Safety and tolerability of testosterone patch therapy for up to 4 years in surgically menopausal women receiving oral or transdermal oestrogen.

Abstract

Two clinical trials previously demonstrated the safety of 300 μg/day transdermal testosterone patch (TTP) treatment for up to 6 months in 1094 surgically menopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). Adverse events (AE), clinical laboratory tests, vital signs, physical examinations and mammograms were evaluated in open-label extensions of these two trials for up to 4 years and are presented in this article. Nine hundred and sixty-seven patients received at least one application of the TTP resulting in 1092 patient-years of exposure. There was no increase over time in the rate of new occurrences or severity of AEs, serious AEs, or withdrawals due to AEs. The most common AEs associated with treatment were application site reactions and unwanted hair growth; however, most were mild and rarely resulted in study withdrawal. No clinically meaningful changes in serum chemistry, haematology, lipid profile, carbohydrate metabolism, renal and liver function or coagulation parameters were noted with up to 4 years of therapy. Consistent with age-appropriate expected rates, three cases of invasive breast cancer were observed. No important changes in the safety or tolerability profile of TTP were revealed with long-term use for up to 4 years in otherwise healthy oophorectomised women with HSDD on concomitant oestrogen.

• Authors: Lila Nachtigall, Peter Casson, Johna Lucas, Victoria Schofield, Chad Melson, James A Simon
• Journal: Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology (Gynecol Endocrinol) Vol. 27 Issue 1 Pg. 39-48 (Jan 2011) ISSN: 1473-0766 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21142609 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Estrogens
• Placebos
• Testosterone

Topics

• Administration, Cutaneous
• Adult
• Aged
• Breast Neoplasms (epidemiology)
• Clitoris
• Double-Blind Method
• Estrogens (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Hysterectomy
• Menopause, Premature
• Middle Aged
• Ovariectomy
• Placebos
• Salpingectomy
• Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological (drug therapy, etiology)
• Stroke (epidemiology)
• Testosterone (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Vulvar Diseases (chemically induced)