17-Methyltestosterone, a synthetic derivative of testosterone, is an androgen and anabolic steroid (AAS) medication. It is mainly used in the treatment of low testosterone levels in men, delayed puberty in boys, at low doses as a component of menopausal hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, osteoporosis, and low sexual desire in women, and to treat breast cancer in women (1-3). It appears as white or creamy white crystals or powder, which is soluble in various organic sol vents but is practically insoluble in water. It should be subject to oral administration.
Methyltestosterone was first discovered in 1935 and was introduced for medical use in 1936. It was synthesized shortly after the discovery of testosterone, being one of the first synthetic AAS drug. 17-Methyltestosterone, beyond its medical function, can also be used to improve physique and performance, although it is not as commonly used as other AAS for such purposes due to its androgenic effects, estrogenic effects, and risk of liver damage. The drug is a controlled substance in many countries and so non-medical use is generally illicit.
Indication and administration
It has been used in the treatment of various symptoms such as hypogonadism, cryptorchidism, delayed puberty, and erectile dysfunction in males, and in low doses to treat menopausal symptoms (specifically for osteoporosis, hot flashes, and to increase libido and energy), postpartum breast pain and engorgement.
In US, 17-Methyltestosterone is an anabolic steroid hormone that majorly used to treat men with a testosterone deficiency, hypogonadism and delayed puberty. Hypogonadism include both primary type and hypogonadotropic type: the former one can be caused by cryptorchidism, bilateral torsions, orchitis, vanishing testis syndrome; or orchidectomy. The later one includes idiopathic gonadotropin or LHRH deficiency, or pituitary hypothalamic injury from tumors, trauma, or radiation. It is also used in women to treat breast cancer, breast pain, swelling due to pregnancy, and with the addition of estrogen it can treat symptoms of menopause. It has also been used in combination with esterified estrogens for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause in females.
17-Methyltestosterone is administered orally. The suggested dosage varies depending on the age, sex, and diagnosis of the individual patient. Dosage is adjusted according to the patient's response and the appearance of adverse reactions. Replacement therapy in androgen-deficient males usually demands 10 to 50 mg of 17-Methyltestosterone daily. However, the chronological and skeletal ages must be taken into consideration both in determining the initial dose and in adjusting the dose. Doses used in the treatment of the delayed puberty generally are in the lower range of that given above, and for a limited duration, for example 4 to 6 months. For the treatment of women breast cancer, the dosage of 17-Methyltestosterone in females is from 50-200 mg daily.
17-Methyltestosterone take effects through two main mechanisms: activation of the androgen receptor (directly or as DHT), and by conversion to estradiol and activation of certain estrogen receptors.
17-Methyltestosterone can enter into the target tissue cells, binding to the androgen receptor, or being reduced to 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by the cytoplasmic enzyme 5α-reductase. DHT binds to the same androgen receptor even more strongly, yielding a even stronger androgenic potency. The T-receptor or DHT-receptor complex undergoes a structural change that allows it to move into the cell nucleus and bind directly to specific nucleotide sequences of the chromosomal DNA, which is called hormone response elements (HREs). This process regulates the transcriptional activity of various genes, further producing the androgen effects.
17-methyltestosterone can cause various kinds of adverse reactions. Common side effects include increased facial/body hair growth, scalp hair loss, increased aggressiveness, skin, acne, seborrhea, and sex drive and spontaneous erections. There are also some kinds of estrogenic side effects such as breast tenderness, gynecomastia, fluid retention, and edema. Men can suffer hypogonadism, testicular atrophy, and reversible infertility. Women can sometimes suffer partially irreversible virilization including clitoromegaly, breast atrophy, voice deepening, hirsutism and muscle hypertrophy, as well as menstrual disturbances and reversible infertility.
17-methyltestosterone may also cause hepatotoxicity including elevated liver enzymes, cholestatic jaundice, peliosis hepatis, hepatomas, and hepatocellular carcinoma. It can also have adverse effect on the cardiovascular system such as causing erythropoiesis, increase hematocrit levels or even polycythemia, further leading to even thrombic events such as embolism and stroke. Finally, long-term treatment increase the risk of cancer. Some extreme cases also include hypomania/mania, depression, delusions, suicidality and psychosis.
People of the following cases should not use it: allergy; prostate cancer; male breast cancer, pregnant.
People with liver or kidney disease, an enlarged prostate, heart disease, congestive heart failure should use with caution.
- Alexandre Hohl (6 April 2017). Testosterone: From Basic to Clinical Aspects. Springer. pp. 204–. ISBN 978-3-319-46086-4.
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- Zheng, Z., B. A. Armfield, and M. J. Cohn. "Timing of androgen receptor disruption and estrogen exposure underlies a spectrum of congenital penile anomalies." PNAS 112.52(2015):201515981.
- Komada, S., et al. "Side gland of Suncus murinus, as a new model of sebaceous gland: 5α-reductase, androgen receptor, and nuclear androgen content in male and female animals." Archives of Dermatological Research 280.8(1989):487-493.
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Methyltestosterone is a synthetic analog of testosterone that possesses all of the properties of
testosterone, exhibiting stimulatory action on the development of male sex organs and secondary sex characteristics, although it is not degraded by enzymes in the gastrointestinal
tract, and therefore it can only be taken orally
white to slightly yellowish-white crystalline
It is used for the same indications as testosterone for sexual underdevelopment, functional problems of the reproductive system, and the
vascular nerve disorders associated with climacteric problems in men. It is also used for dysfunctional uterine bleeding in premenopausal and menopausal women as well as for breast
and ovarian cancer.
Androgen. It has been used as an androgenic agent.
Controlled substance (anabolic steroid).
ChEBI: A 17beta-hydroxy steroid that is testosterone bearing a methyl group at the 17alpha position.
0.6 g of 17-Methyl-?5,6-androstenediol-(3,17) is heated under reflux cooling during 20 hours in 50 cm3 of benzene and 12 cm3 of acetone with 3 g of tertiary chloromagnesium butylate, which may be prepared by conversion of acetone with methyl magnesium chloride. The magnesium is then removed by shaking out with dilute H2SO4; the benzene layer is washed with water, dried with sodium sulfate and then evaporated to dryness. Methyltestosterone (MP 160° to 162°C) is obtained in a yield of more than 75% of the theory, according to US Patent 2,384,335.
Android (Valeant);Metandren (Novartis); Oreton (Schering); Testred (Valeant); Virilon (Star).
The synthesis of 17α-methyltestosterone made available a compound that was orally active in
daily doses between 10 and 50 mg, which is equivalent to a 400 mg oral dose of testosterone. The
presence of a 17α alkyl group reduces susceptibility to hepatic oxidative metabolism, thereby
increasing oral bioavailability by slowing metabolism. Following oral administration,
methyltestosterone is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, with a half-life of approximately 3
hours. This drug has the androgenic and anabolic activities of testosterone. Although orally active, it
is more effective when administered sublingually. The alkylated oral androgens should be viewed as
potentially hepatotoxic and should not be used.
Poison by
intraperitoneal route. Moderately toxic by
ingestion. Human teratogenic effects by
ingestion: developmental abnormalities of
the urogenital system. Experimental
teratogenic and reproductive effects. Human
systemic effects: cholestatic jaundce, weight
loss or decreased weight gain. Questionable human carcinogen producing liver tumors.
A synthetic androgenic steroid. When
heated to decomposition it emits acrid
smoke and irritating fumes.
Methyltestosterone, 17|?-hydroxy-17|á-methylandrost-4-en-3-one
(29.1.7), is also synthesized from androstenolone by reacting it with methylmagnesiumiodide, forming the corresponding tertiary alcohol (29.1.6), and subsequent oxidation of the
hydroxyl group at C3 to a ketone using chromium (VI) oxide. Simultaneous isomerization
of the double bond takes place under the reaction conditions, giving the desired methyltestosterone (29.1.7).
This anabolic steroid is crystallised from hexane or hexane/*benzene. It has E1cm 1% 495-530 at 241nm (EtOH). The colour reaction with 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazine is used for assaying it. [Gornall & Macdonald J Biol Chem 201 279 1953.] In another colour reaction the sterone (1mg) in acetic acid (0.2ml) + 88% H3PO4 (2mL) is allowed to stand for 1hour when it becames fluorescent. After 1hour it is diluted with acetic acid (~3mL) and provides a strong yellow fluorescence with the intensity of 50-100 times that of estrone. [Stuart & Stuckey J Pharm Pharmacol 1 130 1949, Openauer Rec Trav Chim Pays-Bas 56 137 137, Beilstein 8 IV 1010.]
