Important Safety Information

It is important to read the Patient Information that comes with Testim before you start using it and each time you get a refill.


There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your condition or treatment. If you have questions about Testim, ask your doctor or healthcare provider.

What is the most important information I should know about Testim?

  1. Testim is not for everyone. Older men treated with male hormones such as Testim may be at increased risk of developing an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer. This may be monitored by periodic blood tests and prostate exams.
  2. Testosterone may cause fetal harm. Because Testim is not safe for children, nursing women and children should avoid skin contact with Testim application sites in men.
  3. Testim should not be applied to the abdomen.
  4. The most common side effects of Testim are redness/irritation on the skin where Testim is applied, and above normal red blood cell count.

What is Testim?

Testim is a prescription medicine approved for use in adult males, 18 years and older, to treat hypogonadism, a medical condition that occurs when the body does not make enough testosterone.

Who should not use Testim?

Testim must not be used by women or children. Do not use Testim if you have breast or prostate cancer (if your doctor knows for sure or suspects it). Do not use Testim if you have a known allergy to any of its ingredients. The active ingredient is testosterone, which may be synthesized from soy. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients in Testim. Do not use Testim if you have difficulty in urinating due to an enlarged prostate, or if you have serious liver, kidney, or heart disease.

What should I tell my doctor before using Testim?

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you:

  • Have difficulty urinating.
  • Have an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer.
  • Have breast cancer (a rare condition for men).
  • Have serious liver, kidney, or heart disease.

Tell your doctor about other medicines you are taking. Testim may affect how these medicines work, and you may need to have your doses adjusted. If you are a diabetic taking insulin, your doctor may need to adjust your insulin dose. Tell your doctor if you are taking medication to reduce the clotting of your blood. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are using Oxyphenbutazone, Propanolol, or Corticosteroids. Every patient is different.

Know all the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you to show your doctor and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine.

Tell your doctor if you plan to father a child. Testosterone medicines such as Testim may reduce a man’s sperm count.

How should I use Testim?

  • Take Testim exactly as prescribed. Your doctor may adjust your dose during treatment. Do not change your dose without talking to your doctor.
  • Use Testim at the same time each day. Apply the contents of 1 or 2 tubes of gel to your upper arm/shoulder areas ONLY, every morning as instructed by your doctor. Never apply Testim to your genitals (penis and scrotum) or to skin that is not completely normal. Rub the gel vigorously into your skin until the area feels dry.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after application to reduce the chance that the medicine will spread from your hands to other people.
  • Let Testim dry for a few minutes before you dress. Wait at least 2 hours before showering or swimming to ensure that the greatest amount of Testim is absorbed into your system.

What should I avoid while using Testim?

It is important that you do not spread the medicine to others, especially women and children. Be sure to wash your hands after applying Testim. To prevent transfer to another person, clothing should be worn to cover the application sites. Do not allow other persons to rub your skin where you have applied Testim, especially pregnant or nursing females, or children.

What are the possible risks of using Testim?

Testim may cause the following:

  • Breast enlargement and discomfort.
  • Extra fluid in the body or ankle swelling. This may cause serious problems for men with heart, kidney, or liver disease, or damage.
  • A breathing disturbance during sleep called sleep apnea. This is more likely in men who are overweight or who have lung disease.
  • Prostate enlargement, sometimes accompanied by difficulty with urinating.
  • Significant mood swings.
  • Changes in blood levels of cholesterol or in the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream. This may be monitored and prevented by periodic blood tests.

The most common side effects of Testim are:

  • Redness/irritation on the skin where Testim was applied
  • Above normal red blood cell count
  • Increase in blood pressure

How should I store Testim?

  • Store Testim at room temperature, 59° - 86°F (15° - 30°C).
  • Keep Testim and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information about Testim

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those described in a patient information leaflet. Do not use Testim for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Testim to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have.

This page summarizes the most important information about Testim. If you would like more information, talk with your doctor or healthcare provider. They can answer your questions and give you the printed information about Testim that is written for health professionals.

What are the ingredients in Testim?

Active ingredient: testosterone, USP (which may be synthesized from soy)
Inactive ingredients: carbopol, pentadecalactone, acrylates, propylene glycol, glycerin, polyethylene glycol, alcohol, tromethamine, purified water.


Important Safety Information: Testim® is a prescription medicine used to treat hypogonadism, a medical condition that occurs when the body does not make enough testosterone. Only your doctor can decide if Testim is right for you. Testim should not be used by men with known or suspected cancer of the prostate or breast. Testim has not been approved or evaluated for use in women, and must not be used by women. Testosterone may cause fetal harm. Pregnant and nursing women, as well as children, should avoid skin contact with Testim application sites in men. In controlled clinical studies of Testim, the most common side effects reported were redness/irritation at the application site (4%) and above normal red blood cell count (2%).