172 Fluoxymesterone
Drawbacks.Another study using normal men measured a drop in their
testosteronelevels, an unsurprising finding as fluoxymesterone is supposed
to replace testosterone. Extended usage may interfere with male sexual func-
tion and fertility. General unwanted actions have included acne, itching, diz-
ziness, nausea, vomiting, yellowish tinge to body color (an indication of
jaundice), constipation, and frequent urination. Fluid retention can cause
swelling. The drug may interfere with blood clotting and may reduce the
amount of insulin needed by diabetics. The compound also can be harmful to
a person who suffers from porphyria, an affliction that can involve violence
and sensitivity to light. Fluoxymesterone can pass into a sexual partner,
enough to affect that person. Because of that, barrier contraceptives are rec-
ommended for sexually active fluoxymesterone patients and their partners.
The substance is banned from athletic competitions. Scientists have not con-
firmed that the substance helps sport abilities, but nonetheless some body-
builders use it. Supposedly the drug can increase strength without increasing
weight, an important factor in some classes of sporting competition. Report-
edly the substance promotes aggressiveness, enhancing its appeal to athletes
who must physically attack opponents. Some athletic users describe the drug
as unpleasant. Athletic abuse of fluoxymesterone is not necessarily limited to
human competitions; concern exists that the substance may be given to race-
horses.
Abuse factors.Not enough scientific information to report about tolerance,
dependence, withdrawal, or addiction.
Drug interactions.In female breast cancer patients receiving levothyroxine
to boost thyroid gland activity, fluoxymesterone can interact and elevate thy-
roid activity too much. Experiments have administered fluoxymesterone in
combination with other drugs to alter the mood of older persons exhibiting
nervousness, irritation, and suspiciousness toward caregivers. One study re-
ported no change; another reported substantial change; the difference may
have involved what drugs were used in addition to fluoxymesterone, along
with differing dosages.
Cancer. Laboratory tests have provided uncertain guidance on whether
fluoxymesterone causes cancer. A case report mentions that two men devel-
oped prostate cancer after receiving the drug to treat impotence; cause and
effect were not asserted, but the coincidence was considered important enough
to merit caution. Men with prostate cancer should avoid the drug. A case
report mentions liver cancer developing in a patient undergoing fluoxymes-
terone therapy for over four years, but again cause and effect were not
claimed. A survey examined all reported deaths from hepatic angiosarcoma,
a type of liver cancer, in the United States from 1964 to 1974; from the total
of 168 cases, 1 was associated with taking fluoxymesterone. Once again, how-
ever, “association” is not “cause.”
Pregnancy.In humans the compound may harm fetal development of fe-
male sexual organs, introducing male characteristics. The drug is not recom-
mended for pregnant women, but the substance has been used to control milk
production. Fluoxymesterone passes into milk, and nursing mothers should
avoid the drug.
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