Testopel

Active Substance: Testopel

steroidtransdermal

Description

Testopel is a brand name for testosterone pellets, a long-acting form of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).

Here is a detailed breakdown based on your request:

What is Testopel (Testosterone Pellets)?

  • Different Name: Testosterone Pellets.

  • Mechanism: Testopel consists of small, cylindrical pellets (each typically containing 75 mg of crystalline testosterone) that are implanted under the skin, usually in the buttock or hip area, during a brief office procedure under local anesthesia.

  • Action: The pellets slowly dissolve and release a steady, consistent dose of testosterone into the body over a period of 3 to 6 months, gradually normalizing testosterone levels in men with hypogonadism (low testosterone).

  • Benefit of Formulation: This method avoids the need for frequent weekly injections, daily gels, or patches, and eliminates the risk of skin-to-skin transfer of medication to others.

Benefits and Side Effects

Category Benefits (Pros) Side Effects (Cons)
Benefits Consistent Levels: Provides steady, long-acting testosterone levels, avoiding the peaks and troughs associated with some other methods. Common/Mild: Pain, bruising, swelling, hardening (induration), or bleeding at the implantation site; acne; male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia); changes in body hair; increased or decreased sex drive; more frequent or prolonged erections (rarely, priapism, which requires immediate medical attention); nausea; vomiting.
Pros Convenience: Requires implantation only 2 to 4 times per year, eliminating daily or weekly dosing. No Transfer Risk: Cannot be transferred to partners or children through skin contact, unlike topical gels/creams. Effective: Highly effective at normalizing testosterone levels. Procedure Required: Requires a minor surgical procedure for implantation and for potential removal if treatment must be stopped or a pellet extrudes. Infection/Extrusion Risk: Risk of infection or pellet extrusion (coming out of the skin) at the implant site. Less Flexible Dosing: Dosage adjustment (changing the number of pellets) is less flexible and immediate than with injections or topical methods.
Serious Side Effects N/A Cardiovascular Risks: Increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or blood clots (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism). Prostate Concerns: Increased risk of developing an enlarged prostate (BPH) or stimulating existing, undiagnosed prostate cancer. Gynecomastia: Enlargement of male breasts. Hepatic: Rarely, peliosis hepatis and hepatic neoplasms (liver tumors/complications), typically associated with prolonged use of high doses of oral androgens, but a labeled warning for testosterone products. Edema: Fluid retention (swelling) with or without congestive heart failure.

 

Dosage and Frequency

  • Dosage: The suggested guideline for replacement therapy is 150 mg to 450 mg per implantation.

    • Since each pellet is 75 mg, this typically means implanting 2 to 6 pellets.

  • Frequency: Subcutaneously implanted every 3 to 6 months (or 2 to 4 times per year).

  • Adjustment: Dosage (number of pellets) is adjusted by the healthcare provider based on the patient's symptoms and blood testosterone levels, which are typically monitored at the end of the dosing interval.

Half-Life and Detection Time

  • Half-Life: The drug itself is crystalline testosterone, which has a very short biological half-life (around 2-4 hours). However, the Testopel delivery system provides a long, steady release of the hormone.

  • Duration of Effect/Release: The pellets slowly dissolve and release testosterone over 3 to 6 months (sometimes up to 4-6 months).

  • Detection Time: Since Testopel releases the bio-identical hormone testosterone, it is difficult to give a precise "detection time" for doping control in sports (WADA, etc.). Doping tests primarily look for an unnaturally high Testosterone/Epitestosterone (T/E) ratio or the presence of synthetic metabolites.

    • While the effects last for months, the detection window in urine for exogenous (administered) testosterone is highly variable and depends on the testing methodology (e.g., Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry, which can detect non-natural testosterone) and the specific metabolites.

    • In the context of typical anabolic steroid detection times, long-acting testosterone forms can have metabolites detectable for many weeks to months. Due to the slow, steady release, the time it takes for levels to return to baseline after the pellets are fully absorbed/dissolved can be around 13 to 20 weeks (3-5 months) or more.

Sterogenic, Progestogenic, and Prolactin Effects

  • Sterogenic Effects: The term "sterogenic" generally refers to compounds with an anabolic (muscle-building) or androgenic (male characteristic-promoting) effect, which testosterone is. It is a potent anabolic-androgenic steroid.

  • Progestronic Effects: Testosterone itself is not a progestogen (it does not bind significantly to the progesterone receptor).

  • Prolactin Effects: Testosterone (Testopel) does not directly or significantly increase prolactin levels. However, the abuse of certain other anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) derived from Nandrolone or those with high progestogenic activity can increase prolactin. High doses of any testosterone may increase estrogen (via aromatization), which can indirectly affect prolactin, but this is not a primary effect of testosterone.

Anabolic Androgenic Ratio

Testosterone is the standard against which all other anabolic-androgenic steroids are measured.

  • Testosterone Anabolic Androgenic Ratio: 100:100 (or 1:1 when simplified)

Note: This ratio is a historical benchmark based on outdated bioassays, but it is the reference standard. Testosterone has equal anabolic (muscle-building) and androgenic (masculinizing) properties.

Pharmacological Properties

Half Life

120 days

Active Dose

100%

Detection

20.00 months

Concentration

50 mg/ml

Anabolic/Androgenic Profile

Anabolic Rating100
Androgenic Rating100

Usage Effectiveness

Bulking
Cutting
Strength
Recomposition

Activity Profile

Estrogenic

None

Progestanic

None

Water Retention

None

Aromatization

No

Benefits

✓ Improved Libido ✓ Increased Testosterone Levels

Dosage Recommendations

Beginner

200-400 mg/week

Intermediate

400-600 mg/week

Advanced

600-800 mg/week

Side Effects

Common

⚠ Acne ⚠ Hair Loss (Male Pattern Baldness) ⚠ Increased Body Hair Growth ⚠ Nausea

Severe

⚠ Increased Risk of Blood Clots ⚠ Gynecomastia (Male Breast Enlargement) ⚠ Liver Toxicity (Hepatotoxicity) ⚠ Increased Estrogen Levels ⚠ Water Retention ⚠ Prostate Enlargement

Safety Information

Liver Toxicity

None

Kidney Toxicity

Low

Cardiovascular Risk

Moderate

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before using any compounds.