Men's Health > Testosterone > Depo Testosterone

Depo Testosterone

There are many reasons people take depo testosterone – ranging from specific medical conditions to building mass for bodybuilding goals.

Like other androgens, depo testosterone replaces testosterone in men who need the drug for personal or health-related reasons.

For men who have undergone castration or suffer impotence or erectile malfunction, depo testosterone can alleviate the problem and raise the otherwise low testosterone levels. Women can also benefit from taking depo testosterone if they are being treated for osteoporosis because it helps stimulate growth in the bones.

For men, the dosage of depo testosterone ranges from 100 to 400 mg every three to ten weeks, depending on the treatment. Women take depo testosterone at higher levels – from 200 to 400 mg every three to four weeks if it’s being used to increase bone density.

Depo Side-Effects

Depo testosterone is generally injected into the buttocks and comes in 100 mg vials. It can also cause side effects in both genders. For men, depo testosterone may result in breast growth, extremely firm erections that can sometimes be painful, low sperm count, and the urge to urinate.

Make sure when using depo testosterone that you’re already healthy, if it’s for building mass. This medication can increase the calcium in your blood, so you need to be able to exercise because bedridden people may not handle the increased calcium levels depo testosterone often causes.

When you begin taking it, try to cut down on your salt intake. Your goal in taking depo testosterone is to build body mass – but not through fluid retention. Depo testosterone makes you retain water just like salt, and this can affect your liver if you don't use caution.

If you’re mixing medications, make sure your doctor knows that you’re on depo testosterone. It can interact in a negative way with some drugs. Just because a medication may react to depo testosterone doesn’t mean you’ll have to stop taking it completely – your doctor may just want you to take a different dose or he can prescribe a new drug that will not be affected by your intake of depo testosterone.

Depending on the reason why you need it, depo testosterone may be covered by your insurance company. If it’s for medical reasons, then it’s most likely covered if you have a prescription benefit plan. But bodybuilders using depo testosterone will have to cover the cost themselves.

Drew Voight