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| Trade names | Agoviron, Android, Metandren, Oraviron, Oreton, Testovis, Testred, Virilon, others |
| Other names | RU-24400; NSC-9701; 17α-Methyltestosterone; 17α-Methylandrost-4-en-17β-ol-3-one[1][2][3] |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
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| Routes of administration | By mouth,buccal,sublingual[4][5][6] |
| Drug class | Androgen;Anabolic steroid |
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| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | ~70%[8] |
| Protein binding | 98%[9] |
| Metabolism | Liver |
| Eliminationhalf-life | 150 minutes (~2.5–3 hours)[8][10] |
| Duration of action | 1–3 days[9] |
| Excretion | Urine: 90%[9] Feces: 6%[9][11] |
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.000.333 |
| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C20H30O2 |
| Molar mass | 302.458 g·mol−1 |
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Methyltestosterone, sold under the brand namesAndroid,Metandren, andTestred among others, is anandrogen andanabolic steroid (AAS) medication which is used in the treatment oflow testosterone levels in men,delayed puberty in boys, at low doses as a component ofmenopausal hormone therapy formenopausalsymptoms likehot flashes,osteoporosis, andlow sexual desire in women, and to treatbreast cancer in women.[4][5][12][13][14] It is takenby mouth or heldin the cheek orunder the tongue.[4][13][14][6]
Side effects of methyltestosterone includesymptoms ofmasculinization likeacne,increased hair growth,voice changes, and increasedsexual desire.[4] It can also causeestrogenic effects likefluid retention,breast tenderness, andbreast enlargement in men andliver damage.[4] The drug is asynthetic androgen and anabolic steroid and hence is anagonist of theandrogen receptor (AR), thebiological target of androgens liketestosterone anddihydrotestosterone (DHT).[4][15] It has moderateandrogenic effects and moderateanabolic effects, which make it useful for producing masculinization.[4][16]
Methyltestosterone was discovered in 1935 and was introduced for medical use in 1936.[6][17][18][19][4] It wasmade shortly after the discovery oftestosterone and was one of the first synthetic AAS to be developed.[6][17][18] In addition to its medical use, methyltestosterone is used toimprove physique and performance, although it is not as commonly used as other AAS for such purposes due to its androgenic effects, estrogenic effects, and risk of liver damage.[4] The drug is acontrolled substance in many countries and so non-medical use is generally illicit.[4]
Methyltestosterone is or has been used in the treatment ofdelayed puberty,hypogonadism,cryptorchidism, anderectile dysfunction in males, and in low doses to treatmenopausal symptoms (specifically forosteoporosis,hot flashes, and to increaselibido andenergy),postpartumbreast pain andengorgement, andbreast cancer in women.[4][5][12] It is specifically approved in theUnited States for the treatment of hypogonadism and delayed puberty in males and the treatment of advanced inoperable breast cancer in females.[13] It was also approved in low dosesin combination with esterified estrogens for the treatment of moderate to severevasomotorsymptoms associated withmenopause in women in the United States, but this formulation was discontinued and hence is no longer used.[14]
Methyltestosterone is less effective in inducing masculinization than testosterone, but is useful for maintaining established masculinization in adults.[20]
The dosages of methyltestosterone used are 10 to 50 mg/day in men for common medical uses like hypogonadism and delayed puberty as well as physique- and performance-enhancing purposes and 2.5 mg/day in women for menopausal symptoms.[4] Higher dosages of 50 to 200 mg/day have been used to treat women with inoperable breast cancer that has failed to respond to other therapies, although such dosages are associated with severe irreversible virilization.[4]
| Route | Medication | Major brand names | Form | Dosage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | Testosteronea | – | Tablet | 400–800 mg/day (in divided doses) |
| Testosterone undecanoate | Andriol, Jatenzo | Capsule | 40–80 mg/2–4× day (with meals) | |
| Methyltestosteroneb | Android, Metandren, Testred | Tablet | 10–50 mg/day | |
| Fluoxymesteroneb | Halotestin, Ora-Testryl, Ultandren | Tablet | 5–20 mg/day | |
| Metandienoneb | Dianabol | Tablet | 5–15 mg/day | |
| Mesteroloneb | Proviron | Tablet | 25–150 mg/day | |
| Sublingual | Testosteroneb | Testoral | Tablet | 5–10 mg 1–4×/day |
| Methyltestosteroneb | Metandren, Oreton Methyl | Tablet | 10–30 mg/day | |
| Buccal | Testosterone | Striant | Tablet | 30 mg 2×/day |
| Methyltestosteroneb | Metandren, Oreton Methyl | Tablet | 5–25 mg/day | |
| Transdermal | Testosterone | AndroGel, Testim, TestoGel | Gel | 25–125 mg/day |
| Androderm, AndroPatch, TestoPatch | Non-scrotal patch | 2.5–15 mg/day | ||
| Testoderm | Scrotal patch | 4–6 mg/day | ||
| Axiron | Axillary solution | 30–120 mg/day | ||
| Androstanolone (DHT) | Andractim | Gel | 100–250 mg/day | |
| Rectal | Testosterone | Rektandron, Testosteronb | Suppository | 40 mg 2–3×/day |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection orSCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Testosterone | Andronaq, Sterotate, Virosterone | Aqueous suspension | 10–50 mg 2–3×/week |
| Testosterone propionateb | Testoviron | Oil solution | 10–50 mg 2–3×/week | |
| Testosterone enanthate | Delatestryl | Oil solution | 50–250 mg 1x/1–4 weeks | |
| Xyosted | Auto-injector | 50–100 mg 1×/week | ||
| Testosterone cypionate | Depo-Testosterone | Oil solution | 50–250 mg 1x/1–4 weeks | |
| Testosterone isobutyrate | Agovirin Depot | Aqueous suspension | 50–100 mg 1x/1–2 weeks | |
| Testosterone phenylacetateb | Perandren, Androject | Oil solution | 50–200 mg 1×/3–5 weeks | |
| Mixed testosterone esters | Sustanon 100, Sustanon 250 | Oil solution | 50–250 mg 1×/2–4 weeks | |
| Testosterone undecanoate | Aveed, Nebido | Oil solution | 750–1,000 mg 1×/10–14 weeks | |
| Testosterone buciclatea | – | Aqueous suspension | 600–1,000 mg 1×/12–20 weeks | |
| Implant | Testosterone | Testopel | Pellet | 150–1,200 mg/3–6 months |
| Notes: Men produce about 3 to 11 mg of testosterone per day (mean 7 mg/day in young men).Footnotes:a = Never marketed.b = No longer used and/or no longer marketed.Sources: See template. | ||||
| Route | Medication | Major brand names | Form | Dosage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | Testosterone undecanoate | Andriol, Jatenzo | Capsule | 40–80 mg 1x/1–2 days |
| Methyltestosterone | Metandren, Estratest | Tablet | 0.5–10 mg/day | |
| Fluoxymesterone | Halotestin | Tablet | 1–2.5 mg 1x/1–2 days | |
| Normethandronea | Ginecoside | Tablet | 5 mg/day | |
| Tibolone | Livial | Tablet | 1.25–2.5 mg/day | |
| Prasterone (DHEA)b | – | Tablet | 10–100 mg/day | |
| Sublingual | Methyltestosterone | Metandren | Tablet | 0.25 mg/day |
| Transdermal | Testosterone | Intrinsa | Patch | 150–300 μg/day |
| AndroGel | Gel, cream | 1–10 mg/day | ||
| Vaginal | Prasterone (DHEA) | Intrarosa | Insert | 6.5 mg/day |
| Injection | Testosterone propionatea | Testoviron | Oil solution | 25 mg 1x/1–2 weeks |
| Testosterone enanthate | Delatestryl, Primodian Depot | Oil solution | 25–100 mg 1x/4–6 weeks | |
| Testosterone cypionate | Depo-Testosterone, Depo-Testadiol | Oil solution | 25–100 mg 1x/4–6 weeks | |
| Testosterone isobutyratea | Femandren M, Folivirin | Aqueous suspension | 25–50 mg 1x/4–6 weeks | |
| Mixed testosterone esters | Climacterona | Oil solution | 150 mg 1x/4–8 weeks | |
| Omnadren, Sustanon | Oil solution | 50–100 mg 1x/4–6 weeks | ||
| Nandrolone decanoate | Deca-Durabolin | Oil solution | 25–50 mg 1x/6–12 weeks | |
| Prasterone enanthatea | Gynodian Depot | Oil solution | 200 mg 1x/4–6 weeks | |
| Implant | Testosterone | Testopel | Pellet | 50–100 mg 1x/3–6 months |
| Notes:Premenopausal women produce about 230 ± 70 μgtestosterone per day (6.4 ± 2.0 mg testosterone per 4 weeks), with a range of 130 to 330 μg per day (3.6–9.2 mg per 4 weeks).Footnotes:a = Mostly discontinued or unavailable.b =Over-the-counter.Sources: See template. | ||||
| Route | Medication | Form | Dosage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral | Methyltestosterone | Tablet | 30–200 mg/day | |
| Fluoxymesterone | Tablet | 10–40 mg 3x/day | ||
| Calusterone | Tablet | 40–80 mg 4x/day | ||
| Normethandrone | Tablet | 40 mg/day | ||
| Buccal | Methyltestosterone | Tablet | 25–100 mg/day | |
| Injection (IMTooltip intramuscular injection orSCTooltip subcutaneous injection) | Testosterone propionate | Oil solution | 50–100 mg 3x/week | |
| Testosterone enanthate | Oil solution | 200–400 mg 1x/2–4 weeks | ||
| Testosterone cypionate | Oil solution | 200–400 mg 1x/2–4 weeks | ||
| Mixed testosterone esters | Oil solution | 250 mg 1x/week | ||
| Methandriol | Aqueous suspension | 100 mg 3x/week | ||
| Androstanolone (DHT) | Aqueous suspension | 300 mg 3x/week | ||
| Drostanolone propionate | Oil solution | 100 mg 1–3x/week | ||
| Metenolone enanthate | Oil solution | 400 mg 3x/week | ||
| Nandrolone decanoate | Oil solution | 50–100 mg 1x/1–3 weeks | ||
| Nandrolone phenylpropionate | Oil solution | 50–100 mg/week | ||
| Note: Dosages are not necessarily equivalent.Sources: See template. | ||||
Methyltestosterone is used forphysique- and performance-enhancing purposes bycompetitiveathletes,bodybuilders, andpowerlifters, although it is not commonly used relative to other AAS for such purposes.[4]
Methyltestosterone is typically used as an oral medication.[6] It is also available under the brand names Metandren and Oreton Methyl for use specifically bybuccal orsublingual administration.[6][21] Methyltestosterone is available in the form of 2, 5, 10, and 25 mg oral tablets.[22][23] It was also available in combination with estrogens asesterified estrogens/methyltestosterone (0.625 mg/1.25 mg, 1.25 mg/2.5 mg) andconjugated estrogens/methyltestosterone (0.625 mg/5.0 mg, 1.25 mg/10 mg).[22]
Methyltestosterone should be used with caution in women and children, as it can cause irreversible virilization.[4] Due to its estrogenicity, methyltestosterone can also accelerateepiphyseal closure and thereby produceshort stature in children and adolescents.[4] It can worsen symptoms in men withbenign prostatic hyperplasia.[4] Methyltestosterone should not be used in men withprostate cancer, as androgens can acceleratetumor progression.[4] The drug should be used with caution in patients with pre-existinghepatotoxicity, due to its own potential for hepatotoxicity.[4]
Adverse effects of methyltestosterone includeandrogenic side effects likeoily skin,acne,seborrhea, increasedfacial/body hairgrowth,scalp hair loss, increasedaggressiveness andsex drive, andspontaneous erections, as well asestrogenic side effects likebreast tenderness,gynecomastia,fluid retention, andedema.[4][24] In women, methyltestosterone can cause partially irreversiblevirilization, for instancevoice deepening,hirsutism,clitoromegaly,breast atrophy, andmuscle hypertrophy, as well asmenstrual disturbances and reversibleinfertility.[4][24] In men, the drug may also causehypogonadism,testicular atrophy, and reversible infertility at sufficiently high dosages.[4][24]
Methyltestosterone can sometimes causehepatotoxicity, for instanceelevated liver enzymes,cholestatic jaundice,peliosis hepatis,hepatomas, andhepatocellular carcinoma, with extended use.[4][24][25] It can also have adverse effects on thecardiovascular system.[4] AAS like methyltestosterone stimulateerythropoiesis (red blood cell production) and increasehematocrit levels and at high dosages can causepolycythemia (overproduction of red blood cells), which can greatly increase the risk ofthrombic events such asembolism andstroke.[4] With long-term treatment, AAS can increase the risk ofbenign prostatic hyperplasia andprostate cancer.[4]Violent and evenhomicidal behavior,hypomania/mania,depression,suicidality,delusions, andpsychosis have all been associated with very high dosages of AAS.[26]
Aromatase inhibitors can be used to reduce or prevent theestrogenic effects of methyltestosterone and5α-reductase inhibitors can be used to reduce its virilizing effects and thereby improve its ratio ofanabolic toandrogenic activity and reduce its rate of androgenicside effects.[4]
| Medication | Ratioa |
|---|---|
| Testosterone | ~1:1 |
| Androstanolone (DHT) | ~1:1 |
| Methyltestosterone | ~1:1 |
| Methandriol | ~1:1 |
| Fluoxymesterone | 1:1–1:15 |
| Metandienone | 1:1–1:8 |
| Drostanolone | 1:3–1:4 |
| Metenolone | 1:2–1:3 |
| Oxymetholone | 1:2–1:9 |
| Oxandrolone | 1:13–1:3 |
| Stanozolol | 1:1–1:3 |
| Nandrolone | 1:3–1:16 |
| Ethylestrenol | 1:2–1:19 |
| Norethandrolone | 1:1–1:2 |
| Notes: In rodents.Footnotes:a = Ratio of androgenic to anabolic activity.Sources: See template. | |
As an AAS, methyltestosterone is anagonist of theandrogen receptor (AR), similarly toandrogens liketestosterone anddihydrotestosterone (DHT).[4][24] It is asubstrate for5α-reductase like testosterone, and so is potentiated analogously in so-called "androgenic" tissues like theskin,hair follicles, andprostate gland viatransformation into the morepotent AR agonistmestanolone (17α-methyl-DHT).[4][24] As such, methyltestosterone has a relatively low ratio ofanabolic toandrogenic activity, with a similar ratio to that of testosterone (close to 1:1), and this makes it among the most androgenic AAS.[4][24] Due to efficientaromatization into the potent andmetabolism-resistantestrogenmethylestradiol (17α-methylestradiol), methyltestosterone has relatively highestrogenicity and hence potential forestrogenicside effects such asgynecomastia andfluid retention.[17][27] The drug possesses negligibleprogestogenic activity.[4][24]
Due to its combined disadvantages of a relatively poor ratio of anabolic to androgenic activity, unusually high estrogenicity, and the potential forhepatotoxicity (as with other 17α-alkylated AAS), methyltestosterone has not been used as commonly as many other AAS either in medicine or for physique- or performance-enhancing purposes.[4]
Methyltestosterone has dramatically improvedoralbioavailability andmetabolic stability relative to testosterone.[4][24] This difference is due to the C17α methyl group, which results insteric hindrance and preventsmetabolism.[4][24] The oral bioavailability of methyltestosterone is about 70%, and it iswell-absorbed from thegastrointestinal tract.[8] Methyltestosterone can also be takenbuccally orsublingually.[4][8] Although effective orally, methyltestosterone is more effective by these non-oral routes, which are said to approximately double its bioavailability and require half the oral dosage.[4][8][21]
Circulating levels of methyltestosterone with administration of 1.25 to 2.5 mg/day oral methyltestosterone in women are in the range of 20 to 30 ng/dL.[28] For comparison to testosterone, methyltestosterone is at least as potent as an AAS.[28] However, due to the large decrease insex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels and hence increase in free unbound testosterone caused by methyltestosterone, androgenic effects may be greater than reflected merely by methyltestosterone levels.[28]
Methyltestosterone is highlyprotein-bound, by approximately 98%.[9] The medication has low but significantaffinity for human serumsex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), about 25% of that of testosterone and 5% of that of DHT.[4][29]
Thebiological half-life of methyltestosterone is approximately 3 hours (range 2.5–3.5 hours).[8][11] Theduration of action of methyltestosterone is said to be 1 to 3 days, and is described as relatively short among AAS.[9][30]
Methyltestosterone isexcreted 90% in theurine asconjugates and othermetabolites, and 6% infeces.[9]
Methyltestosterone, also known as 17α-methyltestosterone or as 17α-methylandrost-4-en-17β-ol-3-one, is asynthetic,17α-alkylatedandrostanesteroid and aderivative of testosterone differing from it only in the presence of a methyl group at the C17α position.[1][2][4] Close synthetic relatives of methyltestosterone includemetandienone (17α-methyl-δ1-testosterone) andfluoxymesterone (9α-fluoro-11β-hydroxy-17α-methyltestosterone).[4][24]
Methyltestosterone andethyltestosterone (17α-ethyltestosterone) are theparent structures of all 17α-alkylated AAS. Major 17α-alkylated AAS include the testosterone derivativesfluoxymesterone,metandienone (methandrostenolone), and methyltestosterone and the DHT derivativesoxandrolone,oxymetholone, andstanozolol.[4][24]
Achemical synthesis of methyltestosterone fromdehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) withmethandriol as anintermediate proceeds as follows:[31][32]
Methyltestosterone was firstsynthesized in 1935 along withmethandriol andmestanolone.[33][34][6][17][18] It was the second synthetic AAS to be developed, followingmesterolone (1α-methyl-DHT) in 1934, and was the first 17α-alkylated AAS to be synthesized.[6][17][18] The drug was introduced for medical use in 1936.[19][4]
Methyltestosterone is theINNTooltip International Nonproprietary Name,USANTooltip United States Adopted Name,USPTooltip United States Pharmacopeia,BANTooltip British Approved Name, andJANTooltip Japanese Accepted Name of the drug and itsgeneric name inEnglish andJapanese, whileméthyltestostérone is itsDCFTooltip Dénomination Commune Française andFrench name andmetiltestosterone is itsDCITTooltip Denominazione Comune Italiana andItalian name.[1][2][35][3] The generic name of the drug ismethyltestosterone inLatin,methyltestosteron inGerman, andmetiltestosterona inSpanish.[1][2][3] Methyltestosterone is also known by its former developmental code nameNSC-9701.[35][3]
Brand names under which methyltestosterone is or has been marketed for medical use include Afro, Agovirin, Android, Androral, Mesteron, Metandren, Methitest, Methyltestosterone, Methyl Testosterone, Oraviron, Oreton, Oreton Methyl, Testormon, Testovis, Testred, and Virilon, among others.[1][2][3][36]
Methyltestosterone is available at a low-dose in combination withesterified estrogens for the treatment of menopausal symptoms likehot flashes in women under the brand names Covaryx, Essian, Estratest, Menogen, and Syntest.[4][37]
Although it is not commonly used, methyltestosterone is one of the few AAS that remains available for medical use in theUnited States.[4][36] The others aretestosterone,testosterone cypionate,testosterone enanthate,testosterone undecanoate,oxandrolone,oxymetholone, andfluoxymesterone.[36]
Methyltestosterone has also been marketed in many other countries throughout the world.[1][2][3][4][38][39]
Methyltestosterone, along with other AAS, is aschedule IIIcontrolled substance in theUnited States under theControlled Substances Act and aschedule IV controlled substance inCanada under theControlled Drugs and Substances Act.[40][41]
