Testosterone Booster Side Effects. Are you taking in a testosterone booster and are wondering about its side effects? The Mayo Clinic has published a helpful list of testosterone booster side effects — whether taken orally, through the nasal route, transdermal delivery, buccal administration, topical application, or intramuscular injection — which you can check out below. If you have any of these symptoms while taking in testosterone boosters, go consult your doctor immediately.
Common Testosterone Booster Side Effects (Nasal Route):
- discomfort in the nose
- fever
- headache
- muscle aches
- sore throat
- stuffy or runny nose
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- bloody nose
- body aches or pain
- chills
- cough
- difficulty with breathing
- ear congestion
- loss of voice
- pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
- sneezing
- tightness of the chest
Common Testosterone Booster Side Effects (Transdermal Route):
- skin itching, blistering, or redness at the application site
- blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, or flaking of the skin
- bloody or black, tarry stools
- burning feeling at the application site
- constipation
- difficult urination
- hardening or thickening of the skin under patch
- itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin
- pelvic pain
- severe stomach pain
- vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
Common Testosterone Booster Side Effects (Buccal Route):
- gum or mouth irritation
- bad, unusual, or unpleasant (after) taste, or change in taste
- bleeding gums/swelling of the gums/gum pain or blisters/redness and swelling of the gums
- blemishes on the skin/itching skin
- breast pain/enlarged breasts
- cough
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- dry mouth
- dysphoria
- mouth ulcers
- nausea
- noisy breathing
- painful or difficult urination
- paranoia
- passing of gas
- pounding in the ears
- quick to react or overreact emotionally/rapidly changing moods
- slow or fast heartbeat
- stinging of the lips
- stomach cramps, pain, fullness, or discomfort
- swelling of the nose
- tiredness
- toothache
- trouble concentrating
- trouble sleeping
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting
Common Testosterone Booster Side Effects (Topical Application Route):
- blood in the urine
- difficulty urinating
- frequent urination
- bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
- blurred vision
- feeling faint, dizzy, or lightheaded
- feeling of warmth or heat
- flushing or redness of the skin, especially on the face and neck
- frequent strong or increased urge to urinate
- headache
- nervousness
- pain, redness, or swelling in the arm or leg
- pounding in the ears
- slow or fast heartbeat
- sweating
- swelling of the breasts or breast soreness in both females and males
- tingling of the hands or feet
- unusual weight gain or loss
- waking to urinate at night
Common Testosterone Booster Side Effects (Intramuscular Route):
- acne or pimples
- attack, assault, or force
- changes in mood
- irritability
- not able to ejaculate semen
- pain or redness at the injection site
- trouble sleeping
- weight gain
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Now, one of the burning questions these days is whether testosterone boosters have serious cardiovascular side effects. Both the US Food and Drugs Administration and the European Medicines Agency have stated that, to date, the evidence is not sufficient to conclude that the use of testosterone increases the risk of heart problems.
In contrast, in June 2014, Health Canada decided to issue a warning on possible cardiovasculars risk (heart and blood vessel problems) associated with the use of testosterone replacement products.
More from Healthy Canadians:
Health Canada is advising patients and healthcare professionals of new safety information regarding testosterone hormone replacement products and a risk of serious and possibly life-threatening cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) problems.
Testosterone hormone replacement products are used in men who are experiencing medical conditions because their body cannot make enough testosterone. In Canada, there are 12 testosterone replacement products, including brand-name products: Androderm, Andriol, Delatestryl, Androgel, Axiron, Depo-Testosterone, Testim, and their equivalent generics.
Health Canada has recently completed a safety review on testosterone replacement products. This review found a growing body of evidence (from published scientific literature and case reports received by Health Canada and foreign regulators) for serious and possible life-threatening heart and blood vessel problems such as heart attack, stroke, blood clot in the lungs or legs; and increased or irregular heart rate with the use of testosterone replacement products.
Health Canada is working with manufacturers to update the Canadian product labels regarding this risk. The Department continues to collaborate with foreign regulators including the United States Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency regarding this safety concern. Health Canada will keep Canadians informed and take action, as appropriate, if any new safety information is identified.
Health Canada would like to remind the public of the following important information from the Canadian Product Monographs regarding the use of testosterone products:
- They should not be used in men for non-specific symptoms if laboratory tests have not been done to confirm a low testosterone level and other possible causes for the symptoms have not been excluded.
- They should not be used in children under the age of 18 as the safety and effectiveness has not been established in these patients.
- They should not be used by women.
What you should do: Before using testosterone products, advise your healthcare professional if you have cardiovascular (heart or blood vessel) problems or a history of these problems.
Tell your healthcare professional if you experience any of the following: chest pain or discomfort; shortness of breath; sudden numbness in the face, arm or leg; sudden difficulty speaking or understanding; trouble with walking or seeing; headache, light-headedness, dizziness; rapid pulse; sweating; coughing up blood; swelling or pain in the leg (including ankle and foot); changes in skin color (e.g., turning pale, red or blue); a fluttering in your chest, a racing heartbeat, fainting or near fainting.
Talk to a healthcare professional about any questions or concerns regarding your testosterone therapy.
As stated above, both the FDA and the EMA continue to do research on the possible association between cardiovascular problems and the use of testosterone boosters. Watch out for updates on this post when these agencies come up with more definitive studies in the future.
Testosterone Booster Side Effects posted 15 February 2015. Last update on 27 April 2017.