Low Testosterone Therapy Injury Lawyers
Medical professionals state that after age 30 a man’s testosterone levels can decline an estimated 1% per year. In addition to the aging process, diabetes and obesity can also impact the levels of testosterone hormones in the blood. Hypogonadism, or low testosterone, is defined as 300 or less nanograms per deciliter for total testosterone. Symptoms associated with low testosterone include: fatigue, muscle weakness, depression, and low libido.
Drug manufacturers have been aggressively marketing testosterone replacement therapy to men who complain of being overweight, tired, and less interested in sex. These advertisements suggest the men could be suffering from a condition called “Low T,” or low testosterone, and urge them to visit their doctor for a prescription for testosterone replacement drugs.
These marketing campaigns have been so successful that the number of prescriptions written for testosterone has tripled since 2001. Revenue for testosterone drugs is projected to reach $5 billion by 2017. This may make consumers wonder if there is an epidemic of low testosterone affecting the male population. The following is a list of popular prescription testosterone drugs that are available in gel, cream, spray, patch, injection, or pill form.
Market leaders in prescription testosterone drugs include:
- AndroGel—Abbott Labs (AbbVie)
- Axiron—Eli Lilly
- Testim / Testopel—Auxilium Pharmaceuticals
- Androderm—Actavis (formerly Watson Pharmaceuticals);
- Android—Valeant Pharmaceuticals NA
- Depo-Testosterone—Pfizer Inc.
- Fortesta—Endo Pharmaceuticals
- Striant—Auxilium Pharmaceuticals
Recently, testosterone replacement therapy has gained a lot of attention from healthcare professionals, FDA investigators, and media. Many media professionals state that Low T is not a health epidemic, but rather an aggressive marketing campaign designed to increase sales of testosterone drugs. One study published in Public Library of Science PLOS One by Finkle WD, Greenland S, Ridgeway GK, Adams JL, Frasco MA, et al. (2014) found men on testosterone replacement therapy demonstrated double the rate of heart attacks after starting the drug.
A study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association found 25% of the men in its study had not even had their testosterone levels checked before beginning testosterone replacement therapy. Taking unnecessary prescription testosterone can have a serious impact on a patient’s health. Injuries can include blood clot, heart attack, stroke, and death. Testosterone aids in the production of red blood cells. Excess red blood cells can block veins and arteries leading to more serious problems. This study also indicated that some study particpants had a 30% increased risk for heart attack and stroke after using testosterone.
The FDA announced in January 2014 it was launching an investigation into testosterone replacement therapy to assess an increased risk for blood clot, heart attack, stroke, and death associated with the prescription hormone use.
Lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers of prescription testosterone products for failing to warn doctors and patients of the increased risk of cardiovascular events. Our firm is investigating claims on behalf of men who have taken prescription testosterone products and suffered a serious injury. Our product liability attorneys have experience litigating claims against large corporations and pharmaceutical manufacturers and can provide you with free case evaluation. Contact us now for a free case evaluation.
