Re: Androgel - how to write script for compounded equivalent?

[Guest guest]

Hi my prescription from Collage Pharmacy was a compound you can call

them and they will tell your Dr. how to right the prescription. I

put there number in the files section. Anyway my Prescription I

know was a lot stronger then Androgel's 5 grams you don't readily

get 5 grams when you use Androgel or Testim you get a % of the

dose. Here is what my Prescription said 50 DHEA/150 testo 2x once

daily. I pulled out the gel with a plastic syringe and put one full

amount on each arm.

Phil

> I am going to ask my physician to write a prescription for the

> compounded equivalent of Androgel and then order it from Womens

> International Pharmacy or maybe Gulf South. Androgel's dosages

seem

> to be in grams yet some of the prescriptions that I have seen for

> compounded T seem to be in terms of milligrams as a percent of the

> base cream and so on. In any case, I cant figure it out.

>

> What would be the language to use in a prescription that was

> intended to be the generic equivalent of Androgel's 10G dosage?

>

> Thank you.

>

> Winter

[Guest guest]

Androgel is 1%. So 1% of the gel is testosterone. If you wanted

exactly the same script as Androgel, it would be 1% compounded gel

10G per day, so approximately 900g per month.

However, with compounded gel, it is best to go with a higher

percentage of testosterone because you won't have to apply as much,

or buy as much, and it is better to get the more powerful stuff.

So a typical compounded prescription might be something like:

5% compounded testosterone gel; apply 3 G a day.

That prescription is for 90G a month. 3G of 5% is equivalent to 15G

of androgel per day:

Androgel at 1%; 15G = 1%*15G = .01*15G = .15G of testosterone

Compounded at 5%; 3G = 5%*3G = .05*3G = .15G of testosterone

I suggest going with a HIGHER equivalent than just to 10G androgel

because from my experience, androgel is a bit better at getting into

your body than the compounded gel you get. The math doesn't tranlate

100% because androgel uses advanced processes and individually packs

every dose, whereas compounded gel is untested and not quite as

effective at getting into the bloodstream, so you should use a

higher dose until you feel all the benefits.

The gist of it is, you get the prescription as a % testosterone gel.

The maximum percentage of testosterone that a compounding pharmacy

can effectively put in a gel base is 10%. Any higher, and it won't

dissolve properly in the gel. 10% may be a little high depending on

what the pharmacy is using as a base and it may not get into your

skin as nicely. I suggest 5% - 7.5% as an ideal.

Hope that makes sense. If not, let me know if you have any quesitons

and I will try and help out.

Cheers,

armyguy

P.S. Different compounding pharmacies use different bases, some are

better than others (for example DO NOT order from a pharmacy that

uses a PLO base). Androgel is made with an alcohol base, which works

well, however, will not work with compounded gel because the alcohol

evaporates. That's why androgel comes in individual packets, so the

alcohol does not evaporate. Compounded stuff comes in a months or

twos supply in one container, so alcohol base will not work. Note:

Phil mentioned College Pharmacy, I seem to remember hearing that

they have a good base for their gel. With a prescription in the

states you can order from them.

> I am going to ask my physician to write a prescription for the

> compounded equivalent of Androgel and then order it from Womens

> International Pharmacy or maybe Gulf South. Androgel's dosages

seem

> to be in grams yet some of the prescriptions that I have seen for

> compounded T seem to be in terms of milligrams as a percent of the

> base cream and so on. In any case, I cant figure it out.

>

> What would be the language to use in a prescription that was

> intended to be the generic equivalent of Androgel's 10G dosage?

>

> Thank you.

>

> Winter