AndroGel Dosage

Generic name: TESTOSTERONE 16.2mg in 1g
Dosage form: gel
Drug class: Androgens and anabolic steroids

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 20, 2023.

Dosage and Administration for AndroGel 1.62% differs from AndroGel 1%. For dosage and administration of AndroGel 1% refer to its full prescribing information. (2)

Prior to initiating AndroGel 1.62%, confirm the diagnosis of hypogonadism by ensuring that serum testosterone concentrations have been measured in the morning on at least two separate days and that these serum testosterone concentrations are below the normal range.

2.1 Dosing and Dose Adjustment

The recommended starting dose of AndroGel 1.62% is 40.5 mg of testosterone (2 pump actuations or a single 40.5 mg packet) applied topically once daily in the morning to the shoulders and upper arms.

The dose can be adjusted between a minimum of 20.25 mg of testosterone (1 pump actuation or a single 20.25 mg packet) and a maximum of 81 mg of testosterone (4 pump actuations or two 40.5 mg packets). To ensure proper dosing, the dose should be titrated based on the pre-dose morning serum testosterone concentration from a single blood draw at approximately 14 days and 28 days after starting treatment or following dose adjustment. In addition, serum testosterone concentration should be assessed periodically thereafter. Table 1 describes the dose adjustments required at each titration step.

Table 1: Dose Adjustment Criteria

Pre-Dose Morning Total Serum Testosterone Concentration	Dose Titration
Greater than 750 ng/dL	Decrease daily dose by 20.25 mg (1 pump actuation or the equivalent of one 20.25 mg packet)
Equal to or greater than 350 and equal to or less than 750 ng/dL	No change: continue on current dose
Less than 350 ng/dL	Increase daily dose by 20.25 mg (1 pump actuation or the equivalent of one 20.25 mg packet)

The application site and dose of AndroGel 1.62% are not interchangeable with other topical testosterone products.

2.2 Administration Instructions

AndroGel 1.62% should be applied to clean, dry, intact skin of the upper arms and shoulders. Do not apply AndroGel 1.62% to any other parts of the body, including the abdomen, genitals, chest, armpits (axillae), or knees [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. Area of application should be limited to the area that will be covered by the patient's short sleeve t-shirt. Patients should be instructed to use the palm of the hand to apply AndroGel 1.62% and spread across the maximum surface area as directed in Table 2 (for pump) and Table 3 (for packets) and in Figure 1.

Table 2: Application Sites for AndroGel 1.62%, Pump

Total Dose of Testosterone	Total Pump Actuations	Pump Actuations Per Upper Arm and Shoulder
		Upper Arm and Shoulder #1	Upper Arm and Shoulder #2
20.25 mg	1	1	0
40.5 mg	2	1	1
60.75 mg	3	2	1
81 mg	4	2	2

Table 3: Application Sites for AndroGel 1.62%, Packets

Total Dose of Testosterone	Total packets	Gel Applications Per Upper Arm and Shoulder
		Upper Arm and Shoulder #1	Upper Arm and Shoulder #2
20.25 mg	One 20.25 mg packet	One 20.25 mg packet	0
40.5 mg	One 40.5 mg packet	Half of contents of One 40.5 mg packet	Half of contents of One 40.5 mg packet
60.75 mg	One 20.25 mg packet AND One 40.5 mg packet	One 40.5 mg packet	One 20.25 mg packet
81 mg	Two 40.5 mg packets	One 40.5 mg packet	One 40.5 mg packet

The prescribed daily dose of AndroGel 1.62% should be applied to the right and left upper arms and shoulders as shown in the shaded areas in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Application Sites for AndroGel 1.62%

Once the application site is dry, the site should be covered with clothing [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. Avoid fire, flames or smoking until the gel has dried since alcohol based products, including AndroGel 1.62%, are flammable.

The patient should avoid swimming or showering or washing the administration site for a minimum of 2 hours after application [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

To obtain a full first dose, it is necessary to prime the canister pump. To do so, with the canister in the upright position, slowly and fully depress the actuator three times. Safely discard the gel from the first three actuations. It is only necessary to prime the pump before the first dose.

After the priming procedure, fully depress the actuator once for every 20.25 mg of AndroGel 1.62%. AndroGel 1.62% should be delivered directly into the palm of the hand and then applied to the application sites.

When using packets, the entire contents should be squeezed into the palm of the hand and immediately applied to the application sites. When 40.5 mg packets need to be split between the left and right shoulder, patients may squeeze a portion of the gel from the packet into the palm of the hand and apply to application sites. Repeat until entire contents have been applied. Alternatively, AndroGel 1.62% can be applied directly to the application sites from the pump or packets.

Strict adherence to the following precautions is advised in order to minimize the potential for secondary exposure to testosterone from AndroGel 1.62%-treated skin:

Children and women should avoid contact with unwashed or unclothed application site(s) of men using AndroGel 1.62%.
AndroGel 1.62% should only be applied to the upper arms and shoulders. The area of application should be limited to the area that will be covered by a short sleeve t-shirt.
Patients should wash their hands with soap and water immediately after applying AndroGel 1.62%.
Patients should cover the application site(s) with clothing (e.g., a t-shirt) after the gel has dried.
Prior to situations in which direct skin-to-skin contact is anticipated, patients should wash the application site(s) thoroughly with soap and water to remove any testosterone residue.
In the event that unwashed or unclothed skin to which AndroGel 1.62% has been applied comes in direct contact with the skin of another person, the general area of contact on the other person should be washed with soap and water as soon as possible.