Testosterone patch scripts ‘often outside guidelines’

By Lilian Anekwe

Fewer than 30% of women using a testosterone patch for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) are being prescribed it within guidelines, drug safety researchers warn.

Researchers surveyed GPs who had issued prescriptions for the Intrinsa transdermal testosterone patches to 756 patients from March 2007.

Intrinsa is indicated for use in HSDD in women but only in those who have undergone bilateral oophorectomy and hysterectomy and are on oestrogen therapy. The analysis found that 580 patients were prescribed it for HSDD. But only 364 were

reported to have had both a hysterectomy and bilateral ooph-orectomy. Some 222 patients were not on oestrogen therapy and only 219 prescriptions were in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations.

Study author Dr Vicki Osborne, research fellow at the Drug Safety Research Unit in Southampton, said: ‘Some clinicians are prescribing this product outside the recommended terms of the licence.'

Drug Safety 2010;33:213-21