Other Drugs from Cipla Limited Utilized to Treat ED
Men with Erectile Dysfunction and other related disorders caused by testosterone deficiency are recommended to use other forms of treatment as well, i.e., testosterone replacement therapy, for example. Testosterone replacement is not advisable for patients who have ED as the only symptom related to reduced levels of testosterone. Testosterone deficiency tends to occur among older or overweight men, as the outcomes of testicles damage, too much physical labor or exercising, as well as usage of xenoestrogenic chemicals.
Even though testosterone deficiency is not related directly to Erectile Dysfunction and some males who have reduced testosterone, still get usual erections, there are still specific ways in which this condition still affects sexual activity. Initially, reduced testosterone causes reduced sex drive, thus resulting in Erectile Dysfunction. In addition, hypogonadism, a condition whereby a male’s testes are not able to generate sufficient testosterone, is related to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, which can also cause impotence.
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) represents a type of treatment, which includes use of exogenous testosterone by people who have hypogonadism. Topical creams and gels, transdermal patches and injectable solutions constitute the most general forms in TRT. There are oral testosterone medications as well, but they get seldomly prescribed due to possibility of unwanted effects to the liver.
TRT gets prescribed only to patients with symptoms listed below, which results from low testosterone levels:
- Reduced sex drive
- Erection issues
- Depression
- Sleeping problems
- Weight issues (reduced muscle mass, high body fat percentage)
- Reduced bone density
- Attention disorders
All this while doctors were trying not to use testosterone replacement therapy whenever suitable, due to negative reactions, which were deemed to result from exogenous testosterone. Nevertheless, recent studies by Grech et al confirms that all risks related to TRT could possibly be overestimated. It has been confirmed that TRT can result in metabolic disease, cardiovascular conditions, reduced quality of sperm, tenderness and enlargement in breasts among men, as well as increased aggressiveness. It still remains unknown if there are other conditions related previously to it. TRT is prohibited in patients who have breast cancer, prostate cancer, or recent history of related conditions.
At the moment Cipla Limited produces the following testosterone-based hormonal drugs:
- Testosterone cypionate injections – received FDA approval back in 2018, exists outside of the US under the brand name T-Him
- Testosterone capsules – available as Androfil back in India, does not have FDA approval yet
- Topical testosterone gel – available as Androfil Gel back in India, does not have FDA approval yet
Those drugs can be purchased at the moment online and standard pharmacies across India. T-Him price is approximately $9 per 4ml vial with 1000mg of testosterone undecoanate, which is equivalent to around 630mg of pure testosterone. One Androfil capsule is around $0.18 whereas a 5-gram tube of topical Androfil costs approximately $0.66.