Andractim (DHT Gel)

Andractim is a transdermal gel containing 2.5% dihydrotestosterone (DHT), made in France by Besins Healthcare and supplied in an 80 ml tube. It is prescribed for androgen deficiency in men, and doctors also use it for gynaecomastia and for underdeveloped genital or facial hair growth.

Testosterone gels deliver testosterone, which the body converts partly into oestradiol through the aromatase enzyme and partly into DHT. DHT cannot be converted into oestrogen. That is why Andractim is used where a doctor wants an androgen effect without raising oestrogen, as in the treatment of gynaecomastia. It also means Andractim does not replace testosterone itself, so it is not a like-for-like substitute for a testosterone gel.

The gel is spread on clean, dry skin and left to dry. The dose, the area of skin and the length of treatment depend on what it is prescribed for, so follow your doctor's instructions and the leaflet in the pack.

DHT passes to other people through skin contact. Wash your hands after applying it, cover the area with clothing once the gel has dried, and keep it away from women and children.

The most common side effects are local skin irritation where the gel is applied, oily skin and acne. Because DHT is the androgen most involved in male-pattern hair loss and prostate growth, men with a history of either should talk to their doctor first. Androgens are not used by men with prostate or breast cancer.

Your doctor may check your blood count and prostate health during longer courses of treatment.

Unlike the rest of the catalogue, Andractim ships from our European warehouse rather than from India, and shipping is free to every country we deliver to. Because it leaves from a different warehouse, it is ordered on its own rather than in the same basket as items dispatched from India.