PBS restrictions fail to cut testosterone use

Men are simply switching to private scripts, data show

Men without pathological hypogonadism are still being prescribed testosterone despite a PBS crackdown, likely because many are now androgen dependent, a study suggests.

PBS prescribing criteria for initiating testosterone treatment were tightened in 2015 to exclude androgen deficiency due to age, obesity or CVD, and to require consultation with a non-GP specialist.