungs), heart disease (e.g., heart failure, chest pain, heart attack), stroke, hepatic disease, kidney disease, lung problems, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, enlarged prostate, sleep apnea, diabetes, high blood levels of calcium, depression or other mental illness, an allergy to castor oil or sesame oil and high red blood cell (RBC) counts.

Before administration of Depo-Testosterone injection, a hypogonadism diagnosis must be confirmed by getting serum testosterone concentration tests done in the morning on at least two different days. These serum concentrations should be below the normal range for starting injections.

Give your doctor a complete list of all your medications, including prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid serious interactions between testosterone-cypionate and your other medications.

Precautions During Use of Testosterone-cypionate

Keep all your doctors’ appointments while on testosterone-cypionate. Your doctor may order certain tests to check your body's response to testosterone injection.

Your healthcare provider will monitor your cholesterol levels closely while you receive this medication. This drug may affect your cholesterol levels and may cause an increased risk of heart or blood vessel problems.

Your doctor should check your red blood cell count and hemoglobin while you receive a testosterone-cypionate injection, as it can increase red blood cell counts in some people. High red blood cell counts can increase the risk of strokes, blood clots, and heart attacks. You may have to discontinue testosterone-cypionate injections if your red blood cell count increases.

Diabetic patients receiving testosterone-cypionate injections should check their blood sugar levels as directed, as this medication may lower blood sugar. Tell your doctor right away if you notice low blood sugar symptoms, such as shaking, a fast heartbeat, hunger, sudden sweating, blurred vision, dizziness, or tingling hands or feet. Your healthcare professional may need to make changes in your diabetes treatment.

Testosterone injections are not usually indicated for use in women. If a woman wants to get pregnant or believes she might already be pregnant, she should notify her doctor. This medicine can cause serious side effects to an unborn child. For more information, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. While using this medication, discuss birth control options with your doctor.

Tell all your doctors you are on testosterone-cypionate before surgery, including dental surgery.

Testosterone-cypionate Drug Interactions

Taking testosterone-cypionate with certain drugs can affect how the medications work. Possible interactions between drugs can also increase the risk of serious side effects. Your healthcare professional may choose a different medication for you, change the dose or frequency of your medications, and/or closely monitor you for side effects if there are known interactions between testosterone-cypionate and your other drugs.

There can also be possible interactions between testosterone-cypionate and the following medications:

Insulin (Apidra, Humalog, Humulin, others)
Medications for diabetes
Oral blood thinners (anticoagulants) like warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
Oral steroids such as dexamethasone, methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Rayos)
Oxyphenbutazone
Propranolol

The above list does not include all the possible drug interactions of testosterone-cypionate. To prevent dangerous interactions, give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products.

Also, tell your doctor if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription drugs.

Pros & Cons

Testosterone-cypionate Pros and Cons

pros header.svg

Testosterone-cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) can be injected at home.
It is available in a low-cost generic form.
Testosterone-cypionate injection only requires to be used once every 2 to 4 weeks.

cons header.svg

Depo-Testosterone is only available as an injection.
Testosterone-cypionate has a risk of abuse, misuse, addiction, and dependency.
Testosterone-cypionate has to be injected into the buttock muscle.

Pharmacist Tips

Testosterone-cypionate Tips from Pharmacists

It is advised to keep Depo-Testosterone at room temperature. Before injection, make sure to examine the vial for any particles or color changes. If you notice crystals inside the vial, warm it up and shake it to help them dissolve again. When not in use, keep the medication in the box to protect it from direct sunlight.
Abuse or misuse of testosterone-cypionate might result from using it in larger dosages than recommended. Serious adverse reactions like heart attack, heart failure, stroke, depression, hallucinations, and delusions may result from this. To minimize the risk of abuse, take the drug exactly as prescribed by your provider.
Due to the potential for serious adverse effects from abuse, testosterone-cypionate shouldn't be used for bodybuilding or to enhance athletic performance. This drug is exclusively approved by the FDA to treat low testosterone in males.
Testosterone cypionate can reduce your blood sugar. Diabetic patients receiving testosterone-cypionate injections should check their blood sugar levels more often. Call your doctor right away if you notice symptoms of low blood sugar, such as shaking, a fast heartbeat, frequent hunger, sudden sweating, blurred vision, dizziness, or tingling hands or feet. Your healthcare professional may need to make changes in your diabetes treatment.
Testosterone cypionate may cause the male breast area to become larger, painful, or tender. This might persist throughout testosterone-cypionate therapy. If this starts to bother you, let your healthcare provider know.

Rx Savings Tips

Testosterone-cypionate Rx Savings Tips

Testosterone-cypionate is a generic medication and is available at significantly lower prices than the brand name. Brand names (Depo-Testosterone, Testone CIK) and generic testosterone-cypionate contain the same medicine and are equally effective and safe. Like with most medications, the generic version offers better value. A BuzzRx testosterone-cypionate coupon can result in big savings. With a BuzzRx discount card, savings card, or discount coupons, the medication could cost you a fraction of retail prices. Testosterone-cypionate may be under $41.00 for 4 vials of the 1 ml of 200 mg/ml dose at Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS Pharmacy, and other participating pharmacies with a BuzzRx discount card or free coupon. For the biggest discounts on testosterone-cypionate, give the checkout clerk your BuzzRx discount coupon when you drop off your prescriptions.

Lowest Price for Testosterone-cypionate

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$40.20

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Common Questions

Common Questions about Testosterone-cypionate

How often is Depo-Testosterone given?

Testosterone-cypionate injection only requires to be given once every 2 to 4 weeks.

Can you inject Depo-Testosterone at home?

Some healthcare experts will give you testosterone cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) injections at their clinic, while others might let you do it yourself at home. If you plan to inject yourself, your doctor will teach you how to do it correctly. It might be preferable if someone else can be schooled to assist you with the injection because it is injected into the buttock muscle. Talk to your doctor about the best course of treatment for you.

How is testosterone cypionate administered?

Testosterone cypionate (Depo-Testosterone) is injected deeply and slowly into your buttock muscle. Avoid injecting medication into a vein since it would not be effectively absorbed by the body and would not work optimally.

What does testosterone-cypionate abuse mean?

Abuse of testosterone-cypionate means when it is intentionally used for non-medical purposes, such as to gain muscle mass and enhance athletic performance. Due to the potential for serious adverse effects from abuse, testosterone-cypionate shouldn't be used for bodybuilding or to enhance athletic performance.

Does taking Depo-Testosterone affect your chances of having a baby?

Depo-Testosterone can decrease your sperm production, which may make it more challenging for you to have a child. Higher Depo-Testosterone dosages or prolonged administration of the drug increase the risk. If you're trying for a baby, speak to your doctor because this side effect can become permanent.

What is the price of testosterone-cypionate without insurance?

Without insurance, testosterone-cypionate can be as high as $273.32, but with a free BuzzRx prescription discount coupon, you could pay as low as $40.20 for the most common version of this medication. Use the BuzzRx drug price look-up tool to find the lowest discounted price, and be sure to enter the correct dosage, form, and quantity for the most accurate pricing. While generics tend to have the best savings, you can also use your BuzzRx card and coupons to purchase brand-name versions. It never hurts to ask your pharmacist to try BuzzRx when filling or refilling any of your prescription drugs—whether you have insurance or not.

What is the price of testosterone-cypionate with insurance?

Ask your pharmacist or insurance provider for your copay price on testosterone-cypionate—copay amounts vary depending on the type of insurance plan you have and if there is a deductible to reach before prescription drug coverage begins.

You could save up to 80% on your prescription medication with a free BuzzRx discount coupon for testosterone-cypionate. When using the BuzzRx lookup tool to find the price of your medicine, be sure to enter the correct dosage, form, and quantity to receive the most accurate discounted pricing. It never hurts to ask your pharmacist to try BuzzRx when filling or refilling any of your prescriptions—whether you have insurance or not.