Cernos Gel 1%

Active Ingredient	Testosterone
Type	Male Hypogonadism

How does Cernos Gel work

Cernos Gel is identical to the natural male sex hormone testosterone. Upon application to bare skin, it gets absorbed, enters the bloodstream, and increases the body’s testosterone level. Therefore, it is able to replenish the low testosterone level in your body. It helps treat hypogonadism-related issues like underdeveloped secondary male characteristics (body hair, deeper voice, etc.), lower sex drive, depression, and impotence. 

Uses of Cernos Gel

Cernos Gel is prescribed to adult males who are in need of testosterone replacement therapy because of either deficiency or complete absence of the hormone in their body- 

• Primary hypogonadism: (both congenital and acquired) is a testicular failure because of conditions like orchitis, cryptorchidism, Klinefelter’s syndrome, bilateral torsion, chemotherapy, orchiectomy, or damage due to alcohol/ heavy metal consumption. Men suffering from this health condition will have a higher-than-normal level of gonadotropins (follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone [LH]) but a lower concentration of testosterone in their serum. 
• Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: (both congenital and acquired) is a condition where the body has a deficiency of both testosterone and gonadotropic hormones like LH and FSH. It may happen due to pituitary-hypothalamic damage that might result from trauma, radiation, or tumors. 

Cernos gel is not to be used for ‘age-related hypogonadism’ aka ‘late-onset hypogonadism’ where the lower testosterone level is attributed to old age. 

Recommended Dosage

Cernos gel (1%) comes in 10 mg concentration (5 gm pouches). You have to apply the exact amount of gel prescribed by your physician. Tear open the sachet completely and squeeze it from bottom to top, emptying its contents into the palm of your hand or directly on the application site and rub well. Generally, the starting dose is 50mg per day. Apply it at a fixed time daily, preferably in the morning. Read the label properly and follow your doctor’s guidelines. The gel is to be applied to clean, dry, and intact skin of the following body parts- upper arms or shoulders and/or right and left abdomen. If you take a shower in the morning, make sure you apply the gel after towel-drying your body. Also, you should apply Cernos gel to the limited area that will be covered by your cloth. Do not apply it to the exposed body parts and other parts including the penis, scrotum, chest, armpits, back, or knees, etc. Nor should you apply it to skin that has cuts/ sores/irritation. Before wearing clothes, wait for the gel to get absorbed so that the body feels dry. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap as Cernos Gel is flammable. Lastly, do not shower or swim for at least 2 hours after applying the gel. 

Missed Dosage

If you have forgotten to apply the gel at your regular time, do not worry, you can apply it as soon as you remember. However, if the next scheduled dosage time is within the next 12 hours, skip the missed dose and follow the regular time. Do not apply the gel twice within 24 hours. 

Overdose

In case you accidentally apply more than the prescribed dosage of Cernos gel, immediately wash the application area(s) with soap and water. Also, contact your doctor or emergency healthcare services to seek further help. Extreme overdose can result in severe issues like heart stroke/ attack, liver diseases, mental health problems (like depression), addictive behavior, etc. So, make sure you’re taking the prescribed dose and never increase or decrease the dose without the doctor’s advice. 

Important Advisory

Before you start using Cernos Gel, make sure you are not allergic to topical testosterone. Talk to your doctor about your medical history as the drug may not be suitable for people with certain conditions.

• If you have cancer (breast, prostate, bone, etc.)
• If you suffer from other prostate gland-related conditions like BPH or enlarged prostate)  
• If you have had a heart attack/ stroke in the past
• If you have kidney or liver-related health conditions
• If you are diabetic
• If your cholesterol level is high or you’re obese
• If you have sleep apnea
• If you suffer from high blood pressure

Additionally, take care to not let the others come into contact with the application sites as it will expose them to the hormone. Women (especially pregnant women) and children should not be exposed to Cernos Gel via skin-to-skin contact as it may be harmful to them. 

Cernos Gel Side effects

Like any drug, androgens also have certain side effects. Following is a list of common and rare but serious side effects of Cernos Gel:

• Dizziness
• Itching or burning sensation in the applied area(s)
• Vomiting or nausea
• Hallucinations
• Hair loss
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Acne
• Change in skin tone/ color

More serious symptoms include-

• Mania (increased libido)
• Heart attack or stroke or failure
• Mental health issues like depression
• Breast pain or enlargement
• Weight gain
• Difficulty in breathing (especially during sleep)
• Trouble urinating
• Change in size or shape of the testicles
• Sudden change or loss of vision

These symptoms will become severe if one takes an overdose of Cernos gel or stops the medication without a doctor’s advice. In case you’re experiencing any of these side effects, immediately contact your physician and get medical help.

Interaction With Other Drugs

Cernos testosterone Gel might interact with some other medications that can increase the intensity of its side effects or decrease its efficiency. So, tell your doctor about any prescription or non-prescription medicines you take (including vitamin/mineral supplements and herbal products). The list of potential drug interactions include-

• Blood thinners like warfarin
• Insulin (androgens may decrease blood glucose level so, you’ll need less insulin)
• Dexamethasone and other oral steroids
• Corticosteroids (or ACTH hormone)

Interaction With Alcohol

No interaction or adverse reaction with alcohol has been noted yet, but it might make you dizzy. So, avoid consuming alcohol right before or after applying the gel.

Storage Instructions

• Keep the medicine in the original packaging. It’s easier to do so because of the single-use packaging style. 
• Do not store it in the bathroom. Keep it in a dry place, away from excessive heat or moisture.
• Cernos gel is unsafe for women, children, and pets. Keep it at a place where no one other than you touches it, either accidentally or willingly. 
• Androgens catch fire easily. Dispose of the discarded packages safely so that they remain away from fire.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can take Cernos Gel?

Ans- People diagnosed with male hypogonadism (i.e., their body doesn’t produce enough testosterone) are prescribed Cernos Gel to increase their testosterone level.

2. Can I use Cernos Gel for body-building?

Ans- No, it is intended to treat the issues arising because of low testosterone levels and should not be used by healthy people to improve physical ability. It can be dangerous for a healthy person because it will create hormonal imbalance in his body.

3. Is Cernos Gel a habit-forming drug?

Ans- It may be habit-forming. Therefore, it is important to take it under the strict supervision of a doctor.

4. Is Cernos Gel harmful?

Ans- It is meant to treat male hypogonadism and anyone who is not diagnosed with the condition but is still taking the drug is at risk. Women, especially pregnant and lactating women, and children should not be exposed to Cernos Gel because it can harm the developing fetus/ child. Additionally, people suffering from cancer, diabetes, liver/kidney-related problems, and prostate-related conditions should consult a doctor before taking this medicine. Long-term testosterone replacement therapy puts even men at risk of contracting cardiovascular diseases.

5. How long does it take for Cernos Gel to give results?

Ans- Depending on your problem, Cernos Gel may take effect in about 3 weeks or more. For example, an increase in sex drive can be noticed within 3 weeks but improvement in erection may be seen after 5-6 months or so.

6. Is Cernos Gel better than Androgel?

Ans- Both products contain the same active ingredient (testosterone) and have the same effect. The only difference is that while Cernos Gel is produced by an Indian pharmaceutical company called Sun Pharma, Androgel is produced by AbbVie, an American pharmaceutical company.

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2785864/
2. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.4137/CMT.S7348
3. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a605020.html
4. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/andr.12487