Testosterone Cypionate: uses, dosing, side effects & brands
Testosterone Cypionate is an androgen sold in the U.S. under 2 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.
Key facts
- Drug class
- Androgen
- Treats
- Breast Neoplasms, Hypogonadism and Delayed Puberty
- Available as
- Injectable
- Sold as
- 2 products — Azmiro and Testosterone Cypionate
- Prescription?
- Prescription only
- Generic available?
- Yes
- Half-life
- about 10 to 100 minutes
How testosterone cypionate is dosed
From the FDA label for Azmiro (application NDA216318). Other testosterone cypionate products — different forms, different strengths — are dosed differently. Follow the label for the one you were prescribed.
Injectable testosterone products may have different doses, strengths, or administration instructions and they are not substitutable on a milligram-per-milligram basis. Administer AZMIRO by deep gluteal intramuscular injection only ( 2.1 ). • Prior to initiating AZMIRO, 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 concentrations are below the normal range ( 2.2 ). • Recommended dosage is 50 mg to 400 mg administered every two to four weeks as a deep intramuscular injection in the gluteal muscle. Individualize the dose and schedule based on the patient’s age, diagnosis, response to treatment, and the appearance of adverse reactions ( 2.3 ). • The prefilled syringe should be administered as an intramuscular injection by a healthcare professional only. 2.1 Important Dosage Information • Injectable testosterone products may have different doses, strengths, or administration instructions and they are not substitutable on a milligram-per-milligram basis. • Administer AZMIRO by deep gluteal intramuscular injection only. 2.2 Confirmation of Hypogonadism before Initiation of AZMIRO Prior to initiating AZMIRO, confirm the diagnosis of hypogonadism by ensuring that serum testosterone concentrations have been measured in the morning on at least two separate days…
Testosterone Cypionate side effects
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are discussed elsewhere in the labeling: • Polycythemia [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ) ] • Venous Thromboembolism [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] • Worsening of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and Potential Risk of Prostate Cancer [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 ) ] • Blood Pressure Increases [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 ) ] • Hepatic Adverse Effects [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 ) ] • Edema [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 ) ] • Sleep Apnea [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.10 ) ] • Gynecomastia [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.11 ) ] • Lipid Changes [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.12 ) ] • Hypercalcemia [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.13 ) ] • Decreased Thyroxine-binding Globulin [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.14 ) ] • Increases in Prolactin [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.15 ) ] • Adverse Effects on Bone Maturation [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.16 ) ] Common adverse reactions (incidence ≥4%) are injection site erythema and injection site reaction ( 6.1 ). Other adverse reactions include: polycythemia, gynecomastia, headache, and depression ( 6.2 ). To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-800-461-7449 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trial Experience Because clinical trials are conducted…
Who shouldn’t take testosterone cypionate
AZMIRO is contraindicated in: • Known hypersensitivity to AZMIRO or to any of its components [see Description ( 11 )]. Hypersensitivity, including skin manifestations and anaphylactoid reactions have been reported [ see Adverse Reactions ( 6.2 ) ]. • Men with carcinoma of the breast or known or suspected carcinoma of the prostate gland [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 ) ]. • Women who are pregnant. Testosterone can cause virilization of the female fetus when administered to a pregnant woman [ see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.1 ) ]. • Known hypersensitivity to AZMIRO or any of its components, skin manifestations and anaphylactoid reactions have been reported ( 4 ) • Men with carcinoma of the breast or known or suspected carcinoma of the prostate ( 4 ). • Women who are pregnant. Testosterone may cause fetal harm ( 4 ).
Testosterone Cypionate drug interactions
Insulin: In patients with diabetes, concomitant use with AZMIRO may decrease blood glucose and insulin requirements ( 7.1 ). • Oral Anticoagulants: Concomitant use with AZMIRO may cause changes in anticoagulant activity. Monitor International Normalized Ratio and prothrombin time frequently ( 7.2 ). • Corticosteroids: Concomitant use with AZMIRO may result in increased fluid retention. Use with caution, particularly in patients with cardiac, renal, or hepatic disease ( 7.3 ). 7.1 Insulin Changes in insulin sensitivity or glycemic control may occur in patients treated with androgens. In diabetic patients, the metabolic effects of androgens may decrease blood glucose and, therefore, insulin requirements. 7.2 Oral Anticoagulants Changes in anticoagulant activity may be seen with androgens. Frequent monitoring of INR and prothrombin time may be necessary in patients taking anticoagulants, especially at the initiation and termination of androgen therapy. 7.3 Corticosteroids The concurrent use of testosterone with corticosteroids may result in increased fluid retention and should be monitored cautiously, particularly in patients with cardiac, renal or hepatic disease.
Every testosterone cypionate product we track (2)
Same active ingredient — different manufacturer, form, price and FDA recall record. That last one is what our independent score measures.
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 70/100 | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → | |
| 2 | 70/100 | Prescription | Injectable | No data | — | View → |
Combination products containing testosterone cypionate
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.
Testosterone Cypionate recalls
From the FDA Enforcement database. A recall covers specific lots — not the drug as a whole.
How long testosterone cypionate keeps
No testosterone cypionate label we read sets a separate limit for after opening, but they do specify how it must be stored — and the stability behind any date assumes those conditions.
Does testosterone cypionate expire? The in-use limits and storage rules from its labelsWhat people report to the FDA about testosterone cypionate
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) collects reports from patients and clinicians. It holds 6,144 reports naming testosterone cypionate, and the FDA flagged 48% of those reports as serious. The effects reported most often — leaving out reports about overdose, misuse or the condition being treated, which dominate the raw list for common medicines:
- fatigue377 reports
- product deposit271 reports
- injection site pain265 reports
- liquid product physical issue236 reports
- poor quality product administered216 reports
- myocardial infarction213 reports
- headache202 reports
- nausea190 reports
Read these as a signal, not a rate. A report does not mean testosterone cypionate caused the effect — anyone can file one, and many describe people taking several medicines for several conditions. Crucially there is no denominator: FAERS does not record how many people took the drug, so these counts cannot be turned into “X% of patients” — a bigger number often just means a more widely used or more talked-about drug. Duplicates exist, and publicity drives reporting. For what is actually established, read the FDA label section above.
Source: openFDA drug/event (FAERS), retrieved August 26, 2026.
How long testosterone cypionate stays in your system
The elimination half-life of testosterone cypionate is about 10 to 100 minutes. This is the half-life of the natural testosterone hormone itself. The FDA label notes "considerable variation... ranging from 10 to 100 minutes," reflecting how quickly free testosterone is cleared. Two caveats matter for "how long it stays in your system": (1) Formulation dominates. Injectable esters are slow-release depots that far outlast the hormone's own half-life — testosterone cypionate ~8 days, enanthate ~4.5 days, undecanoate weeks — and oral testosterone undecanoate (Jatenzo, Kyzatrex) is a prodrug cleaved to testosterone. The 10-100 minute figure is the hormone's intrinsic clearance, not the duration of a shot. (2) Testosterone converts to active metabolites — dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol — that circulate on their own timelines. Inactivation occurs primarily in the liver, so hepatic impairment can slow clearance; ~90% is excreted in urine as conjugates. Half-life is not the drug-test detection window: anti-doping tests use the testosterone/epitestosterone ratio and isotope analysis and can flag use for far longer than clearance of the hormone.
AndroGel (testosterone gel) FDA label, DailyMed — Clinical Pharmacology ↗Half-life is how long the body takes to clear half a dose. It is not the same as how long a drug test can detect it, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
What is testosterone cypionate?
AZMIRO (testosterone cypionate) injection for intramuscular injection, contains testosterone cypionate which is the oil-soluble 17 (beta)-cyclopentylpropionate ester of the androgenic hormone testosterone. Testosterone cypionate is a white or creamy white crystalline powder, odorless or nearly so and stable in air. It is insoluble in water, freely soluble in alcohol, chloroform, dioxane, ether, and soluble in vegetable oils.
What kind of drug is testosterone cypionate?
The FDA classifies testosterone cypionate 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.
How long does testosterone cypionate stay in your system?
The elimination half-life of testosterone cypionate is about 10 to 100 minutes — that is how long the body takes to clear half of a dose. This is the half-life of the natural testosterone hormone itself. The FDA label notes "considerable variation... ranging from 10 to 100 minutes," reflecting how quickly free testosterone is cleared. Two caveats matter for "how long it stays in your system": (1) Formulation dominates. Injectable esters are slow-release depots that far outlast the hormone's own half-life — testosterone cypionate ~8 days, enanthate ~4.5 days, undecanoate weeks — and oral testosterone undecanoate (Jatenzo, Kyzatrex) is a prodrug cleaved to testosterone. The 10-100 minute figure is the hormone's intrinsic clearance, not the duration of a shot. (2) Testosterone converts to active metabolites — dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol — that circulate on their own timelines. Inactivation occurs primarily in the liver, so hepatic impairment can slow clearance; ~90% is excreted in urine as conjugates. Half-life is not the drug-test detection window: anti-doping tests use the testosterone/epitestosterone ratio and isotope analysis and can flag use for far longer than clearance of the hormone. Half-life is not the same as how long a drug test can detect the drug, and it varies with age, kidney and liver function.
Can you take testosterone cypionate 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 cypionate 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 cypionate sold under?
We track 2 testosterone cypionate-containing products in the U.S.: Azmiro and Testosterone Cypionate. They are the same active ingredient; they differ in form, manufacturer, price and FDA recall record.
What forms does testosterone cypionate come in?
Across the brands we track, testosterone cypionate is currently marketed as injectable, 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 cypionate?
Yes. Our catalog lists 1 generic testosterone cypionate product alongside the brand versions. A generic has the same active ingredient and must meet the FDA's bioequivalence standard; it usually costs less. Ask your pharmacist which one your plan covers.
Has testosterone cypionate been recalled?
The FDA's Enforcement database lists 2 recall records whose product description mentions testosterone cypionate. The most recent: Testosterone Cypionate Injection (May 2, 2025). A recall applies to specific lots, not to the drug as a whole — check the record for the affected lot numbers.
Cite this page
- APA
- pharmaranks. (2026, July 24). Testosterone Cypionate: uses, dosing, side effects & brands. https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/testosterone-cypionate
- MLA
- “Testosterone Cypionate: uses, dosing, side effects & brands.” pharmaranks, 24 July 2026, https://pharmaranks.com/drugs/testosterone-cypionate.
We summarise public FDA and NIH sources — for a clinical claim, cite the primary source we link to as well.
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.
Read the full FDA label for testosterone cypionate on DailyMed (NIH) ↗.