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Testosterone gel (also known as AndroGel) is a hydroalcoholic gel to be applied to the clean, dry skin of the shoulders, upper arms and/or abdomen. The gel is absorbed through the skin and delivers testosterone to the patient for approximately 24 hours. This product is indicated for men with primary hypogonadism or hypogonadotropic hypogonadism which results from insufficient secretion of testosterone and is characterized by low serum testosterone concentrations.
Preliminary findings by researchers suggest testosterone gel could produce antidepressant effects in depressed men with low testosterone levels. Testosterone supplementation has until recently required cumbersome parenteral administration but, in this eight-week randomised, placebo-controlled trial, it was administered through a transdermal gel.
Participants included men aged 30 to 65 years who had refractory depression and low or borderline testosterone levels. Fifty six men were screened; 24 (42.9%) had total morning serum testosterone levels of 350 ng/dL or less. Of the 24, 23 entered the study. One patient responded to an initial one-week, single-blind placebo period, leaving 22 patients to be randomly assigned.
Men receiving testosterone gel had significantly greater improvement in Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) Rating Scale scores. Changes were seen on both the vegetative and affective HAM-D subscales.
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