The Situation: Androderm Is Permanently Unavailable

When patients come to your office asking for help finding Androderm, the first thing they need to hear is that Androderm testosterone patches have been permanently discontinued — this is not a supply chain issue with a resolution timeline.

AbbVie (Allergan) ceased production in 2023, citing quality concerns. They were the sole U.S. manufacturer, no generic was ever approved, and no replacement product has emerged as of 2026. The ASHP confirmed the discontinuation in March 2023.

This guide provides a practical framework for transitioning affected patients to available alternatives efficiently and compassionately.

Current Availability of Testosterone Products

While the testosterone patch is gone, the overall TRT landscape offers multiple formulation options. Current availability as of 2026:

Widely Available (Generic Options)

• Testosterone Cypionate injection (generic Depo-Testosterone): IM, every 1–2 weeks. $30–$100/month. Available at virtually all pharmacies.
• Testosterone Enanthate injection (generic Delatestryl): IM, every 1–2 weeks. Similar pricing and availability to cypionate.
• Generic testosterone gel 1%: Daily topical application. $50–$200/month. Broadly stocked.

Brand-Name Options (May Require Prior Authorization)

• AndroGel 1.62%: Daily topical gel. $200–$500/month.
• Jatenzo: Oral capsule, twice daily with food. $500–$900/month.
• Natesto: Nasal gel, three times daily. Variable pricing.
• Xyosted: Subcutaneous autoinjector, weekly. Brand-only.
• Aveed: Long-acting IM injection every 10 weeks (REMS required). In-office administration only.
• Testopel: Implantable pellets, every 3–6 months. In-office procedure.

Why Patients Can't Find Androderm

Some patients may not realize the discontinuation is permanent. Common misconceptions include:

• Believing it's a temporary shortage that pharmacies are "working on"
• Thinking they just need to find the right pharmacy or order online
• Assuming a generic patch must exist somewhere

Clear, direct communication is essential: no pharmacy anywhere in the United States carries Androderm or any testosterone patch. Directing patients to the patient-facing shortage update can help reinforce this message.

What Providers Can Do: 5 Steps for Patient Transition

Step 1: Assess the Patient's Priorities

Different patients valued Androderm for different reasons. Understanding their priorities helps select the best alternative:

• Needle aversion? → Topical gel, oral capsules, or nasal gel
• Secondary exposure concerns? → Injectable, oral, nasal, or pellet formulations
• Cost sensitivity? → Generic testosterone cypionate injection ($30–$100/month) or generic gel ($50–$200/month)
• Convenience? → Testopel (every 3–6 months), Aveed (every 10 weeks), or oral (daily)
• Fertility preservation? → Consider Natesto (some evidence of less spermatogenesis suppression) or discuss alternatives to TRT entirely (clomiphene citrate off-label)

Step 2: Select the Replacement Formulation

For most patients transitioning from Androderm:

• First-line for cost-conscious patients: Generic testosterone cypionate IM injection
• First-line for patch-preference patients: Generic testosterone gel 1% with thorough secondary exposure counseling
• Second-line options: Jatenzo (oral), Natesto (nasal), Xyosted (SC autoinjector)

Step 3: Dose Conversion Guidance

Androderm dosing (2–6 mg/day transdermal) does not directly convert to other formulations due to differences in bioavailability. General starting points:

• Testosterone Cypionate: 100–200 mg IM every 2 weeks (or 50–100 mg weekly)
• Testosterone gel 1%: 50 mg (5 g gel) applied daily, titrate based on morning serum levels
• Jatenzo: 237 mg orally twice daily with food (per prescribing information), titrate based on serum levels

Recheck serum testosterone levels 2–4 weeks after starting the new formulation, drawn in the morning (trough for injections, steady state for daily formulations).

Step 4: Address Insurance and Cost Barriers

• Submit new prior authorization early — don't wait for the patient to report a problem at the pharmacy
• Document the Androderm discontinuation in the PA request to expedite review
• For uninsured patients, recommend discount cards (GoodRx, SingleCare, RxSaver) for generic options
• For brand-name alternatives, check manufacturer copay programs
• Refer patients to our savings guide for testosterone therapy

Step 5: Use Medfinder for Providers to Verify Stock

Testosterone is a Schedule III controlled substance, and some pharmacies may have limited inventory at any given time. Before sending patients to a pharmacy:

• Use Medfinder for Providers to check which pharmacies near the patient have the selected formulation in stock
• Consider recommending the patient call ahead to confirm availability before making the trip
• For patients in rural areas, mail-order pharmacy may be the most reliable option

Alternatives Worth Discussing

For patients who are resistant to switching or who have specific concerns, consider these talking points:

• "I don't want injections": Testosterone gel is applied daily like sunscreen — no needles. Jatenzo is an oral capsule. Natesto is a nasal gel.
• "I'm worried about testosterone transferring to my partner/kids": Injections, oral capsules, nasal gel, and pellets all carry zero to minimal transfer risk.
• "Gels seem messy": The Xyosted autoinjector is a simple weekly self-injection, or Testopel pellets only require an office visit every 3–6 months.
• "I want something affordable": Generic testosterone cypionate at $30–$100/month is the most budget-friendly option available.

For a patient-facing comparison of alternatives, direct them to our alternatives to Androderm guide.

Workflow Tips for Your Practice

• Update your EMR templates to remove Androderm from the TRT order set and add the current alternatives
• Create a patient handout explaining the discontinuation and available options — this saves chair time during appointments
• Flag affected patients proactively. If you can query your EHR for patients with active Androderm prescriptions, reach out before their next refill attempt
• Consider batch prior authorizations for patients you're transitioning to a new formulation

Final Thoughts

The Androderm discontinuation is a reminder of the fragility of single-source medication supply chains. The good news is that TRT has multiple available alternatives in 2026, and most patients can be successfully transitioned with minimal disruption to their care.

The key is proactive communication: don't let patients discover the discontinuation at the pharmacy counter. Let them know now, discuss their options, and use tools like Medfinder for Providers to ensure they can fill their new prescription without delays.

For the clinical overview, see our companion article: Androderm shortage — what providers and prescribers need to know in 2026.