Testosterone patch: The road not taken
Androgens in OTC and off-label drugs may be less rigorously tested and effective than the testosterone patch for treating hypoactive desire in oophorectomized women.
Is the net result a benefit, harm, or a wash? Since aspirin causes both GI bleeding and hemorrhagic strokes, should it carry a “black box warning”?
Who will decide?
As medical decisions become more complex, it might be best to make effective treatments available. Doctors and patients can assess the data and guidelines and decide together on the best treatment.
If we bar access to effective agents, we run the risk of encouraging use of “untested” OTC drugs and off-label prescribing. These medications may be neither as effective nor as thoroughly evaluated as agents that are being withheld.
