Nebido contains the active ingredient Testosterone Undecanoate, which is an ester of the naturally occurring male hormone testosterone.
Testosterone is known as an androgen. It is produced by the testicles and is the main hormone essential for normal growth and development of the male sex organs and male sexual characteristics. The natural production of testosterone is controlled by another set of hormones called gonadotrophins, which are released from the pituitary gland in the brain.
Nebido is called a depot injection. It is injected slowly into the muscle of the buttock where it forms a reservoir of medicine. The testosterone is gradually released all the time from the reservoir into the bloodstream. Nebido is usually given once every 10 to 14 weeks, though the frequency will depend on your individual testosterone levels. After your first injection you may be asked to come back for another injection after only six weeks, so the correct level of testosterone is reached quickly.
Use with caution in: elderly people, people with a history of kidney or liver disease, people with a history of heart disease, eg heart attack or heart failure, people with a history of high blood pressure (hypertension), epilepsy, diabetes, people with a history of migraines, people with sleep apnoea (when breathing temporarily stops during sleep), people with cancer that has spread from its original site to the bones (skeletal metastases).
Not to be used in women, prostate cancer, breast cancer. Nebido is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age. Nebido should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
Reaction at the injection site: prostate problems, such as growth of the prostate gland, increased PSA levels and prostate cancer (see warning section above), headache, feeling sick and vomiting, mood changes, depression, nervousness, anxiety or irritability, change in sex drive, breast pain, enlargement of the breasts, persistent painful erection of the penis (priapism).
Tell your doctor straight away if you experience this: decreased sperm count, swelling caused by fluid retention, increased blood pressure (hypertension), increased levels of red blood cells and haemoglobin in the bloo (polycythaemia), Weight gain, pain in the muscle or joints, male-pattern hair loss.