HC Deb 04 August 1976 vol 916 cc846-7W
Mr. Cyril Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the drug Testosterone is available for prescription under the National Health Service; and, if so, how widely it is used.

Dr. Owen

Doctors in the National Health Service are free to prescribe any drug they consider necessary for their patients. The drug Testosterone is not widely used by family doctors in this country. Side effects may occur with any drug. One of the possible effects that can follow the use of drugs from the therapeutic group which includes Testosterone is that sexually abnormal behaviour can be induced in a psychologically abnormal personality. I am informed that instances in which that effect occurs are very rare.