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Fortesta (Testosterone) - Indications and Dosage

 
 



INDICATIONS AND USAGE

FORTESTA is an androgen indicated for replacement therapy in males for conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone:

  • Primary hypogonadism (congenital or acquired) – testicular failure due to conditions such as cryptorchidism, bilateral torsion, orchitis, vanishing testis syndrome, orchiectomy, Klinefelter’s syndrome, chemotherapy, or toxic damage from alcohol, heavy metals. These men usually have low serum testosterone concentrations and gonadotropins (Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH)) above the normal range.
  • Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (congenital or acquired) – idiopathic gonadotropin or luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) deficiency or pituitary-hypothalamic injury from tumors, trauma, or radiation. These men have low serum testosterone concentrations but have gonadotropins in the normal or low range.

Important limitations of use:  Safety and efficacy of FORTESTA in males <18 years old have not been established [see Use in Specific Populations].

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

Dosing and Dose Adjustment

The recommended starting dose of FORTESTA is 40 mg of testosterone (4 pump actuations) applied once daily to the thighs in the morning. The dose can be adjusted between a minimum of 10 mg of testosterone and a maximum of 70 mg of testosterone. To ensure proper dosing, the dose should be titrated based on the serum testosterone concentration from a single blood draw 2 hours after applying FORTESTA at approximately 14 days and 35 days after starting treatment or following dose adjustment. In addition, serum testosterone concentration should be assessed periodically thereafter. Table 1 describes the dose adjustments required at each titration step.

Table 1 - Dose Adjustment Criteria
Total Serum Testosterone Concentration 2 hours
Post FORTESTA Application
Dose Titration
 Equal to or greater than 2,500 ng/dL  Decrease daily dose by 20 mg (2 pump actuations)
 Equal to or greater than 1,250 and less than 2,500 ng/dL  Decrease daily dose by 10 mg (1 pump actuation)
 Equal to or greater than 500 and less than 1,250 ng/dL  No change: continue on current dose
 Less than 500 ng/dL  Increase daily dose by 10 mg (1 pump actuation)

The application site and dose of FORTESTA are not interchangeable with other topical testosterone products.

Administration Instructions

FORTESTA should be applied directly to clean, dry, intact skin of the front and inner thighs. Do not apply FORTESTA to the genitals or other parts of the body. Patients should be instructed to use one finger to gently rub FORTESTA evenly onto the front and inner area of each thigh as directed in Table 2.

Table 2 – Application of FORTESTA
Total Dose of
Testosterone
Total Pump
Actuations
Pump Actuations per Thigh
Thigh #1 Thigh #2
 10 mg  1  1  0
 20 mg  2  1  1
 30 mg  3  2  1
 40 mg  4  2  2
 50 mg  5  3  2
 60 mg  6  3  3
 70 mg  7  4  3

Once the application site is dry, the site should be covered with clothing [see Clinical Pharmacology ]. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. Avoid applying the gel to the thigh adjacent to the scrotum. Avoid fire, flames or smoking until the gel has dried since alcohol based products, including FORTESTA, are flammable.

The patient should avoid swimming or showering or washing the administration site for a minimum of 2 hours after application [see Clinical Pharmacology].

To obtain a full first dose, it is necessary to prime the canister pump. To do so, with the canister in the upright position, slowly and fully depress the actuator eight times. The first three actuations may result in no discharge of gel. Safely discard the gel from the first eight actuations. It is only necessary to prime the pump before the first dose.

Strict adherence to the following precautions is advised in order to minimize the potential for secondary exposure to testosterone from FORTESTA-treated skin:

  • Children and women should avoid contact with unwashed or unclothed application site(s) of men using FORTESTA.
  • FORTESTA should only be applied to the front and inner thighs (area of application should be limited to the area that will be covered by the patient’s shorts or pants).
  • Patients should wash their hands immediately with soap and water after applying FORTESTA.
  • Patients should cover the application site(s) with clothing (e.g., shorts of sufficient length or pants) after the gel has dried.
  • Prior to any situation in which skin-to-skin contact with the application site is anticipated, patients should wash the application site(s) thoroughly with soap and water to remove any testosterone residue.
  • In the event that unwashed or unclothed skin to which FORTESTA has been applied comes in direct contact with the skin of another person, the general area of contact on the other person should be washed with soap and water as soon as possible.

DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS

FORTESTA (testosterone) Gel for topical use only, is supplied in a metered-dose pump. One pump actuation delivers 10 mg of testosterone.

HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING

FORTESTA is supplied in 60 g canisters with a metered dose pump that delivers 10 mg of testosterone per complete pump actuation. The metered dose pump is capable of dispensing 120 metered pump actuations. One pump actuation dispenses 0.5 g of gel.

FORTESTA is available in packages of 1, 2 and 3 canisters (NDC 63481-183-16, NDC 63481-183-17 and NDC 63481-183-18, respectively).

Store at controlled room temperature 20o-25oC (68o-77oF); excursions permitted to 15o-30oC (59o-86oF). [See USP]. Do Not Freeze.

Used FORTESTA canisters should be discarded in household trash in a manner that prevents accidental application or ingestion by children or pets.

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