Usual Adult Dose for Weight Loss

2.5 mg to 20 mg orally in 2 to 4 divided doses
Duration of therapy: 2 to 4 weeks, may be repeated intermittently as indicated.

Uses:

• Adjunctive therapy to promote weight gain after weight loss following extensive surgery, chronic infections, or severe trauma, and in some patients who without definite pathophysiologic reasons fail to gain or to maintain normal weight
• To offset the protein catabolism associated with prolonged administration of corticosteroids
• For the relief of the bone pain frequently accompanying osteoporosis

Usual Geriatric Dose for Weight Loss

5 mg orally twice a day

Uses:

• Adjunctive therapy to promote weight gain after weight loss following extensive surgery, chronic infections, or severe trauma, and in some patients who without definite pathophysiologic reasons fail to gain or to maintain normal weight
• To offset the protein catabolism associated with prolonged administration of corticosteroids
• For the relief of the bone pain frequently accompanying osteoporosis

Usual Pediatric Dose for Weight Loss

Less than or equal to 0.1 mg per kg body weight, may be repeated intermittently as indicated.

Uses:

• Adjunctive therapy to promote weight gain after weight loss following extensive surgery, chronic infections, or severe trauma, and in some patients who without definite pathophysiologic reasons fail to gain or to maintain normal weight
• To offset the protein catabolism associated with prolonged administration of corticosteroids
• For the relief of the bone pain frequently accompanying osteoporosis

Renal Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Liver Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Precautions

US BOXED WARNINGS:

• PELIOSIS HEPATIS: Peliosis hepatis is a condition in which liver and sometimes splenic tissue is replaced with blood-filled cysts, has been reported in patients receiving androgenic anabolic steroid therapy. These cysts are sometimes present with minimal hepatic dysfunction, but at other times have been associated with liver failure. They are often not recognized until life-threatening liver failure or intraabdominal hemorrhage develops. Withdrawal of this drug usually results in complete disappearance of lesions.
• LIVER CELL TUMORS: Liver cell tumors have been reported. Most often, these tumors are benign and androgen-dependent, but fatal malignant tumors have been reported. Withdrawal of this drug often results in regression or cessation of progression of the tumor. However, hepatic tumors associated with androgens or anabolic steroids are much more vascular than other hepatic tumors and may be silent until life-threatening intraabdominal hemorrhage develops.
• BLOOD LIPID CHANGES: Blood lipid changes that are known to be associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis are seen in patients treated with androgens or anabolic steroids. These changes include decreased high-density lipoproteins and sometimes increased low-density lipoproteins. The changes may be very marked and could have a serious impact on the risk of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease.

• Known or suspected carcinoma of the prostate or the male breast
• Carcinoma of the breast in females with hypercalcemia (androgenic anabolic steroids may stimulate osteolytic bone resorption)
• Pregnancy (possible masculinization of the fetus)
• Nephrosis, the nephrotic phase of nephritis
• Hypercalcemia.

Dialysis

Data not available

Other Comments

Administration advice:

• Therapy with anabolic steroids is adjunctive to and not a replacement for conventional therapy.
• The duration of therapy will depend on the response of the patient and the possible appearance of adverse reactions.
• Therapy should be intermittent.

• Patients should report immediately any use of warfarin and any bleeding.
• All patients should report any nausea, vomiting, changes in skin color, or ankle swelling.
• Male patients should report any of the following side effects: Too frequent or persistent erections of the penis, appearance or aggravation of acne.
• Females patients should report hoarseness, acne, changes in menstrual periods, or more facial hair.