One of the
awesome things about Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy is that
there are a lot of effective treatment options available to restore
your Endogenous Testosterone Production. One of these options is the
Testosterone Transdermal Patch. The goal of these Testosterone
patches is to correct the symptoms of Low-T in males that do not
naturally make sufficient Testosterone, an issue that becomes more
common and problematic with age.
Testosterone
is one of the many vitally important hormones created by the human
body and it regulates and contributes to many different functions.
Testosterone is important for body composition, bone mineral density,
and sexual function, just to mention a few benefits. Men that suffer
from Low-T experience a number of significant symptoms that can make
it harder for them to live a longer and happier life, including:
Low
Energy
Extreme
Fatigue
Loss
of Sex Drive
Depression
Erectile
Dysfunction
Osteoporosis
Anxiety
Loss
of Muscle Mass
Increased
Body Fat
Testosterone
Replacement Therapy Patches have the ability to mitigate or cancel
out the effects of Testosterone Decline by providing Bio-Identical
Testosterone directly through the skin through an easy-to-apply
patch.
Common
Brands of Testosterone Transdermal Patch
Androderm
Axiron
Testoderm
How Are
Testosterone Patches Used?
Testosterone
Patches are intended to be applied directly to the skin. These
patches are intended to be applied once every 24 hours. Most
physicians recommend applying the Testosterone Patch at night,
sometime between 8 p.m. And 12. a.m. To maximize the benefits, it is
important to apply the patch at the same time every day. Like all
prescription medications, it is vitally important to follow both the
advice of your doctor and the instructions on the medication itself.
Use
Testosterone Transdermal Patches only as directed. Excess use of
Testosterone Patches can lead to a greatly increased risk of
experiencing side effects, and applying patches less often than
prescribed can greatly reduce the effectiveness of the medication.
Never apply more patches than your physician recommends.
Where
Are Testosterone Patches Applied?
Some of
the most recommended areas of the body to apply Transdermal
Testosterone Patches are the thighs, stomach, back, and upper arm.
You want the area where the patch is to be applied to be a clean and
relatively smooth area.
Here are
some places that you don't need to apply Testosterone Patches:
Skin
covered in high levels of body hair
Areas
of skin prone to producing too much oil
Areas
of the body which produce high levels of perspiration
Directly
on top of a bone such as the hip or shoulder
Places
that experience high levels of pressure upon sleeping or sitting
Directly
upon the scrotum
Irritated
skin
Wounded
skin
Open
sores
In
addition to these suggestions, it is also important to apply the
Testosterone Patch to an area of the body that remains flat at all
times. Don't place the Testosterone Patch on areas of the body that
can be excessively stretched, folded, or pulled in normal, everyday
activity.
Like other
forms of Testosterone Replacement Therapy Treatment, it is important
to rotate treatment sites with every administration. For Testosterone
Patches, most physicians recommend to choose a different area of the
body every day of the week. After seven days, it is okay to apply the
patch to the same spot once again.
Understand
that once you apply the Testosterone Patch, it should remain on at
all times over the next 24 hours. Don't remove the Low-T Patch for
any reason. The Testosterone Patch is perfectly suitable for sex,
showers, baths, and swimming, as long as the patch was applied
effectively.
Occasionally,
the Testosterone Patch may become loose. If this occurs, simply
smooth the patch back directly to the skin with your fingertips. If
the patch completely falls off before lunchtime, simply apply a new
patch to replace the old one. If the patch falls off after lunchtime,
simply wait until the next scheduled time to apply a new patch.
One
important thing to note is that although Testosterone Replacement
Therapy is a highly effective treatment for Testosterone Deficiency,
it is not a cure. Testosterone Patches are intended to supplement or
replace your body's own natural Testosterone Production, and
Testosterone Levels naturally decline with age.
It is also
important to recognize that you need to continue to apply
Testosterone Patches even if you eventually feel perfectly healthy.
The benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy will gradually fade
over the course of weeks and months if you suspend treatment, and
your symptoms will eventually return. Don't halt Testosterone HRT
without discussing it with your physician.
How to
Apply a Testosterone Patch
One thing
that makes people really like Testosterone Patches is that they
produce very little mess and they are very easy to apply. In order to
apply a Testosterone Transdermal Patch, simply follow these
instructions:
Disinfect
and clean the area where you will apply the patch.
Take
a wrapped patch and tear the edge off the foil pouch. Don't open the
foil until you are absolutely ready to administer the patch.
The
Testosterone Patch itself will have a protective liner. Carefully
pull this liner off, as well as the protective silver patch. Simply
throw these away.
Carefully
take the patch and place it on the desired area with the sticky side
facing the skin. Press the patch against the skin firmly for the
next ten seconds. Before moving on with your day, inspect the patch,
making sure that is is entirely adhered to your skin, especially the
edges of the patch.
At
the end of the day, or when it is time to take off the patch, simply
pull it from the skin and toss it in a trash can or other waste
container. Make sure that the waste container is completely out of
reach of both pets and children. They can experience side-effects if
they play with or chew on the used patches.
After
throwing the old patch away safely, immediately apply a new patch to
a different area of the skin, using the same instructions.
Testosterone
Patch Precautions
Testosterone
Patches are a safe way to effectively supplement your hormone levels,
but there are some precautions that you should take when beginning or
continuing a Testosterone Replacement Patch Regimen.
Precautions
to Take before Using Testosterone Patches for the First Time:
A
small number of people are allergic to Testosterone, or other
medications related to Testosterone. Let your physician know.
Before
starting Testosterone Therapy, make sure that your physician and
your pharmacist are aware of all medications, herbal remedies,
nutritional supplements, and vitamins that you are currently taking.
Some of these products may impact the success or safety of your
Testosterone Replacement Regimen.
Be
especially sure to tell your physician if you take insulin or blood
thinners, because a sudden change in Testosterone Balance can impact
the effects of both of these types of medications. Testosterone
Replacement Therapy may necessitate a need to alter your medication
dose, or may require you to be a bit more vigilant regarding certain
side-effects.
Inform
your doctor if you have a personal or family history of prostate or
breast cancer. It is also important for your physician to know if
you have ever been diagnosed with liver disease, heart disease,
kidney disease, diabetes, or any blood disorders.
Unlike
other forms of Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy,
Testosterone Dermal Patches are only indicated for use in male
patients. Testosterone Patches are not formulated for women, and
they should not use Testosterone Patches.
It is
especially important for women that are currently pregnant or may
become pregnant to avoid any contact with these medications because
they can impact the health of the unborn child. Women that are
currently breast feeding should also avoid any form of Testosterone
Replacement Therapy because Testosterone may be able to pass to the
child through breast milk.
If
you have an appointment to undergo Magnetic Resonance Imaging, also
known as an MRI, inform your doctor because you will likely have to
remove the patch in order to safely undergo MRI Scanning.
Testosterone
is perfectly safe for sexual activity under most circumstances. The
likelihood of exposing your female partner with more than just trace
amounts of Testosterone is very unlikely. That being said, it is
important to contact a physician immediately if your partner shows
signs of being exposed to Testosterone, such as if she starts to
develop acne or if she experiences changes in hair growth.
With
Testosterone Patches, there is a risk of experiencing skin
irritation in the area where the patch is applied. There is no
reason to suspend therapy in the case that you experience slight
skin irritation, simply treat the area with a bit of hydrocortisone
cream after taking off the patch. It is also important to only use
hydrocortisone cream and not use the ointment form. If the skin does
not improve after hydrocortisone treatment, you should contact your
physician, and he or she will likely offer you a prescription form
treatment in order to prevent or eliminate skin irritation.
Are
there any dietary restrictions or recommendations associated with
Testosterone Replacement Therapy?
Under most
circumstances, there are no dietary restrictions or recommendations
with Testosterone Patches beyond sticking to a healthy diet in order
to maximize the health benefits of treatment. However, Testosterone
Hormone Replacement Therapy will safely restore Testosterone
Production even without any changes in diet or nutrition.
What If
I Forget to Apply a Patch on Time?
If you
forget to put on your Testosterone Patch for the day, simply apply
the patch as soon as you can. The only circumstance where you should
skip the dose is if it is nearly time to apply the next day's patch.
The most important thing to take note of is that you should never
apply more patches than prescribed in order to catch up for a missed
dose.
What
Side Effects Can Result from using Bio-Identical Testosterone
Patches?
As with
any form of Testosterone, there is always some risk of side-effects
associated with Testosterone Transdermal Patches. You may experience
these minor side-effects. If these side-effects become severe, or if
they remain persistent, please inform your doctor:
Burning
Hardness
Redness
Pain
Blisters
Itching
If you
experience the following symptoms, inform your physician, because you
may need to adjust your Testosterone Replacement Therapy. These
symptoms are not dangerous, and in many cases are only temporary:
Headache
Depression
Acne
Difficulty
Urinating
Frequent
Urinating
Depression
In rare
cases, you may experience more serious symptoms as a result of
Testosterone Treatment. These symptoms are very uncommon, but if you
do experience any of these symptoms, contact your physician
immediately:
Yellowing
Eyes or Skin
Increased
Experience of Erection
Erections
that Don't Go Away
Vomiting
Bloody
Vomit
Black
Vomit
Nausea
Ankle
Swelling
Tarry,
Black Stool
Bloody
Stool
Erections
that Happen More Than Usual or That Do Not Go Away
Severe
Itching
Hives
Rashes
Difficulty
Swallowing
Difficulty
Breathing
Please
note that this is not a definitive list of symptoms. Talk to your
physician to learn about the other risks that are potentially
associated with treatment.
Testosterone
Pills and other medications similar to Testosterone that are taken
orally for extended periods of time have the potential to cause
serious and life-threatening damage to the liver, and have also been
shown to contribute to liver cancer. There is no evidence that
current medical forms of Testosterone such as Testosterone Patches,
Creams, and Intramuscular Injections have any negative impact on the
health of the liver when used in therapeutic doses.
There is
no definitive evidence regarding the correlation between Testosterone
Replacement Therapy and an increased risk of Prostate Cancer.
Evidence suggests that Testosterone may exacerbate existing Prostate
Cancer under certain circumstances, and Testosterone HRT should not
be taken if you are currently experiencing Prostate Cancer.
Storage
and Disposal Recommendations for Testosterone Transdermal Patches
When
storing Testosterone Patches, keep the treatment in the container
that you received it in. Keep the container closed tightly, and put
the box somewhere safe and out of the reach of pets or children.
If
you no longer have a need for your Testosterone Patches or if the
medication has passed its expiration date, simply throw away the
patches. For more information regarding proper disposal, talk to
your physician.
What
Should You Do in the Case of Severe Testosterone Overdose?
If you
wear more Testosterone Patches than you have been prescribed, mix
different forms of Testosterone Replacement Therapy, or if you wear
patches for an excessive length of time, you may deliver an overdose
of Testosterone to your blood stream. If you do so, there is a chance
that you may experience significant symptoms.
If you
experience symptoms resulting from Testosterone Overdose, contact a
poison control center immediately. In the event that you are caring
for a victim that has stopped breathing or has otherwise collapsed,
call 911.
Symptoms of Testosterone Overdose:
Weakness
of Numbness of a Leg or Arm
Fainting
or Faintness
Slurred,
Slow, or Difficult Speech
Other
Important Testosterone Transdermal Patch Information
Semi-annual
medical appointments are an important part of any form of
Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Never skip a medical appointment
with your physician or the lab associated with your blood testing.
Throughout Testosterone Treatment, your physician will order
laboratory tests in order to ensure that you are responding
appropriately to the medical treatment.
When your
physician recommends that you undergo evaluation, always go to the
same medical clinic, because different labs often perform the same
diagnostic tests in slightly different ways that can impact the
results.
Testosterone
Patches and other forms of Testosterone Replacement Therapy can
impact the results of some types of lab testing. Before you undergo
any form of medical testing or diagnostic evaluation, inform your
physician and the specialists at the lab about your current
Testosterone Replacement Protocol.
Never let
anyone else try or make contact with your medication. Testosterone is
only intended for the treatment of clinically diagnosed Testosterone
Deficiency, and the use by healthy individuals significantly
increases the risk of experiencing side-effects.
General
Testosterone Transdermal Patch Information
Testosterone
Patches vs. Testosterone Gels
These
forms of therapy are both very easy to use and don't require much
preparation. Testosterone Patches do give a more streamlined dosage
of Testosterone through an entire 24 hour period than Testosterone
Gels. Testosterone Gels provide a fairly steady level of
Testosterone, but Testosterone Levels drop more quickly. Testosterone
Gels do involve a bit of mess, which may lead you to prefer
Testosterone Patches. Testosterone Gels are approved for use by
women. Testosterone Patches are not approved for women.
Testosterone
Patches vs. Testosterone Injections
Testosterone
Injections have three advantages over Testosterone Patches. First,
Testosterone Injections are cheaper than Testosterone Patches, which
may influence the decision of the more price-conscious patient.
Second, Testosterone Injections dosage can be titrated to provide a
very specific dosage. Testosterone Patches come in specific doses,
which generally start at 2 milligrams, which is why the patches
aren't approved for usage by women. Third, Testosterone Injections
only need to be administered every week to two weeks, whereas
Testosterone Patches must be applied daily.
Testosterone
Patches vs. Testosterone Pellets
Testosterone
Pellets have the advantage of being the most cost effective form of
Testosterone Hormone Replacement Therapy, costing between $230-$500
per dose. A single dose lasts three to four months for women and four
to five months for women. They supply an incredibly steady level of
Testosterone as they dissolve underneath the skin, making them
slightly more steady than Testosterone Patches. Testosterone Pellets
are inserted using a slightly invasive yet minor out-patient surgery.
How
Much do Testosterone Patches Cost?
Testosterone
Pellets and Injections are the cheapest forms of therapy as of today.
Testosterone Injections cost around $100-$200 per month. Testosterone
Patches and Testosterone Creams both cost $200-$500 per month. The
reason that these forms of treatment are more expensive is that they
are still patented medications. Once these treatments go generic, the
price will drop.
Testosterone
Patches have a number of advantages over Testosterone Injections.
First, there is very little prep and no pain associated with use of
Testosterone Patches. Some people may wish to avoid needles, or would
simply like to avoid the mild pain associated with Testosterone
Injections. Testosterone Patches are much easier to use. Testosterone
Patches also provide a very steady level of Testosterone over time,
whereas Testosterone Injections have a higher level of variation
between doses.
Testosterone
Patch Dosage
The normal
initial dose for many forms of Testosterone Replacement Therapy is
four milligrams of Testosterone per day, applied every evening and
kept on the skin for a full 24 hour period. After two weeks of
treatment, Testosterone Levels will be checked in the morning after
the treatment was applied the night before. At this point, the
treatment dosage will be adjusted if needed in order for Serum
Testosterone Levels to reach a point between 400-930 nanograms per
deciliter by increasing the dosage to six milligrams or reducing the
dose to two milligrams. Certain treatment providers may provide more
specific levels of patch dosage.
How to
Get Testosterone Patches
Testosterone
Patches can be acquired via prescription for the treatment of
Testosterone Deficiency. The Conscious Evolution Institute offers
many forms of Testosterone Replacement Therapy, including
Testosterone Patches, Testosterone Creams, and Testosterone
Injections. The Conscious Evolution Institute offers fast and
efficient diagnosis and prescription for various forms of Hormone
Replacement Therapy including Testosterone HRT, Sermorelin Acetate
HRT, and Human Growth Hormone HRT.
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