How Testim is Supplied
Testim 1% testosterone gel is supplied as a topical gel in tube form, with each tube containing 50 mg of testosterone in 5 grams of gel. 1
Available Formulations
Testim is distinct from other testosterone gel formulations (such as testosterone gel 1.62%) in its packaging and concentration:
- Testim 1% gel comes in tubes that deliver 50 mg or 100 mg doses of testosterone 2, 3
- Each 5-gram application of Testim 1% contains 50 mg of testosterone 4, 5
- The gel formulation is hydroalcoholic-based, designed to dry within minutes after application 5
Dosing and Administration
- The recommended starting dose is 50 mg daily, applied to the arms and shoulders 2, 3
- Doses can be titrated to 100 mg daily based on serum testosterone levels measured at follow-up 3
- The approved application site for Testim is specifically the arms and shoulders, which differs from other testosterone gels that may be applied to multiple body sites 4
Bioavailability
- Approximately 9-14% of the applied testosterone is bioavailable through the skin 5
- Application to the arms/shoulders provides superior testosterone absorption compared to chest/abdomen or legs/calves 4
Key Differences from Other Formulations
- Testim is NOT interchangeable with testosterone gel 1.62% (which comes in metered-dose pumps delivering 20.25 mg per actuation or unit-dose packets) 1
- Testim 50 mg demonstrates 30% higher total testosterone AUC and 47% higher free testosterone AUC compared to AndroGel 50 mg 3
- Testim causes significantly fewer application-site reactions (10-fold fewer) compared to testosterone patches 3