Overprescribing of testosterone therapy highlights serious health risks for men.
The health risks associated with testosterone (Low T) therapy have been well-publicized. Those risks include a number of cardiovascular issues, such as blood clots, DVT, heart attacks and strokes. Whatever the problems with the drug may be, they are apparently exacerbated by doctors who prescribe it for a host of ailments, prescriptions that ignore the limited extent of the drug’s approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
If you or someone you love was harmed as a result of testosterone (Low T) therapy, you may be entitled to financial compensation. There may be substantial cash awards from claims and settlements from a testosterone class action lawsuit or MDL. Call the lawyers and attorneys at Hood National Law Group today to see if you qualify for a low-t testosterone therapy lawsuit.
Call 1-800-214-1010 for a free case evaluation or use the form directly below.
The starting point for this issue is to understand that the FDA approved the drug only for hypogonadism, that is, when the testicles do not produce enough testosterone. Low T therapy has not been approved for a myriad of other conditions, including age-related decline in testosterone levels, low sex drive, muscle loss, irritability or fatigue.
The Endocrine Society, a leader in the field of endocrinology (hormones and related subjects), recently called for large-scale studies in order that testosterone therapy risks may be properly evaluated. The organization issued a statement in February 2015 stating that many patients are being prescribed testosterone for these age-related issues, which are not FDA-approved uses of the drug.
How many men get testosterone therapy?
The statement cited a study (published online in PLOS ONE) of over 55,000 men who had been prescribed testosterone therapy, and found that among those men who had heart disease, there was double the risk of a heart attack in the 90 days after the commencement of testosterone therapy. Along with this disturbing fact is evidence in prior studies that more than half of the men who are prescribed a low T drug do not even have a documented testosterone measurement.
When you combine a dangerous prescription drug, and add to it the over-prescribing described above, the result is often disastrous. So while calls are heard for studies to further evaluate the risks of testosterone, the drug continues to be produced, marketed and prescribed. Why is this happening? We can suggest one possible answer: sales of testosterone drugs have grown over the past 25 years from around $20 million to $2.2 billion, an increase of about 100,000 percent!
If you or someone you love has been prescribed testosterone therapy and developed health problems including blood clots, stroke, heart attack or DVT call the Hood National Law Group today. We are available to speak to you about protecting your rights, including whether you (or your loved one) may be entitled to compensation.
What are the problems and risks with Low T therapy?
Testosterone (Low T) Therapy, Blood clots, DVT, Heart Attacks and Strokes
There are a number of possible reasons why a person might be enticed by the idea of testosterone (low T) therapy. It has been used in the hope of providing increased muscle mass, better concentration, a boost to your sex drive, and an overall increase in your energy level. To some, this might sound like a perfect anti-aging formula, a true fountain of youth. But experts believe that the benefits of testosterone therapy are not necessarily as clear as they might seem. Equally important, studies show that this therapy is prone to major side effects having serious consequences.
There have been claims that although a number of testosterone drugs have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), men who have taken these drugs have become more prone to heart attacks and strokes, in some cases causing death. One of the numerous studies finding a possible link between testosterone replacement therapy and an increased risk of various cardiovascular problems was published in November of last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers found a 29% increased risk of heart attack, stroke or death in the men they studied who were given testosterone.
FDA issues Warnings for testosterone (low T) therapy.
Earlier this year, the FDA announced that it was investigating the increased risk of cardiovascular problems associated with these testosterone products. On the heels of the investigation 
announced by the FDA, a petition was filed with the agency by Public Citizen, a non-profit consumer advocate group, requesting that the FDA require a boxed warning (also called a black box warning) on the labels of all drugs containing testosterone, concerning increased cardiovascular risks.
What are the brands of testosterone (low T) therapy drugs?
In the meantime, the drugs continue to be prescribed and sold throughout the country. Testosterone drugs are marketed under a number of different names.
In addition to Aveed, they include AndroGel, Androderm, Fortesta, Axiron, Depo-Testosterone, Delatestryl, Methitest, Testred, Android and Striant.
If you have taken any of these drugs, you may be entitled to compensation for any adverse health effects (blood clots, stroke, heart attack or DVT ) you may have suffered. No matter where you happen to live, contact Hood National Law Group to discuss the recovery of damages for your injuries. And if a loved one has died after taking one of these drugs, talk to us about the possibility of pursing a wrongful death claim.
Four recent questions about the Testosterone therapy lawsuit.
- How much can you get for a testosterone therapy low-t lawsuit?
- I got blood clots or heart attack from taking testosterone, can I sue the company?
- How much compensation would I get from testosterone therapy lawsuit?
- How much are the settlement amounts in the testosterone lawsuit?
The answer to these questions can be difficult to predict, as the class action for this hasn’t started yet. There is still time for join in this low-t testosterone lawsuit, but there are statutes of limitations that apply.
Some of the past defective drug lawsuits have had millions of dollars in a compensation fund, and then that is divided up between all who have joined the lawsuit. Example: $50,000,000 in a settlement fund that would serve 1,000 victims would be $50,000 per person. This is only an example and does not represent what may happen for these testosterone drugs.
Low-T Testosterone Therapy TV Commercials.
If you’re a middle-aged or older man you’ve probably noticed the recent furor over a condition called Low-T, or lowered testosterone for which several medications and treatments are being widely advertised. These aggressive testosterone TV commercials often show beautiful women extolling the greatness of her lover or husband who seems like a new man after receiving lot-t therapy.
Typical of the conversations in the media about this issue was one recently carried in the Chicago Tribune between a reader and a physician from the Mayo Clinic.
It went like this:
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’m a 52-year-old man. I recently had blood work done that showed my testosterone levels are slightly low, falling just below the “normal” range. Should I talk to my doctor about getting treatment even if I don’t have any symptoms? What are the side effects of prescription testosterone?
ANSWER: A mildly low level of testosterone alone, without any signs or symptoms, typically does not require treatment. But it would be a good idea for you to talk with your doctor in more detail about this test result. In some cases, low testosterone may be a sign of an underlying medical concern, or it could be a side effect from medication.
The physician then described the condition and offered this advice: “In your case, because you’re not experiencing any symptoms of disease, it’s unlikely that testosterone therapy is necessary at this time. Talk with your doctor, though, to find out if additional follow-up testing or evaluations could be useful to better understand the cause of your low testosterone.”
The 52-year-old man in this exchange is exhibiting the typical fears that some men experience as they age and they are gradually sapped of their vigor and libido. That’s normal.
But, as the physician warns, “testosterone usually is not recommended for older men who are otherwise healthy, even if their testosterone levels are slightly below what’s considered normal.
“Taking prescription testosterone does have risks. It may stimulate noncancerous growth of the prostate, cause enlarged breasts, limit sperm production and accelerate growth of existing prostate cancer. In some men, testosterone therapy can worsen sleep apnea. Recent studies also suggest there may be a link between testosterone therapy and an increased risk of heart disease.”
Testosterone therapy involves the use of FDA-approved medications such as Androgel, Androderm, Axirom, Bio-T-Gel, Delatestry, Depo-Testosterone, Fortesta, Striant, Testim and Testopel to treat low testosterone, or Low-T.
However, as alleged in a growing number of Low-T lawsuits, an increasing number of men are suffering strokes and heart attacks as a result of the medications and research studies are showing that many men are taking the drugs to ward off the symptoms of old age, rather than actually suffering from low testosterone, and may be putting themselves at serious risk of suffering a heart attack.
Testosterone therapy lawsuits claims available in these States:
Alabama (AL), Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), North Dakota (ND), Ohio(OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Utah (UT), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VI), Washington (WA), Washington DC (DC), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), Wyoming (WY)
Call the lawyers at Hood National Law Group today at 1-800-214-1010 for a free case evaluation or use the form below.
Sources:
https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm436259.htm
https://www.citizen.org/sites/default/files/2184.pdf
Testosterone Low-T Therapy Lawsuit Claims & Settlements for Blood clots Heart attack stroke DVT page updated on 12/8/2017
