Drug Groups

approved

Description

An ester of testosterone with a propionate substitution at the 17-beta position. [PubChem]

Indication

Testosterone propionate is an anabolic steroid and a short ester form of testosterone that becomes active in the body. It is often used for muscle mass building.

Pharmacology

Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group. Testosterone is primarily secreted from the testes of males. In females, it is produced in the ovaries, adrenal glands and by conversion of adrostenedione in the periphery. It is the principal male sex hormone and an anabolic steroid. In both males and females, it plays key roles in health and well-being. Examples include enhanced libido, energy, immune function, and protection against osteoporosis. On average, the adult male body produces about twenty times the amount of testosterone than an adult female's body does. In the body, this ester form of testosterone is hydrolyzed rapidly and become actively available as testosterone.

Toxicity

Side effects include amnesia, anxiety, discolored hair, dizziness, dry skin, hirsutism, hostility, impaired urination, paresthesia, penis disorder, peripheral edema, sweating, and vasodilation.

Affected Organisms

Biotransformation

Testosterone propionate is rapidly hydrolysed into testosterone. Testosterone is metabolized to 17-keto steroids through two different pathways. The major active metabolites are estradiol and dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Protein Binding

40% of testosterone in plasma is bound to sex hormone-binding globulin and 2% remains unbound and the rest is bound to albumin and other proteins.

Elimination

About 90% of a dose of testosterone given intramuscularly is excreted in the urine as glucuronic and sulfuric acid conjugates of testosterone and its metabolites; about 6% of a dose is excreted in the feces, mostly in the unconjugated form.

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