Testosterone
Brand names: Testopel, Androgel, Natesto, Testim, Testosterone
At a glance
- Medicare prescriptions, 2024
- 345,523
- Medicare drug cost
- $57.1M
- Average cost per prescription
- $165
- Clinicians who prescribed it
- 14,910
Where it is prescribed
List the prescribers in any state, county, city or ZIP code →
What it is used for
Testosterone Topical Solution is indicated for replacement therapy in males for conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone. Primary hypogonadism (congenital or acquired); testicular failure due to conditions such as cryptorchidism, bilateral torsion, orchitis, vanishing testis syndrome, orchiectomy, Klinefelter's syndrome, chemotherapy, or toxic damage from alcohol or heavy metals. These men usually have low serum concentrations and gonadotropins (FSH, LH) above the normal range. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (congenital or acquired): gonadotropic or luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) deficiency or pituitary-hypothalamic injury from tumors, trauma or radiation. These men have low testosterone serum-concentrations but have gonadotropins in the normal or low range. Limitations of use: Safety and efficacy of Testosterone Topical Solution in men with “age-related hypogonadism' (also referred to as “late-onset hypogonadism”) have not been established. Safety and efficacy of Testosterone Topical Solution in males < 18 years old have not been established.
From the FDA-approved prescribing information (label dated July 2026). Full labels on DailyMed (opens in a new tab)
Boxed warning
WARNING: SECONDARY EXPOSURE TO TESTOSTERONE Virilization has been reported in children who were secondarily exposed to topical testosterone products. Children should avoid contact with unwashed or unclothed application sites in men using Testosterone Topical Solution. Healthcare providers should advise patients to strictly adhere to recommended instructions for use. WARNING: SECONDARY EXPOSURE TO TESTOSTERONE See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. Virilization has been reported in children who were secondarily exposed to topical testosterone products. Children should avoid contact with unwashed or unclothed application sites in men using Testosterone Topical Solution. Healthcare providers should advise patients to strictly adhere to recommended instructions for use.
The FDA’s strongest warning on a label. It doesn’t mean the drug is unsafe for most people; talk to your doctor or pharmacist before stopping or changing any medicine.
Who prescribes it
- Endocrinology & Diabetes 21.8%
- Urology 21.1%
- Family Medicine 18.8%
- Internal Medicine 18.6%
- Nurse Practitioners 8.6%
- Physician Assistants 7.3%
- Infectious Disease 1.8%
- Geriatric Medicine 0.3%
- General Practice 0.3%
- Sports Medicine 0.2%
- Cardiology 0.1%
- Nephrology (Kidney) 0.1%
All prescribers, by place, name or specialty →
Share of Medicare prescriptions written by each specialty. Select one to list its prescribers.
Trend, 2019–2024
Medicare prescriptions rose 26% from 2019 to 2024.
Biggest change by state since 2019
- Alabama +52%
- Colorado +44%
- Kentucky +44%
- Washington +42%
- Virginia +40%
- New York (smallest change) +5%
- New Jersey (smallest change) +13%
From CMS’s yearly state and national Part D summaries, which count every prescriber, including those CMS leaves out of its per-clinician data (fewer than 11 prescriptions). That is why these totals are higher than the count at the top of this page. Prescriptions include refills.
What it looks like
Pills from 1 maker on file. The same medicine can look different depending on who made it, so check the imprint (the letters and numbers on the pill) with your pharmacist if a refill looks different.
Tolmar Inc.
| Strength | Looks like | Imprint |
|---|---|---|
| 158 mg | red capsule, 21 mm | 158 |
| 198 mg | white capsule, 23 mm | 198 |
| 237 mg | orange capsule, 26 mm | 237 |
Source: DailyMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine), from each maker’s FDA drug listing. A few makers are shown, not every one. Never take a pill you can’t identify; ask a pharmacist.
Industry payments about this drug
Drug makers reported $104,684 in payments to clinicians that named this drug in 2025 (meals, speaking, consulting and similar).
- Besins Healthcare Ireland Limited $104,684
Source: CMS Open Payments, general payments (not research), program year 2025. A payment is not evidence of wrongdoing. Payments by doctor
Recalls and shortages
Not on the FDA drug shortage list.
6 recalls since 2020
- Nov 2025 · Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc · Class III
Defective Container - A defect in the side-seal which allows leakage of product. - Mar 2025 · Strides Pharma, Inc. · Class II
Presence of foreign substance: Presence of Benzene. - Aug 2024 · Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc · Class II
Superpotent Drug - Nov 2023 · Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc · Class III
OOS for viscosity - Jun 2022 · Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc · Class II
Superpotent Drug: Out of specification assay result was obtained during stability testing. - Nov 2020 · Teva Pharmaceuticals USA · Class III
Superpotent Drug: High out-of-specification assay results were obtained during stability testing.
Recalls usually affect specific lots from one maker, not every version of a drug. Class I is the most serious; most drug recalls are Class II. FDA recalls (opens in a new tab)
Industry-funded trials
Sources: CMS Medicare Part D Prescribers by Provider and Drug (2024; prescriptions include refills, and CMS hides counts under 11 per prescriber); U.S. Food and Drug Administration, openFDA (drug labels, NDC directory, enforcement reports, drug shortages); CMS Open Payments 2025; ClinicalTrials.gov. General information only, not medical advice; not yet reviewed by our medical reviewer.