TESTOGEL 40.5 mg, transdermal gel in sachet

TESTOGEL 40.5 mg is indicated in adults as testosterone replacement therapy for male hypogonadism when testosterone deficiency has been confirmed by clinical features and biochemical tests (see 4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use).

Posology

Adult and Elderly men

Each sachet provides a dose of 2.5 g of gel (i.e. 40.5 mg of testosterone). The entire contents of one sachet should be applied once daily at about the same time, preferably in the morning. The daily dose should be adjusted up or down by the physician depending on the clinical or laboratory response in individual patients,not exceeding 81 mg of testosterone per day (2 sachets i.e. 5 g of gel). The adjustment of posology should be achieved by approximately 1.25 g of gel (half sachet) steps.

Steady state plasma testosterone concentrations are reached approximately on the 2^nd day of treatment with this medicine In order to adjust the testosterone dose, serum testosterone concentrations must be measured in the morning before application from the 3^rd day on after starting treatment (one week seems reasonable).

Patient suffering from severe renal or hepatic insufficiency

Please see section 4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use.

Paediatric population

The safety and efficacy of this medicine in males under 18 years have not been established.

No data are available.

Method of administration

Transdermal use.

The application should be administered by the patient himself, onto clean, dry, healthy skin over right and left upper arms and shoulders.

After opening the sachets, the total contents must be extracted from the sachet and applied immediately onto the skin. The gel should be simply spread on the skin gently as a thin layer. It is not necessary to rub it on the skin. Allow the gel to dry for at least 3-5 minutes before dressing. Wash hands with soap and water after each application.

Do not apply to the genital areas as the high alcohol content may cause local irritation.

This medicine is contraindicated:

- in cases of known or suspected prostatic cancer or breast carcinoma,

- in cases of known hypersensitivity to the active substance or any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.

This medicine should be used only if hypogonadism (hyper- and hypogonadotrophic) has been demonstrated and if other etiology, responsible for the symptoms, has been excluded before treatment is started. Testosterone insufficiency should be clearly demonstrated by clinical features (regression of secondary sexual characteristics, change in body composition, asthenia, reduced libido, erectile dysfunction etc.) and confirmed by 2 separate blood testosterone measurements. Currently, there is no consensus about age specific testosterone reference values. However, it should be taken into account that physiologically testosterone serum levels are lower with increasing age.

Due to variability in laboratory values, all measures of testosterone should be carried out in the same laboratory.

Prior to testosterone initiation, all patients should undergo a detailed examination in order to exclude a risk of pre-existing prostatic cancer. Careful and regular monitoring of the prostate gland and breast must be performed in accordance with recommended methods (digital rectal examination and estimation of serum PSA) in patients receiving testosterone therapy at least once yearly and twice yearly in elderly patients and at-risk patients (those with clinical or familial factors).

Androgens may accelerate the progression of sub-clinical prostatic cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

This medicine should be used with caution in cancer patients at risk of hypercalcaemia (and associated hypercalciuria), due to bone metastases. Regular monitoring of serum calcium concentrations is recommended in these patients.

In patients suffering from severe cardiac, hepatic or renal insufficiency or ischaemic heart disease, treatment with testosterone may cause severe complications characterised by oedema with or without congestive cardiac failure. In such case, treatment must be stopped immediately.

Testosterone may cause a rise in blood pressure and this medicine should be used with caution in men with hypertension.

Testosterone should be used with caution in patients with thrombophilia or risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE), as there have been post-marketing studies and reports of thrombotic events (e.g. deep-vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, ocular thrombosis) in these patients during testosterone therapy. In thrombophilic patients, VTE cases have been reported even under anticoagulation treatment, therefore continuing testosterone treatment after first thrombotic event should be carefully evaluated. In case of treatment continuation, further measures should be taken to minimise the individual VTE risk.

Testosterone level should be monitored at baseline and at regular intervals during treatment. Clinicians should adjust the dosage individually to ensure maintenance of eugonadal testosterone levels.

In patients receiving long-term androgen therapy, the following laboratory parameters should also be monitored regularly: haemoglobin, and haematocrit (to detect polycythaemia), liver function tests, and lipid profile.

There is limited experience on the safety and efficacy of the use of this medicine in patients over 65 years of age. Currently, there is no consensus about age specific testosterone reference values. However, it should be taken into account that physiologically testosterone serum levels are lower with increasing age.

This medicine should be used with caution in patients with epilepsy and migraine as these conditions may be aggravated.

There are published reports of increased risk of sleep apnoea in hypogonadal subjects treated with testosterone esters, especially in those with risk factors such as obesity and chronic respiratory disease.

Improved insulin sensitivity may be observed in patients treated with androgens and may require a descrease in the dose of antidiabetic medications (see section 4.5). Monitoring of the glucose level and HbA1c is advised for patients treated with androgens.

Certain clinical signs: irritability, nervousness, weight gain, prolonged or frequent erections may indicate excessive androgen exposure requiring dosage adjustment.

If the patient develops a severe application site reaction, treatment should be reviewed and discontinued if necessary.

With large doses of exogenous androgens, spermatogenesis may be suppressed through feedback inhibition of pituitary follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) which could possibly lead to adverse effects on semen parameters including sperm count.

Gynecomastia occasionally develops and occasionally persists in patients being treated with androgens for hypogonadism.

This medicine should not be used by women, due to possible virilizing effects.

The attention of athletes is drawn to the fact that this proprietary medicinal product contains an active substance (testosterone) which may produce a positive reaction in anti-doping tests.

Potential testosterone transfer

Testosterone gel can be transferred to other persons by close skin to skin contact at any time after dosing, resulting in increased testosterone serum levels and possibly adverse effects (e.g. growth of facial and/or body hair, deepening of the voice, irregularities of the menstrual cycle in women and premature puberty and genital enlargement in children) in the event of repeated contact (inadvertent androgenisation). If virilisation occurs, testosterone therapy should be promptly discontinued until the cause has been identified.

The physician should inform the patient carefully about the risk of testosterone transfer, for instance during close bodily contact between individuals including children and about safety instructions (see below).

When prescribing, the treating physician should give extra attention to the section in the SmPC “ Potential testosterone transfer” to patients with a major risk of not being able to follow these instructions.

The following precautions are recommended:

For the patient:

- wash hands with soap and water after applying the gel

- cover the application area with clothing once the gel has dried

- wash the application area before any situation in which close contact is foreseen

For people not being treated with this medicine :

- in the event of adventitious contact with this medicine the person affected should wash the affected area with soap and water, immediately

- report the development of signs of excessive androgen exposure such as acne or hair modification.

Patients should wait at least 1 hour before showering or bathing after applying this medicine.

Pregnant women must avoid any contact with this medicine application sites. In case of pregnancy of the partner, the patient must reinforce his attention to the precautions for use (see section 4.6).

This medicine contains 1.81 g alcohol (ethanol) in each sachet.

It may cause burning sensation on damaged skin.

This product is flammable until dry.

Oral anticoagulants

Due to changes in anticoagulant activity (increased effect of the oral anticoagulant by modification of hepatic synthesis of coagulation factor and competitive inhibition of plasma protein binding) increased monitoring of the prothrombin time and international normalized ratio (INR) are recommended. Patients receiving oral anticoagulants require close monitoring especially when androgens are started or stopped.

Corticosteroids

Concomitant administration of testosterone and ACTH or corticosteroids may increase the risk of developing oedema. As a result, these medicinal products should be administered cautiously, particularly in patients suffering from cardiac, renal or hepatic disease.

Laboratory tests

Interaction with laboratory tests: androgens may decrease levels of thyroxin binding globulin, resulting in decreased T₄ serum concentrations and in increased resin uptake of T₃ and T₄. Free thyroid hormone levels, however, remain unchanged and there is no clinical evidence of thyroid insufficiency.

Diabetic medication

Improved insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance, glycaemic control, blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin levels have been reported with androgens. In diabetic patients, the dose of antidiabetic medications may need reduction (see section 4.4).

The application of sunscreen or lotion does not reduce efficacy.

Pregnancy

This medicine is intended for use by men only.

This medicine is not indicated in pregnant women, due to potential virilising effects of the foetus.

Pregnant women must avoid any contact with this medicine'sapplication sites (see section 4.4). In the event of contact, wash with soap and water as soon as possible.

Breast-feeding

This medicine is not indicated in women who are breast-feeding.

Fertility

Spermatogenesis may be reversibly suppressed with this medicine.

This medicine has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines.

a. Summary of the safety profile

The most frequently observed adverse drug reactions at the recommended dosage of gel per day were skin reactions: reaction at the application site, erythema, acne, dry skin.

b. Tabulated list of adverse reactions

Clinical trial data

Adverse drug reactions reported in 1 - <10% of patients treated with this medicine in the controlled clinical trials are listed in the following table:

Adverse effects have been ranked under headings of frequency using the following convention: very common (≥ 1/10); common (≥ 1/100; <1/10); uncommon (≥ 1/1,000;<1/100); rare (≥ 1/10,000;<1/1,000); very rare (<1/10,000); frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

Post-marketing experience

The following table includes adverse reactions identified during post-approval use of this medicine in addition to other known undesirable effects reported in the literature following testosterone oral, injectable or transdermal treatment.

Adverse effects have been ranked under headings of frequency using the following convention: very common (≥ 1/10); common (≥ 1/100; <1/10); uncommon (≥ 1/1,000;<1/100); rare (≥ 1/10,000;<1/1,000); very rare (<1/10,000); frequency not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

Symptoms

Serum testosterone levels should be measured if clinical signs and symptoms indicative of overexposure to androgen are observed. Application site rash has also been reported in case reports of overdose with this medicine .

Management

Treatment of overdose consists of washing the application site immediately and discontinuing treatment if advised by the treating physician.

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Androgens. ATC code: G03B A03.

Mechanism of action

Endogenous androgens, principally testosterone, secreted by the testes and its major metabolite DHT, are responsible for the development of the external and internal genital organs and for maintaining the secondary sexual characteristics (stimulating hair growth, deepening of the voice, development of the libido); for a general effect on protein anabolism; for development of skeletal muscle and body fat distribution; for a reduction in urinary nitrogen, sodium, potassium, chloride, phosphate and water excretion.

Testosterone does not produce testicular development: it reduces the pituitary secretion of gonadotropins.

Pharmacodynamic effects

The effects of testosterone in some target organs arise after peripheral conversion of testosterone to estradiol, which then binds to oestrogen receptors in the target cell nucleus e.g. the pituitary, fat, brain, bone and testicular Leydig cells.

Absorption

The percutaneous absorption of testosterone after administration of this medicine lies between 1% and 8.5%.

Following percutaneous absorption, testosterone diffuses into the systemic circulation at relatively constant concentrations during the 24-hour cycle.

Distribution

Serum testosterone concentrations increase from the first hour after an application, reaching steady state from day two. Daily changes in testosterone concentrations are then of similar amplitude to those observed during the circadian rhythm of endogenous testosterone. The percutaneous route therefore avoids the blood distribution peaks produced by injections. It does not produce supra-physiological hepatic concentrations of the steroid in contrast to oral androgen therapy.

Biotransformation

Administration of 5 g of this medicine produces an average testosterone concentration increase of approximately 2.3 ng/mL(8.0nmol/L) in plasma.

When treatment is stopped, testosterone concentrations start decreasing approximately 24 hours after the last dose. Concentrations return to baseline approximately 72 to 96 hours after the final dose.

The major active metabolites of testosterone are dihydrotestosterone and estradiol.

Elimination

Testosterone is excreted, mostly in urine, and in faeces as conjugated testosterone metabolites.

Testosterone has been found to be non-mutagenic in vitro using the reverse mutation model (Ames test) or hamster ovary cells. A relationship between androgen treatment and certain cancers has been found in studies on laboratory animals. Experimental data in rats have shown increased incidences of prostate cancer after treatment with testosterone.

Sex hormones are known to facilitate the development of certain tumours induced by known carcinogenic agents. The importance of these findings and the actual risk in human beings is unknown.

The administration of exogenous testosterone has been reported to suppress spermatogenesis in the rat, dog and non-human primates, which was reversible on cessation of the treatment. Testosterone has a masculinising effect on the female foetus when administered to pregnant animals during organogenesis.

Carbomer

Isopropyl myristate

Ethanol

Sodium hydroxide

Water

Not applicable.

3 years.

This medicinal product does not require any special storage conditions.

2.5 g in sachet (PET/Aluminium/LDPE).

Boxes of 1, 2, 7, 10, 14, 28, 30, 50, 60, 90 or 100 sachets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Any unused medicinal product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.