Though testosterone is most often considered to be a male hormone, it is present in both men and women. Naturally occurring testosterone is known as bio-available testosterone, and like any other hormone in the body, testosterone levels fluctuate over time. However, there are also medications that can affect testosterone levels in the body. Understanding which medications influence hormones can help patients make smarter choices about their use.
Anti-androgens
Anti-androgens are drugs that act as suppressants on the pituitary hormone. They are taken primarily by women to combat excessive levels of male hormones in their bodies, according to DermNet NZ. The drugs work to lower the levels of bioavailable testosterone, but they are less effective in men than in women, says DermNet NZ. Examples of available anti-androgens include birth-control pills with ethinyestrodiol and progesterone, spironolactone, and cyproterone acetate.
Prostate Cancer Treatments
In men with prostate cancer, medications exist to decrease the levels of testosterone in the body to help shrink prostate tumors. According to Medline Plus, these drugs so severely reduce the levels of testosterone in the body that using them is referred to as a "chemical castration." Medline Plus says that the two most common drugs used for lowering testosterone in a chemical castration are Lupron and Zoladex.
Testosterone Patches
In men with low levels of testosterone, patches can be worn to raise the body's testosterone levels. Drugs.com says that these patches are not made for use by women. They are applied directly to the skin, often in the scrotal area. The patches boost testosterone levels, but Drugs.com says that they may cause skin irritation, alter diabetic blood sugar levels and damage the liver.
Testosterone Buccal
Another drug that raises testosterone levels in the body is testosterone buccal. According to the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, this drug is attached to the gums of patients to provide time-release treatments of testosterone throughout the day. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism says that because the testosterone is absorbed through the gum membranes, it causes fewer liver-related side effects while keeping testosterone levels up.
