Xyosted (testosterone enanthate) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed to treat testosterone deficiency in adults. Xyosted comes as a solution in a prefilled auto-injector pen. It’s typically given once per week.

Xyosted is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat:

  • primary hypogonadism, which is low testosterone caused by an issue with the testicles
  • secondary hypogonadism, which is low testosterone that occurs when the brain stops signaling the testicles to produce enough testosterone

Xyosted belongs to a drug class called androgens. It is not available in a generic version.

Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Xyosted, including its strengths and how to use the medication. For a comprehensive look at Xyosted, see this article.

Note: This article describes typical dosages for Xyosted provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Xyosted, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

Below is information about Xyosted’s form, strengths, and dosages.

Xyosted form

Xyosted comes as a solution in a single-use prefilled auto-injector pen. It’s given as a subcutaneous injection in your abdomen. Each prefilled pen contains 0.5 milliliters (mL) of solution.

Xyosted strengths

Xyosted comes in three strengths:

  • 50 milligrams (mg)
  • 75 mg
  • 100 mg

Typical dosages

Typically, your doctor will start by prescribing you a low dosage. Then, they’ll adjust it over time to reach the amount that’s right for you. Your doctor will prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for testosterone replacement therapy

Doctors may prescribe Xyosted for testosterone replacement therapy.

If your doctor prescribes Xyosted for this purpose, your starting dose will likely be 75 mg. After your first dose, you or a caregiver can administer your Xyosted injection at home once per week.

After 6 weeks of treatment, your doctor will check your testosterone levels. Then, they may increase or decrease your dose to reach the right testosterone levels for you.

Your doctor will monitor your testosterone levels throughout treatment with Xyosted and adjust your dose as necessary.

For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.

Long-term treatment

Xyosted is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that this medication is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely use it long term.

Before you start using Xyosted, your doctor will discuss your treatment plan with you.

The Xyosted dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on your testosterone levels. Your doctor will measure your testosterone levels periodically during treatment with Xyosted.

Xyosted comes as a solution in a single-use, prefilled auto-injector pen. It’s given as a subcutaneous injection.

With a subcutaneous injection, you’ll inject the medication under your skin. You or a caregiver will use the auto-injector pen to give your Xyosted dose. Your doctor will show you the proper injection technique when you’re first prescribed the medication.

Xyosted should be injected into your abdomen. Do not inject Xyosted within 2 inches of your belly button. Be sure to choose a different injection site each time you inject Xyosted. And avoid areas where your skin is tender, hard, or irritated. This will reduce your risk of injection-related side effects, such as bleeding or pain at the injection site.

If you have questions about how to use Xyosted, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. The manufacturer’s website also has an instruction video and detailed instructions for giving the injection.

ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS

Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

You should give yourself a Xyosted injection on the same day each week. If you miss a dose of Xyosted on your regular day, give yourself the dose as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next scheduled dose. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed one.

If you’re not sure whether you should take a missed dose or skip it, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your bathroom mirror or bedside table. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.

Xyosted carries a risk of misuse. With misuse, a drug is used in a way other than how it’s prescribed. This can lead to addiction, which is when a person continues to use the drug even though it’s causing harm.

Serious side effects have been reported with the misuse of testosterone drugs, such as Xyosted. These include:

In addition, long-term misuse may cause dependence.

This means you may experience withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop using this drug after prolonged misuse. (Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that happen after you stop taking a drug your body has become dependent on.)

With Xyosted dependence, your body may stop producing natural testosterone.

For this reason, it’s important to use Xyosted exactly as your doctor prescribes. Withdrawal and dependence are not expected to occur with appropriate use.

It’s important that you don’t use more Xyosted than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you take more than the recommended amount of Xyosted

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Xyosted. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

Below are some frequently asked questions about Xyosted.

Can Xyosted be used for bodybuilding? If so, what’s the dosage?

No, Xyosted is not approved for use in bodybuilding. Doctors will not prescribe it for this purpose.

However, it’s important to note that Xyosted is an anabolic steroid. Many anabolic steroids, including Xyosted, have been misused as performance enhancers for certain sports.

Inappropriate use of Xyosted can cause serious side effects, such as liver damage and heart failure.

For more information about serious side effects of Xyosted, talk with your doctor. To learn about bodybuilding supplements and safe alternatives to Xyosted, see this article.

What is the recommended maximum dosage of Xyosted?

The maximum recommended dosage of Xyosted is 100 mg, given once per week. However, your doctor may prescribe a lower dosage depending on your testosterone levels.

Xyosted has a starting dose of 75 mg. Periodically throughout treatment and 6 weeks after a dosage change, your doctor will check your testosterone levels. If necessary, they may increase or decrease your dose by 25 mg. The lowest recommended dose of Xyosted is 50 mg, given once per week.

If you have questions or concerns about your dosage of Xyosted, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not adjust your dosage unless your doctor recommends doing so.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Xyosted for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.

As with any drug, never change your dosage of Xyosted without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Xyosted that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Xyosted. These additional articles might be helpful:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.