Testosterone Therapy Lawsuit Information

Men who undergo testosterone therapy may face an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and death. The FDA is currently investigating this link between testosterone products and cardiovascular problems. This article provides an overview of testosterone therapy, its potential health risks, and the rising number of testosterone therapy lawsuits.

Testosterone Therapy

Testosterone is a key hormone for men. It drives physical, mental, and sexual development during puberty and helps maintain bone density, fat distribution, muscle mass, and sperm production on into adulthood. Starting at around thirty years of age, men begin to experience a decline in testosterone production. The effects of this are often not noticeable until after the age of forty. Common complaints among men with low testosterone levels include low energy, trouble concentrating, and a reduced sex drive. Testosterone therapy offers the opportunity to artificially boost testosterone levels.

Testosterone therapy can be critical for some men. Those diagnosed with abnormally low testosterone levels, a condition called male hypogonadism, may rely on testosterone therapy to maintain normal testosterone levels. Often this is the result of genetic factors. Sometimes chemotherapy and radiation therapy can temporarily suppress the natural production of testosterone. Finally, men who experience serious testicular injuries may require testosterone therapy.

Many other men take prescription testosterone products as a health supplement as they grow older. This has been a booming market in recent years. Americans annually spend around $2 billion on male testosterone products, which include creams, gels, injections, gums, and implants. Much of this growth has been fueled by aggressive advertising campaigns. Testosterone therapy has been billed as an “anti-aging formula,” compared to the “lost fountain of youth,” and called “Viagra for the boardroom” by advertisers and promoters. The medical community has been more neutral about the potential benefits and risks of testosterone therapy.

Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke

Testosterone therapy has recently run into serious roadblocks. On January 31, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an investigation into whether testosterone products increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death in patients. The FDA’s investigation follows on the heels of two studies finding an association between testosterone therapy and cardiovascular disease. A study published in January 2014 concluded that older men and younger men with pre-existing heart disease who received testosterone therapy faced a “substantially increased” risk of heart attack. A second study published in March 2014 found that men taking testosterone experienced an increased risk of adverse outcomes.

Testosterone Therapy Lawsuits

Some men who have suffered injuries after undergoing testosterone therapy have already filed lawsuits. In February 2014, five men sued Abbott Laboratories claiming that the company’s AndroGel testosterone product caused them to suffer heart attacks and strokes. They alleged that Abbott Laboratories hid the danger of heart attacks and strokes from consumers. Similar testosterone therapy lawsuits have been filed against other manufacturers. These lawsuits are the first of what could be many testosterone therapy lawsuits to come.

Manufacturers can be held legally responsible for selling products that cause patients to suffer injuries. These patients can file product liability lawsuits against the manufacturers responsible for a dangerous or defective product. Successful lawsuits can recover compensation covering the cost of medical bills, lost wages from time off work, and other damages that result. In addition to allowing injured consumers to recover compensation for injuries, these product liability lawsuits can hold manufacturers accountable for their dangerous products and raise public awareness about potential dangers.

Each product liability lawsuit must claim that the manufacturer committed some sort of wrongdoing (whether intentional or otherwise) to succeed. There are a number of well-recognized product liability claims that plaintiffs can advance. Some of the most common include:

• Design Defects – A plaintiff can claim that a manufacturer’s product was defectively designed in a manner that made it unsafe for consumers
• Failure to Warn – A plaintiff can claim that a manufacturer failed to warn consumers about the risks associated with using a product.
• Negligence – A plaintiff can claim that a manufacturer was negligent in designing, promoting, or selling its product.
• Breach of Product Warranties – A plaintiff can claim that a manufacturer breached product warranties by selling a dangerous or defective product.

Get Professional Help Before Filing a Testosterone Therapy Lawsuit

Treating a stroke, heart attack, or other cardiac event is often a difficult and expensive undertaking. In addition, when a loved one passes away from a cardiac event, the surviving family members are often left with substantial medical bills. A product liability lawsuit can allow patients and their loved ones to obtain compensation for medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To learn more about bringing a testosterone therapy lawsuit, you should consider meeting with a product liability attorney today.