---
title: "Psych News Alert: Psychiatrists Should Be Alert to Testosterone Abuse"
description: The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday announced  that a new warning of the serious adverse outcomes associated with testosterone an...
image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/fda_2014_fw-Jun-24-2025-09-20-53-9053-PM.png
---

 10/26/16 12:00 AM

# Psychiatrists Should Be Alert to Testosterone Abuse

![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert)

Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/10/psychiatrists-should-be-alert-to.html) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/10/psychiatrists-should-be-alert-to.html) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/10/psychiatrists-should-be-alert-to.html) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/10/psychiatrists-should-be-alert-to.html) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/10/psychiatrists-should-be-alert-to.html)

| ![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/fda_2014_fw-Jun-24-2025-09-20-54-8024-PM.png?width=200&height=84&name=fda_2014_fw-Jun-24-2025-09-20-54-8024-PM.png) |  |
| --- | --- |

The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday [announced](http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm526151.htm) that a new warning of the serious adverse outcomes associated with testosterone and other anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), including those related to heart and mental health, will now appear on all prescription testosterone products.

The use of prescription testosterone products as hormone replacement therapy is FDA approved for men who have low testosterone due to certain medical conditions. Additionally, there is [evidence](http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.pn.2016.4a16) to suggest that men with depression who use testosterone gel may experience improvements in mood. However, it is well known that testosterone and other AAS are abused by adults and adolescents, including athletes and body builders.

“Abuse of testosterone, usually at doses higher than those typically prescribed and usually in conjunction with other AAS, is associated with serious safety risks affecting the heart, brain, liver, mental health, and endocrine system,” according to an FDA statement. “Reported serious adverse outcomes include heart attack, heart failure, stroke, depression, hostility, aggression, liver toxicity, and male infertility. Individuals abusing high doses of testosterone have also reported withdrawal symptoms, such as depression, fatigue, irritability, loss of appetite, decreased libido, and insomnia.”

According to the FDA, the classwide labeling changes will include additional information about other adverse outcomes associated with abuse and dependence of testosterone/AAS as well as advice to prescribers on the importance of measuring serum testosterone concentration if abuse is suspected.

For related information, see “[Large Trial Suggests Testosterone Offers Moderate Benefits](http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.pn.2016.4a16).”

[depression](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/depression), [insomnia](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/insomnia), [aggression](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/aggression), [testosterone](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/testosterone), [FDA](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/fda), [Food and Drug Administration](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/food-and-drug-administration), [abuse](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/abuse), [testosterone replacement](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/testosterone-replacement), [stroke](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/stroke)

## Related posts

[![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/seniors_129923204-Jun-24-2025-10-37-21-6983-PM.jpg?height=200&name=seniors_129923204-Jun-24-2025-10-37-21-6983-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/02/testosterone-replacement-shows-modest.html)

[depression](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/depression), [testosterone](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/testosterone), [mood symptoms](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/mood-symptoms), [fatigue](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/fatigue), [testosterone replacement](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/testosterone-replacement), [senior citizens](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/senior-citizens)

## [Testosterone Replacement Shows Modest Benefits for Depression and Mood](https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/02/testosterone-replacement-shows-modest.html)

![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 

 2/22/16 12:00 AM

In addition to improving sexual and physical function, testosterone-replacement therapy may...

[ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/02/testosterone-replacement-shows-modest.html)

[![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/veterans_115443274-Jun-24-2025-09-47-11-4152-PM.gif?height=200&name=veterans_115443274-Jun-24-2025-09-47-11-4152-PM.gif) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2014/03/legislation-introduced-to-increase.html)

[Veterans Health Administration](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/veterans-health-administration), [Jeffrey Lieberman](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/jeffrey-lieberman), [Saul Levin](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/saul-levin), [PTSD](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/ptsd), [M.D.](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/m-d-), [M.P.A.](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/m-p-a-), [Ensuring Veterans' Resilience Act](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/ensuring-veterans-resilience-act)

## [Legislation Introduced to Increase Psychiatric Workforce in VA](https://alert.psychnews.org/2014/03/legislation-introduced-to-increase.html)

![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 

 3/17/14 12:00 AM

Legislation was introduced in Congress last week to address the ongoing psychiatric workforce...

[ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2014/03/legislation-introduced-to-increase.html)

[![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/cybernetwork_49213126-Jun-24-2025-03-53-58-1818-PM.jpg?height=200&name=cybernetwork_49213126-Jun-24-2025-03-53-58-1818-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/09/psychiatrists-should-be-alert-to-social.html)

[psychiatrists](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/psychiatrists), [social media](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/social-media)

## [Psychiatrists Should Be Alert to Social Media Pitfalls](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/09/psychiatrists-should-be-alert-to-social.html)

![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 

 6/24/24 11:16 AM

[ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2011/09/psychiatrists-should-be-alert-to-social.html)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Psychiatric News Alert",
    "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2025-06-24T21:24:08.756Z",
  "datePublished" : "2016-10-26T04:00:00.000Z",
  "headline" : "Psych News Alert: Psychiatrists Should Be Alert to Testosterone Abuse",
  "image" : [ "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/fda_2014_fw-Jun-24-2025-09-20-53-9053-PM.png" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/2016/10/psychiatrists-should-be-alert-to.html",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/PN-Blue-Box.jpg"
    }
  }
}
```