Alternative Medicine
The following information is specific for alternative and complementary medicine.
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Methyltestosterone is a hormone used in men to treat testosterone deficiency, and in women to treat breast cancer, as well as breast pain and swelling following pregnancy. It is also combined with estrogen (Estratest®) to treat symptoms associated with menopause.
An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary
indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary,
and/or contradictory scientific evidence.
A 59-year-old man developed an inability to see well at night following treatment with methyltestosterone.1 Laboratory tests revealed low blood levels of vitamin A and beta-carotene, which may have resulted from taking the drug. More research is needed to determine if vitamin A and beta-carotene supplementation is required for people taking methyltestosterone.
Taking methyltestosterone increased the amount of zinc in the blood and hair of boys with short stature or growth retardation.2 It is not known whether this increase would occur in other people or whether zinc supplementation by people taking methyltestosterone would result in zinc toxicity. Until more is known, zinc supplementation should be combined with methyltestosterone therapy only under the supervision of a doctor.
DHEA supplementation has been shown to increase blood levels of testosterone,3, 4, 5 as does methyltestosterone. No studies have investigated the possible additive effects of taking DHEA and methyltestosterone, but either increased drug effectiveness or more severe side effects are possible. Until more is known, these agents should be combined only under the supervision of a doctor.
Androstenedione (Andro)
Andro supplementation has been shown to increase blood levels of testosterone in women,6 but not in men.7 No studies have investigated the possible additive effects of taking andro and methyltestosterone, but either increased drug effectiveness or more severe side effects are possible. Until more is known, these agents should be combined only under the supervision of a doctor.
Nisbett SB, Parker JA, Habal F. Methyltestosterone-induced night blindness. Can J Ophthalmol 1985;20:254-6.
Castro-Magana M, Collipp PJ, Chen SY et al. Zinc nutritional status, androgens, and growth retardation. Am J Dis Child 1981;135:322-5.
Wolf OT, Neumann O, Hellhammer DH, et al. Effects of a two-week physiological dehydroepiandrosterone substitution on cognitive performance and well-being in healthy elderly women and men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997;82:2263-7.
Labrie F, Belanger A, Simard J, et al. DHEA and peripheral androgen and estrogen formation: Intracinology. Ann NY Acad Sci 1995;774:16-28.
Morales AJ, Nolan JJ, Nelson JC, Yen SSC. Effects of replacement dose of DHEA in men and women of advancing age. J Clin Endorcrionol Metab 1994;78:1360.
Mahesh VB, Greenblatt RB. The in vivo conversion of dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione to testosterone in the human. Acta Endocrinologica 1962;41:400-6.
King DS, Sharp RL, Vukovich MD, et al. Effect of oral androstenedione on serum testosterone and adaptations to resistance training in young men: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 1999;281:2020-8.
The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires August 2007.
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