May 22, 2024

What Is Kyzatrex® New Oral Testosterone Pill?

April Benshosan

Roughly 40% of men over the age of 45 have lower-than-ideal testosterone levels, according to a 2022 Annals of Medicine & Surgery report. While low T levels are common, the symptoms — such as low sex drive, muscle loss, and low energy — can make it difficult to go about your day-to-day. 

But correcting your low T doesn't have to involve painful injectables or messy creams. Kyzatrex®'s new oral testosterone pill is FDA-approved and makes raising your T to a healthy range as simple as popping a pill. While older TRT capsules were linked to liver toxicity, newer oral TRT meds including Kyzatrex® bypass the liver, deeming them a safer (and still effective) option. 

Here's everything you need to know about Kyzatrex®’s new oral testosterone pill.

What Is Oral TRT?

Oral testosterone replacement therapy, or oral TRT, is a method of delivering testosterone medication through a pill or capsule that you take by mouth. It is used to treat hypogonadism, a condition characterized by low or no testosterone in adult males.

Oral TRT is absorbed via the digestive system, where it enters the bloodstream and starts working to raise your blood testosterone levels.

Kyzatrex® is a type of oral TRT that was approved by the FDA in August 2022 to treat hypogonadism. Kyzatrex® is taken by mouth twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, with a meal. Kyzatrex® is approved in three dosage strengths — 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg — and your doctor will prescribe the appropriate dosage based on your starting testosterone levels. 

Can You Take Testosterone Orally?

TRT is available in many different formulations, including skin patches, injections, pellet implantations, and nasal gels — and it's also available in capsules that you take orally. Kyzatrex® is one type of oral TRT medication, and it comes as a liquid-filled capsule that you take twice a day.

While you can take testosterone orally, it's not one of the first-line treatments because it's usually not covered by insurance. Still, oral TRT remains a safe and easy way for people with hypogonadism to correct their T levels — and in some cases, insurance might cover the treatment if other testosterone replacement methods haven't worked for you.

Consider speaking to your doctor about switching to oral TRT if:

  • You're afraid of needles.

  • You've experienced side effects from traditional TRT formulations, like patches and injections.

  • You're concerned about a topical treatment (like gels or creams) transferring to other members of your household.

Kyzatrex® is a brand-name medication, and no generic alternatives are available on the market.

Before getting prescribed Kyzatrex®, your doctor will order lab tests to check your testosterone levels. Kyzatrex® is only prescribed to adult men who have low testosterone levels and are symptomatic. 

Does Oral Testosterone Work?

Yes, oral TRT is a safe and effective way to correct low testosterone levels. A 2021 study in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension reports that Kyzatrex® raised testosterone levels to a healthy range in 96% of men with hypogonadism after three months of treatment.

Oral TRT is absorbed instantly through the digestive and lymphatic system. And unlike other TRT formulations, it completely bypasses the liver and doesn't pose a risk for liver toxicity, per the Cleveland Clinic. 

One of the main advantages of oral T pills is that they're convenient and easy to take. With Kyzatrex®, you simply take two capsules per day along with a meal to help the medication absorb better.

However, it's important to note that there are some side effects associated with Kyzatrex®. Research shows that Kyzatrex® can cause mild elevations in blood pressure in a minority of people. Other potential side effects seen with testosterone replacement therapy may include increased red blood cell count (hematocrit), edema in ankles and feet, painful and enlarged breast area, and sleep apnea. However, of note, none of these were seen in trials done with Kyzatrex®. 

What Do Testosterone Pills Do?

Testosterone pills raise your blood testosterone levels. Testosterone is a sex hormone produced by the testes in males (and in smaller amounts in the ovaries in females) that helps regulate sex drive, bone mass, muscle mass and strength, and it helps produce red blood cells and sperm.

A testosterone deficiency can manifest itself in many ways, including low libido, lower bone density, muscle mass decline, and increased body fat, per the National Institutes of Health (NIH). While it's normal for T levels to drop with age, people can experience lower testosterone levels due to medical conditions, in which case, a doctor may prescribe oral testosterone pills to correct the deficiency.

Taking testosterone pills when you have hypogonadism ​​can help improve the symptoms of low blood testosterone. Once the pills raise T levels to a healthy range, you may notice an improvement in libido, energy levels, mood, and body composition (more muscle mass and less body fat).

Read more about Kyzatrex here

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