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Methyltestosterone

Also indexed as: Android®, Testosterone Cypionate, Testred®, Virilon®

Combination drug: Estratest®/Estratest HS®

Methyltestosterone is a hormone used in men to treat testosterone deficiency, and in women to treat breast cancer, as well as breast pain and swelling following pregnancy. It is also combined with estrogen (Estratest®) to treat symptoms associated with menopause.

Interactions with Dietary Supplements

Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene
A 59-year-old man developed an inability to see well at night following treatment with methyltestosterone.1 Laboratory tests revealed low blood levels of vitamin A and beta-carotene, which may have resulted from taking the drug. More research is needed to determine if vitamin A and beta-carotene supplementation is required for people taking methyltestosterone.

Zinc
Taking methyltestosterone increased the amount of zinc in the blood and hair of boys with short stature or growth retardation.2 It is not known whether this increase would occur in other people or whether zinc supplementation by people taking methyltestosterone would result in zinc toxicity. Until more is known, zinc supplementation should be combined with methyltestosterone therapy only under the supervision of a doctor.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
DHEA supplementation has been shown to increase blood levels of testosterone,3 4 5 as does methyltestosterone. No studies have investigated the possible additive effects of taking DHEA and methyltestosterone, but either increased drug effectiveness or more severe side effects are possible. Until more is known, these agents should be combined only under the supervision of a doctor.

Androstenedione (Andro)
Andro supplementation has been shown to increase blood levels of testosterone in women,6 but not in men.7 No studies have investigated the possible additive effects of taking andro and methyltestosterone, but either increased drug effectiveness or more severe side effects are possible. Until more is known, these agents should be combined only under the supervision of a doctor.

Summary of Interactions for Methyltestosterone

Depletion or interference Beta-carotene*
Vitamin A*
Adverse interaction Zinc
Side effect reduction/prevention None known
Supportive interaction None known
Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability None known
Other (see text) Androstenedione (Andro)*
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)*

For the convenience of the reader, the information in the summary is categorized as follows: “Depletion or interference” indicates the drug may deplete or interfere with the absorption or function of the supplement or herb. “Adverse interaction” indicates that the supplement or herb used together with the drug may result in undesirable effects. “Side effect reduction/prevention” indicates the supplement or herb may reduce the likelihood and/or severity of a potential side effect caused by the drug. “Supportive interaction” indicates the supplement or herb may support or aid the function of the drug. “Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability” indicates that the supplement or herb may decrease the absorption and/or activity of the drug in the body. An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

References:

1. Nisbett SB, Parker JA, Habal F. Methyltestosterone-induced night blindness. Can J Ophthalmol 1985;20:254–6.

2. Castro-Magana M, Collipp PJ, Chen SY et al. Zinc nutritional status, androgens, and growth retardation. Am J Dis Child 1981;135:322–5.

3. Wolf OT, Neumann O, Hellhammer DH, et al. Effects of a two-week physiological dehydroepiandrosterone substitution on cognitive performance and well-being in healthy elderly women and men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997;82:2263–7.

4. Labrie F, Belanger A, Simard J, et al. DHEA and peripheral androgen and estrogen formation: Intracinology. Ann NY Acad Sci 1995;774:16–28.

5. Morales AJ, Nolan JJ, Nelson JC, Yen SSC. Effects of replacement dose of DHEA in men and women of advancing age. J Clin Endorcrionol Metab 1994;78:1360.

6. Mahesh VB, Greenblatt RB. The in vivo conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione to testosterone in the human. Acta Endocrinologica 1962;41:400–6.

7. King DS, Sharp RL, Vukovich MD, et al. Effect of oral androstenedione on serum testosterone and adaptations to resistance training in young men: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 1999;281:2020–8.