What is testosterone?

AndroGel 1% for topical use is a clear, colorless gel containing testosterone. Testosterone is an androgen. AndroGel 1% is available in a metered-dose pump or unit dose packets. The active pharmacologic ingredient in AndroGel 1% is testosterone, an androgen. Testosterone USP is a white to practically white crystalline powder chemically described as 17-beta hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one. The structural formula is: Pharmacologically inactive ingredients in AndroGel 1% are carbomer 980, ethanol 67.0%, isopropyl myristate, purified water, and sodium hydroxide. These ingredients are not pharmacologically active. Structural Formula

What kind of drug is testosterone?

The FDA classifies testosterone as an androgen. Androgens such as testosterone are male sex hormones that enter cells and bind the androgen receptor, switching on genes that drive male traits, muscle and bone growth, and reproductive function. Some testosterone is also converted in tissues to the more potent DHT. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.

Can you take testosterone with other medicines?

It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run testosterone against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.

What brand names is testosterone sold under?

We track 9 testosterone-containing products in the U.S.: Androderm, Androgel, Axiron, Fortesta, Natesto, Striant, Testim and Testoderm, and 1 more. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.

What forms does testosterone come in?

Across the brands we track, testosterone is currently marketed as film, extended release, topical, solution, metered, topical, metered and tablet, extended release, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Is there a generic testosterone?

We do not currently list a generic-labelled testosterone product. That does not always mean none exists — it means none appears under a generic name in the FDA data we track. Ask your pharmacist.

Has testosterone been recalled?

The FDA's Enforcement database lists at least 5 recall records whose product description mentions testosterone. The most recent: Testosterone (Jan 26, 2026). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.

Testosterone: uses, dosing, side effects & brands

Testosterone is an androgen sold in the U.S. under 9 brand and generic names, for breast neoplasms, hypogonadism and delayed puberty. Below: what the FDA label says, every product that contains it, what the pills look like, and its recall record.

By the pharmaranks editorial teamReviewed against the FDA (openFDA label, NDC Directory & Enforcement) sourcesHow we research

Key facts

Drug class: Androgen
Treats: Breast Neoplasms, Hypogonadism and Delayed Puberty
Available as: Film, extended release · Topical · Solution, metered · Topical, metered · Tablet, extended release
Sold as: 9 products — Androderm, Androgel and Axiron, and others
Prescription?: Prescription only
Generic available?: Not in our catalog
Typical price: about $1 for a 30-count supply
Boxed warning: Boxed warning

How testosterone is dosed

From the FDA label for Androgel (application NDA021015). Other testosterone products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.

for AndroGel 1% differs from AndroGel 1.62%. For dosage and administration of AndroGel 1.62% refer to its full prescribing information. ( 2 ) Prior to initiating AndroGel 1%, confirm the diagnosis of hypogonadism by ensuring that serum testosterone concentrations have been measured in the morning on at least two separate days and that these serum testosterone concentrations are below the normal range. Dosage and Administration for AndroGel 1% differs from AndroGel 1.62%. For dosage and administration of AndroGel 1.62% refer to its full prescribing information. ( 2 ) Prior to initiating AndroGel 1%, confirm the diagnosis of hypogonadism by ensuring that serum testosterone has been measured in the morning on at least two separate days and that these concentrations are below the normal range ( 2 ). Starting dose of AndroGel 1% is 50 mg of testosterone (4 pump actuations, two 25 mg packets or one 50 mg packet), applied once daily in the morning. ( 2.1 ) Apply to clean, dry, intact skin of shoulders and upper arms and/or abdomen. Do NOT apply AndroGel 1% to any other parts of the body including the genitals, chest, armpits (axillae), knees, or back. ( 2.2 ) Dose adjustment: AndroGel 1% can be dose adjusted using 50 mg, 75 mg, or 100 mg of testosterone on the basis of total serum testosterone concentration. The dose should be titrated based on the serum…

Testosterone side effects

Most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥ 5%) are acne, application site reaction, abnormal lab tests, and prostatic disorders. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact ASCEND Therapeutics US, LLC at 1-877-204-1013 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trial Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Clinical Trials in Hypogonadal Men Table 2 shows the incidence of all adverse events judged by the investigator to be at least possibly related to treatment with AndroGel 1% and reported by >1% of patients in a 180 Day, Phase 3 study. Table 2: Adverse Events Possibly, Probably or Definitely Related to Use of AndroGel 1% in the 180-Day Controlled Clinical Trial Adverse Event Dose of AndroGel 1% 50 mg 75 mg 100 mg N = 77 N = 40 N = 78 Acne 1% 3% 8% Alopecia 1% 0% 1% Application Site Reaction 5% 3% 4% Asthenia 0% 3% 1% Depression 1% 0% 1% Emotional Lability 0% 3% 3% Gynecomastia 1% 0% 3% Headache 4% 3% 0% Hypertension 3% 0% 3% Lab Test Abnormal* 6% 5% 3% Libido Decreased 0% 3% 1% Nervousness 0% 3% 1% Pain Breast 1% 3% 1% Prostate Disorder** 3% 3% 5% Testis Disorder*** 3% 0% 0% * Lab test abnormal occurred in nine…

Every testosterone product we track (9)

Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.

Testosterone products
#	Drug	Rating	Type	Form	Generic?	Typical price
1	Androderm	70/100	Prescription	Film	Generic	$1	View →
2	Androgel Boxed warning

What testosterone pills look like

Imprint codes, colour and shape from the FDA’s labelling data. Match the imprint on your pill — or search any imprint.

Testosterone pill imprints
Imprint	Strength	Colour	Shape	Maker
E;640	1.25 mg / 2.5 mg	green	oval	—
C010	1.25 mg / 2.5 mg	yellow	capsule	—
C010	1.25 mg / 2.5 mg	yellow	oval	—
1490	1.25 mg / 2.5 mg	green	capsule	—
112	112.5 mg	white	capsule	—
MP100	100 mg

Combination products containing testosterone

A combination is a different drug — different dosing, different warnings. It is listed here so you can find it, not so you can substitute it.

Depo-Testadiol

Testosterone recalls

From the FDA Enforcement database. A recall covers specific lots — not the drug as a whole.

Frequently asked questions

What is testosterone?: AndroGel 1% for topical use is a clear, colorless gel containing testosterone. Testosterone is an androgen. AndroGel 1% is available in a metered-dose pump or unit dose packets. The active pharmacologic ingredient in AndroGel 1% is testosterone, an androgen. Testosterone USP is a white to practically white crystalline powder chemically described as 17-beta hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one. The structural formula is: Pharmacologically inactive ingredients in AndroGel 1% are carbomer 980, ethanol 67.0%, isopropyl myristate, purified water, and sodium hydroxide. These ingredients are not pharmacologically active. Structural Formula
What kind of drug is testosterone?: The FDA classifies testosterone as an androgen. Androgens such as testosterone are male sex hormones that enter cells and bind the androgen receptor, switching on genes that drive male traits, muscle and bone growth, and reproductive function. Some testosterone is also converted in tissues to the more potent DHT. If you are checking whether it is safe to combine with something else, the class is what matters — two drugs from the same class usually should not be stacked.
Can you take testosterone with other medicines?: It depends on the medicine. We check it against the FDA labels rather than guessing: our interaction checker searches each drug's own label for the other and quotes what it says, naming the section it came from. Run testosterone against whatever else you take — and remember that a label not naming a drug is not the same as that combination being safe.
What brand names is testosterone sold under?: We track 9 testosterone-containing products in the U.S.: Androderm, Androgel, Axiron, Fortesta, Natesto, Striant, Testim and Testoderm, and 1 more. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does testosterone come in?: Across the brands we track, testosterone is currently marketed as film, extended release, topical, solution, metered, topical, metered and tablet, extended release, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory. Each form is dosed differently — follow the label for the exact product you were prescribed.

Sources: FDA openFDA drug label, National Drug Code Directory, and Enforcement (recall) database. This page reproduces public FDA data and is not medical advice. Dosing is set by your prescriber.