Stark & Stark defective drug attorneys are currently representing clients who suffered injuries, including death, heart attack, stroke, blood clots or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) as a result of the use of prescription testosterone medication. These medications include Androgel, AndroDerm, Axiron, Bio-T Gel, Delatestryl, Depo-Testosterone, Fortesta, Testim, Testopel and Striant, which are administered in gel, patch, and injection forms, as well as pellets. If you suffered one or more of these health events while utilizing testosterone therapy, you should immediately contact Stark & Stark for a free, confidential consultation regarding your rights and potential claims.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on January 31, 2014 that it was investigating the risk of stroke, heart attack, and death in men taking FDA-approved testosterone products. The FDA made this decision, and issued this Safety Announcement, as a result of two recent studies which suggested an increased risk of cardiovascular events among groups of men prescribed testosterone therapy.
The first study was published in November, 2013 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, and was an observational study of older men in the U.S. Veterans Affairs health system. The men in the study had an average age of 60, many had underlying cardiovascular disease, and all were undergoing imaging of the blood vessels of the heart (coronary angiography). (This test assesses a person for coronary artery disease.) All of the men had low serum testosterone, and some of them received testosterone therapy, while others did not. The results of the study suggested a 30 percent increased risk of stroke, heart attack and death in the group that had been prescribed testosterone therapy.
The second study reported an increased risk of heart attack in older men, as well as in younger men with pre-existing heart disease, who filled a prescription for testosterone therapy. This observational study reported a two-fold increase in the risk of heart attack among men aged 65 years or older in the first 90 days following the first prescription. The same study reported a two- to three-fold increase in the risk of heart attack among men less than 65 years old with a pre-existing history of heart disease, in the first 90 days following a first prescription. The study also found that younger men without a history of heart disease, and who filled a prescription for testosterone therapy, did not have an increased risk of heart attack.
You should be aware that the FDA has NOT concluded that FDA-approved testosterone treatments increased the risk of these events, and no one should stop taking prescribed testosterone products without first discussing their concerns with their health care professional.
What is the basis for these potential claims? You’ve seen the plethora of “Low T” commercials on TV. Testosterone is a hormone that is involved with maintaining sex drive, muscle mass, bone health and energy levels. It is common for testosterone levels to decrease for all men as they age, and this is generally viewed as a normal event which does not require medical treatment. It has been suggested that the drug manufacturers are recklessly marketing testosterone treatments in direct-to-consumer advertisements for “Low T” if they are experiencing any number of general symptoms, such as lack of energy, weight gain, decreased sex drive and other natural issues experienced by men as they age. Stephen Colbert, the comedian, has suggested that these “Low T” drugs are being marketed for a “drug industry recognized condition known as ‘growing older’.” It is also suggested that the drug companies conducted this aggressive marketing campaign despite knowing that the risks of this therapy outweigh the benefits for many men. There is also a concern that the drug companies failed to adequately research the risk of stroke or heart attack as a result of using this therapy, especially in men with cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, blocked arteries, diabetes, obesity and other prior health problems.
For more than 20 years, product liability lawyers at Stark & Stark have successfully represented victims of defective marketing practices by drug manufacturers. If you or someone you know used one or more of these testosterone therapies and has suffered one or more of these health events, the injured person may be eligible to receive compensation for their damages. Contact Stark & Stark for a free, confidential consultation. Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis and will review your case at not cost or obligation to you. Please contact us today at 1-800-53-LEGAL (1-800-535-3425) or “LowT@stark-stark.com”.
