Methyltestosterone
![]() | |
![]() | |
Clinical data | |
---|---|
Trade names | Agoviron, Android, Metandren, Oraviron, Oreton, Testovis, Testred, Virilon, others |
Other names | RU-24400; NSC-9701; 17α-Methyltestosterone; 17α-Methylandrost-4-en-17β-ol-3-one[1][2][3] |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
Pregnancy category |
|
Routes of administration | By mouth, buccal, sublingual[4][5][6] |
Drug class | Androgen; Anabolic steroid |
ATC code | |
Legal status | |
Legal status |
|
Pharmacokinetic data | |
Bioavailability | ~70%[8] |
Protein binding | 98%[9] |
Metabolism | Liver |
Elimination half-life | 150 minutes (~2.5–3 hours)[8][10] |
Duration of action | 1–3 days[9] |
Excretion | Urine: 90%[9] Feces: 6%[9][11] |
Identifiers | |
| |
JSmol) | |
SMILES
| |
| |
(verify) |
Methyltestosterone, sold under the brand names Android, Metandren, and Testred among others, is an
Methyltestosterone was discovered in 1935 and was introduced for medical use in 1936.[6][17][18][19][4] It was made shortly after the discovery of testosterone and was one of the first synthetic AAS to be developed.[6][17][18] In addition to its medical use, methyltestosterone is used to improve physique and performance, although it is not as commonly used as other AAS for such purposes due to its androgenic effects, estrogenic effects, and risk of liver damage.[4] The drug is a controlled substance in many countries and so non-medical use is generally illicit.[4]
Uses
Medical
Methyltestosterone is or has been used in the treatment of
Methyltestosterone is less effective in inducing masculinization than testosterone, but is useful for maintaining established masculinization in adults.[20]
The dosages of methyltestosterone used are 10 to 50 mg/day in men for common medical uses like hypogonadism and delayed puberty as well as physique- and performance-enhancing purposes and 2.5 mg/day in women for menopausal symptoms.[4] Higher dosages of 50 to 200 mg/day have been used to treat women with inoperable breast cancer that has failed to respond to other therapies, although such dosages are associated with severe irreversible virilization.[4]
Route | Medication | Major brand names | Form | Dosage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oral | Testosteronea | – | Tablet | 400–800 mg/day (in divided doses) |
Testosterone undecanoate | Andriol, Jatenzo | Capsule | 40–80 mg/2–4× day (with meals) | |
Methyltestosteroneb | Android, Metandren, Testred | Tablet | 10–50 mg/day | |
Fluoxymesteroneb | Halotestin, Ora-Testryl, Ultandren | Tablet | 5–20 mg/day | |
Metandienoneb | Dianabol | Tablet | 5–15 mg/day | |
Mesteroloneb | Proviron | Tablet | 25–150 mg/day | |
Sublingual | Testosteroneb | Testoral | Tablet | 5–10 mg 1–4×/day |
Methyltestosteroneb | Metandren, Oreton Methyl | Tablet | 10–30 mg/day | |
Buccal | Testosterone | Striant | Tablet | 30 mg 2×/day |
Methyltestosteroneb | Metandren, Oreton Methyl | Tablet | 5–25 mg/day | |
Transdermal |
Testosterone | AndroGel, Testim, TestoGel | Gel | 25–125 mg/day |
Androderm, AndroPatch, TestoPatch | Non-scrotal patch | 2.5–15 mg/day | ||
Testoderm | Scrotal patch | 4–6 mg/day | ||
Axiron | Axillary solution | 30–120 mg/day | ||
Androstanolone (DHT) | Andractim | Gel | 100–250 mg/day | |
Rectal | Testosterone | Rektandron, Testosteronb | Suppository | 40 mg 2–3×/day |
SC ) |
Testosterone | Andronaq, Sterotate, Virosterone | Aqueous suspension | 10–50 mg 2–3×/week |
Testosterone propionateb | Testoviron | Oil solution | 10–50 mg 2–3×/week | |
Testosterone enanthate | Delatestryl | Oil solution | 50–250 mg 1x/1–4 weeks | |
Xyosted | Auto-injector | 50–100 mg 1×/week | ||
Testosterone cypionate | Depo-Testosterone | Oil solution | 50–250 mg 1x/1–4 weeks | |
Testosterone isobutyrate | Agovirin Depot | Aqueous suspension | 50–100 mg 1x/1–2 weeks | |
Testosterone phenylacetateb | Perandren, Androject | Oil solution | 50–200 mg 1×/3–5 weeks | |
Mixed testosterone esters | Sustanon 100, Sustanon 250 | Oil solution | 50–250 mg 1×/2–4 weeks | |
Testosterone undecanoate | Aveed, Nebido | Oil solution | 750–1,000 mg 1×/10–14 weeks | |
Testosterone buciclatea | – | Aqueous suspension | 600–1,000 mg 1×/12–20 weeks | |
Implant | Testosterone | Testopel | Pellet | 150–1,200 mg/3–6 months |
Notes: Men produce about 3 to 11 mg of testosterone per day (mean 7 mg/day in young men). Footnotes: a = Never marketed. b = No longer used and/or no longer marketed. Sources: See template. |
Route | Medication | Major brand names | Form | Dosage |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oral | Testosterone undecanoate | Andriol, Jatenzo | Capsule | 40–80 mg 1x/1–2 days |
Methyltestosterone | Metandren, Estratest | Tablet | 0.5–10 mg/day | |
Fluoxymesterone | Halotestin | Tablet | 1–2.5 mg 1x/1–2 days | |
Normethandronea | Ginecoside | Tablet | 5 mg/day | |
Tibolone | Livial | Tablet | 1.25–2.5 mg/day | |
Prasterone (DHEA)b | – | Tablet | 10–100 mg/day | |
Sublingual | Methyltestosterone | Metandren | Tablet | 0.25 mg/day |
Transdermal |
Testosterone | Intrinsa | Patch | 150–300 μg/day |
AndroGel | Gel, cream | 1–10 mg/day | ||
Vaginal |
Prasterone (DHEA) | Intrarosa | Insert | 6.5 mg/day |
Injection | Testosterone propionatea | Testoviron | Oil solution | 25 mg 1x/1–2 weeks |
Testosterone enanthate | Delatestryl, Primodian Depot | Oil solution | 25–100 mg 1x/4–6 weeks | |
Testosterone cypionate | Depo-Testosterone, Depo-Testadiol | Oil solution | 25–100 mg 1x/4–6 weeks | |
Testosterone isobutyratea | Femandren M, Folivirin | Aqueous suspension | 25–50 mg 1x/4–6 weeks | |
Mixed testosterone esters |
Climacterona | Oil solution | 150 mg 1x/4–8 weeks | |
Omnadren, Sustanon | Oil solution | 50–100 mg 1x/4–6 weeks | ||
Nandrolone decanoate | Deca-Durabolin | Oil solution | 25–50 mg 1x/6–12 weeks | |
Prasterone enanthatea | Gynodian Depot | Oil solution | 200 mg 1x/4–6 weeks | |
Implant | Testosterone | Testopel | Pellet | 50–100 mg 1x/3–6 months |
Notes: Over-the-counter . Sources: See template.
|
Route | Medication | Form | Dosage | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Oral | Methyltestosterone | Tablet | 30–200 mg/day | |
Fluoxymesterone | Tablet | 10–40 mg 3x/day | ||
Calusterone | Tablet | 40–80 mg 4x/day | ||
Normethandrone | Tablet | 40 mg/day | ||
Buccal | Methyltestosterone | Tablet | 25–100 mg/day | |
SC ) |
Testosterone propionate | Oil solution | 50–100 mg 3x/week | |
Testosterone enanthate | Oil solution | 200–400 mg 1x/2–4 weeks | ||
Testosterone cypionate | Oil solution | 200–400 mg 1x/2–4 weeks | ||
Mixed testosterone esters |
Oil solution | 250 mg 1x/week | ||
Methandriol | Aqueous suspension | 100 mg 3x/week | ||
Androstanolone (DHT) | Aqueous suspension | 300 mg 3x/week | ||
Drostanolone propionate | Oil solution | 100 mg 1–3x/week | ||
Metenolone enanthate | Oil solution | 400 mg 3x/week | ||
Nandrolone decanoate | Oil solution | 50–100 mg 1x/1–3 weeks | ||
Nandrolone phenylpropionate | Oil solution | 50–100 mg/week | ||
Note: Dosages are not necessarily equivalent. Sources: See template. |
Non-medical
Methyltestosterone is used for
Available forms
Methyltestosterone is typically used as an oral medication.[6] It is also available under the brand names Metandren and Oreton Methyl for use specifically by buccal or sublingual administration.[6][21] Methyltestosterone is available in the form of 2, 5, 10, and 25 mg oral tablets.[22][23] It was also available in combination with estrogens as esterified estrogens/methyltestosterone (0.625 mg/1.25 mg, 1.25 mg/2.5 mg) and conjugated estrogens/methyltestosterone (0.625 mg/5.0 mg, 1.25 mg/10 mg).[22]
Contraindications
Methyltestosterone should be used with caution in women and children, as it can cause irreversible virilization.
Side effects
Methyltestosterone can sometimes cause
Interactions
Pharmacology
Pharmacodynamics
Medication | Ratioa |
---|---|
Testosterone | ~1:1 |
Androstanolone (DHT) | ~1:1 |
Methyltestosterone | ~1:1 |
Methandriol | ~1:1 |
Fluoxymesterone | 1:1–1:15 |
Metandienone | 1:1–1:8 |
Drostanolone | 1:3–1:4 |
Metenolone | 1:2–1:30 |
Oxymetholone | 1:2–1:9 |
Oxandrolone | 1:3–1:13 |
Stanozolol | 1:1–1:30 |
Nandrolone | 1:3–1:16 |
Ethylestrenol | 1:2–1:19 |
Norethandrolone | 1:1–1:20 |
Notes: In rodents. Footnotes: a = Ratio of androgenic to anabolic activity. Sources: See template. |
As an AAS, methyltestosterone is an
Due to its combined disadvantages of a relatively poor ratio of anabolic to androgenic activity, unusually high estrogenicity, and the potential for hepatotoxicity (as with other 17α-alkylated AAS), methyltestosterone has not been used as commonly as many other AAS either in medicine or for physique- or performance-enhancing purposes.[4]
Pharmacokinetics
Absorption
Methyltestosterone has dramatically improved
Circulating levels of methyltestosterone with administration of 1.25 to 2.5 mg/day oral methyltestosterone in women are in the range of 20 to 30 ng/dL.[28] For comparison to testosterone, methyltestosterone is at least as potent as an AAS.[28] However, due to the large decrease in sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels and hence increase in free unbound testosterone caused by methyltestosterone, androgenic effects may be greater than reflected merely by methyltestosterone levels.[28]
Distribution
Methyltestosterone is highly
Metabolism
The
Excretion
Methyltestosterone is
Chemistry
Methyltestosterone, also known as 17α-methyltestosterone or as 17α-methylandrost-4-en-17β-ol-3-one, is a
Derivatives
Methyltestosterone and ethyltestosterone (17α-ethyltestosterone) are the parent structures of all 17α-alkylated AAS. Major 17α-alkylated AAS include the testosterone derivatives fluoxymesterone, metandienone (methandrostenolone), and methyltestosterone and the DHT derivatives oxandrolone, oxymetholone, and stanozolol.[4][24]
Synthesis
A

History
Methyltestosterone was first synthesized in 1935 along with methandriol and mestanolone.[33][34][6][17][18] It was the second synthetic AAS to be developed, following mesterolone (1α-methyl-DHT) in 1934, and was the first 17α-alkylated AAS to be synthesized.[6][17][18] The drug was introduced for medical use in 1936.[19][4]
Society and culture

Generic names
Methyltestosterone is the
Brand names
Brand names under which methyltestosterone is or has been marketed for medical use include Afro, Agovirin, Android, Androral, Mesteron, Metandren, Methitest, Methyltestosterone, Methyl Testosterone, Oraviron, Oreton, Oreton Methyl, Testormon, Testovis, Testred, and Virilon, among others.[1][2][3][36]
With an estrogen
Methyltestosterone is available at a low-dose in combination with esterified estrogens for the treatment of menopausal symptoms like hot flashes in women under the brand names Covaryx, Essian, Estratest, Menogen, and Syntest.[4][37]
Availability

United States
Although it is not commonly used, methyltestosterone is one of the few AAS that remains available for medical use in the United States.[4][36] The others are testosterone, testosterone cypionate, testosterone enanthate, testosterone undecanoate, oxandrolone, oxymetholone, and fluoxymesterone.[36]
Other countries
Methyltestosterone has also been marketed in many other countries throughout the world.[1][2][3][4][38][39]
Legal status
Methyltestosterone, along with other AAS, is a schedule III controlled substance in the United States under the Controlled Substances Act and a schedule IV controlled substance in Canada under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.[40][41]
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4757-2085-3.
- ^ ISBN 978-3-88763-075-1.
- ^ a b c d e f "Methyltestosterone".
- ^ ISBN 978-0-9679304-7-3.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4200-4744-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-3-319-46086-4.
- ^ Anvisa (2023-03-31). "RDC Nº 784 - Listas de Substâncias Entorpecentes, Psicotrópicas, Precursoras e Outras sob Controle Especial" [Collegiate Board Resolution No. 784 - Lists of Narcotic, Psychotropic, Precursor, and Other Substances under Special Control] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário Oficial da União (published 2023-04-04). Archived from the original on 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-60913-345-0.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8036-4581-3.
- ISBN 978-0-511-54522-1.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-471-97639-4.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-323-07824-5.
- ^ a b c "Android® C-III, Brand of Methyl TESTOSTERone" (PDF). Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
- ^ a b c "Esterified estrogens and methyltestosterone tablet, film coated". DailyMed. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- PMID 18500378.
- ISBN 978-3-642-66353-6.
- ^ ISBN 978-3-540-79088-4.
- ^ PMID 11589254.
- ^ a b N.A.R.D. journal. National Association of Retail Druggists. July 1956.
- ISBN 978-1-4684-5036-1.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-89970-160-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-387-97972-4.
- ISBN 978-3-7091-5694-0.
- ^ PMID 18500378.
- ISBN 978-0-08-093292-7.
- ISBN 978-1-4511-7861-6.
- ISBN 978-1-84214-311-7.
- ^ S2CID 9872335.
- PMID 6539197.
- ISBN 978-0-323-07575-6.
- ISBN 978-0-470-39959-0.
- ISBN 978-81-312-2190-7.
- PMID 8674183.
- ISSN 0018-019X.
- ^ ISBN 978-94-011-4439-1.
- ^ a b c "Drugs@FDA: FDA Approved Drug Products". United States Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
- ^ "Esterified Estrogens and Methyltestosterone (Oral Route) Description and Brand Names". Mayo Clinic.
- ISBN 978-3-7692-2114-5.
- ISBN 978-0-8155-1856-3.
- ISBN 978-1-4200-0346-8.
- ISBN 978-1-77172-066-3.
Further reading
- Phillips EH, Ryan S, Ferrari R, Green C (2003). "Estratest and Estratest HS (esterified estrogens and methyltestosterone) therapy: a summary of safety surveillance data, January 1989 to August 2002". Clin Ther. 25 (12): 3027–43. PMID 14749144.
- Kabat GC, Kamensky V, Heo M, Bea JW, Hou L, Lane DS, Liu S, Qi L, Simon MS, Wactawski-Wende J, Rohan TE (2014). "Combined conjugated esterified estrogen plus methyltestosterone supplementation and risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women". Maturitas. 79 (1): 70–6. PMID 25011395.
- El-Desoky el-SI, Reyad M, Afsah EM, Dawidar AA (2016). "Synthesis and chemical reactions of the steroidal hormone 17α-methyltestosterone". Steroids. 105: 68–95. S2CID 32620483.
External links
- "Methyltestosterone". William Llewellyn's Anabolic.org. Archived from the original on 2019-12-31. Retrieved 2020-04-01.