Uses

Each Andriol capsule contains 40 mg testosterone undecanoate as the active ingredient, dissolved in oleic acid. Your body turns testosterone undecanoate into testosterone. Testosterone is a natural male hormone known as an androgen which controls normal sexual development in men.

Andriol is used in testosterone replacement therapy for male sexual problems for example:

• impotence caused by hormonal disorders
• after castration or a similar problem called eunuchoidism
• decreased sex drive and decreased mental and physical activity
• infertility caused by low sperm count
• bone loss caused by low hormone levels.

Side-Effects

Andriol sometimes causes side effects in some people.

If you have any of the following side effects, tell your doctor. He or she may decide to stop your treatment for a while.

• prolonged painful erection
• increased sexual desire
• decreased amounts of ejaculation fluid
• low sperm count
• water retention
• in young boys, early sexual development, erections occurring more often than normal, enlarged penis, delayed growth
• hoarseness of the voice

Tell your doctor if you have any other side effects which are serious or troublesome, and if side effects continue.

Allergies: This medicine contains sorbitol concentrate.

Before You Take This Medicine

• Do you have cancer of the prostate or breast?
• Do you suffer from heart disease?
• Do you have hypercalcaemia or hypercalciuria (too much calcium in the blood or urine)?
• Do you have kidney disease?

If the answer to any of these questions is YES:

• Did you tell your doctor at the last visit or an earlier visit?
• If you did NOT then you should do so as soon as possible and before taking these capsules.

However your doctor may still want you to take them.

Extra supervision may be necessary in some cases, particularly the elderly. Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• heart disease
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• high blood pressure
• epilepsy
• migraine
• cancer of the lungs, kidney, breast or bones

Blood tests may be affected. Liver tumours have been seen rarely with testosterone treatment. Extra supervision by the doctor is necessary in the treatment of young boys since male hormones may cause early sexual development and delay growth.

Interactions

Other medicines may affect how Andriol works or Andriol may affect how they work. The following medicines may decrease the effect of Andriol: antibiotics such as rifampicin, and anti-epileptic drugs such as barbiturates, carbamazepine, dichloralphenazone, phenylbutazone, phenytoin and primidone.

If you are taking these or any other medicines, tell your doctor before taking Andriol.

Dosage

It is important to take this medicine only as directed by your doctor or pharmacist.

Adults:
The usual dose is 3-4 capsules each day for the first 2-3 weeks. After a few weeks the dose is gradually reduced to 1-3 capsules each day. Smaller, less frequent doses may be given to the elderly.

Children:
Andriol capsules should not be given to children. Swallow the capsules whole after meals. Do not chew. Take half of the daily dose in the morning and the other half in the evening. If the daily dose is an uneven number of capsules, take the bigger number in the morning. Take with some water or other drink if necessary.

Missed dosage:
Don't worry. Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If you miss the morning dose and it is more than 2 hours after breakfast, wait until lunchtime and then take the dose.

Overdose:
If you have accidentally taken too much, contact your nearest hospital casualty department or tell your doctor immediately.

Notes

Only use this medicine for your current medical problems. Do not use this medicine for other medical problems.

• Do not allow other people to use your medicines and do not use medicines meant for other people.
• 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.
• Return any medicines you have not used to the pharmacy; they will get rid of them safely.
• Make sure that the people you live with or who look after you read this information.

Storage

Use this medicine within 3 months. The capsules should be kept in a dry place, away from light. Store the capsules at room temperature (up to 30°C). Do not store in the fridge. Keep the capsules in the original bottle, in a place where children cannot see or reach them.