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Testosterone is a male sex hormone (androgen) and a Schedule III controlled substance that Bayview compounds to a prescriber's order.
Testosterone is an androgenic hormone responsible for the normal growth and development of the male sex organs and for maintenance of secondary sex characteristics, including hair distribution, laryngeal changes, and changes in body musculature and fat distribution.[1][2]
In medical practice, testosterone replacement therapy is FDA-approved for men with primary hypogonadism or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, conditions in which the body does not produce enough testosterone.[1] The safety and efficacy of testosterone in men with age-related hypogonadism have not been established.[1]
FDA-approved testosterone products include topical gels and solutions applied to the skin.[2] Topical testosterone can transfer to women and children who touch the skin where it was applied, so the application site should be covered and hands washed.[2]
When prescribing testosterone, healthcare providers should monitor patients closely. Testosterone can increase hematocrit (polycythemia) and blood pressure, and lipid levels should be checked periodically.[1] Serum testosterone levels are measured before and during treatment.[1][2] Using testosterone in higher doses than prescribed increases the risk of serious health effects.[2]
Testosterone is inactivated primarily in the liver and converted to various 17-keto steroids, and its major active metabolites are estradiol and dihydrotestosterone.[1] About 90% of an intramuscular dose is excreted in the urine as glucuronic acid and sulfuric acid conjugates.[1]
Bayview compounds testosterone preparations on a prescriber's order.
Compounded at Bayview
Patient guides for the preparations we make most often. Each one is compounded to order and requires a prescription.
For prescribers
Every preparation in our formulary that contains this ingredient. Strength, base and dose form are set by the prescription.
Yes. Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance under federal law (some states classify it more strictly). That means a provider must e-prescribe it (EPCS) and hold a valid DEA registration, and there are limits on refills and quantities.
Because testosterone is a controlled substance, your provider must send the prescription electronically (EPCS), it cannot be phoned in or faxed. A licensed provider decides whether treatment is appropriate; Bayview Pharmacy does not provide consultations or determine appropriateness. Once we receive a valid electronic prescription, we compound and dispense your order.
Women's doses are a fraction of male replacement doses, chosen to keep testosterone within a woman's normal physiologic range. That is one reason it is compounded, so the strength and form can be tailored to a much lower dose than manufactured products for men provide.
Testosterone is present in women at much lower levels than in men, and a provider may include it in hormone therapy for some women at correspondingly low doses. Whether it is appropriate is a decision your provider makes.
No. Compounded testosterone is prepared by a licensed pharmacy to an individual prescription and is not reviewed or approved by the FDA. There are separate FDA-approved testosterone products for certain uses in men.
Other salt forms of this molecule, and ingredients commonly compounded alongside it.
This page describes an active pharmaceutical ingredient, not a finished drug product. Bayview Pharmacy compounds preparations containing it only on a prescriber's order for an individual patient.
Compounded preparations are not FDA-approved, and the FDA has not evaluated them for safety, effectiveness, or manufacturing quality. Nothing on this page is a claim that any preparation is effective for any condition.
A valid prescription is required. Availability depends on Bayview's licensure in your state. This page is general information, not medical advice — discuss your situation with a licensed healthcare provider.
Our pharmacists work with prescribers to build preparations around a patient's dose, form and tolerances. Ask us what is possible with this ingredient.
