If you, a friend or a loved one has suffered an injury associated with taking testosterone therapy, please contact the Law Offices of John David Hart at 800-247-1623 or johnhart@hartlaw.com to discuss your legal rights. In recent months, there has been an increasing amount of evidence indicating that testosterone therapy may cause serious and permanent injuries resulting from heart attack and strokes in patients.
Summary
On February 4, 2014, the New York Times published an editorial indicating that drugs used to treat a medical condition known as “low T” are possibly being oversold in the U.S. “Low t” is a condition in men with low testosterone levels. Symptoms can include depressed mood, fatigue, loss of sexual drive and loss of muscle strength. There are several drugs currently on the market to treat “low T”, and the authors of the editorial state that men taking these drugs may be at risk for serious health concerns, including heart attack.
Recent study finds link between testosterone drugs and heart attack
A study published in January 2014 in Public Library of Science One (PLoS One) found that men aged 65 or older who were taking testosterone drugs doubled their risk of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, the study found that middle-aged men with a prior history of cardiovascular disease tripled their risk of a heart attack when taking testosterone drugs. According to the study, these risks occurred within 90 days of receiving a testosterone prescription. Perhaps more alarmingly, the PLoS One study found that other drugs prescribed for similar symptoms, such as Viagra and Cialis, did not pose the same heart risks as testosterone drugs.
Are men being overtreated with testosterone in the U.S.?
According to the authors of the editorial, the recent study from PLoS provides evidence that men in the U.S. are receiving an overtreatment of testosterone. Testosterone drugs are typically prescribed for men with a condition known as hypogonadism, which occurs when a man has abnormally low levels of testosterone in his body due to genetic or pathological reasons. However, it now appears that men who have not even been properly diagnosed with having low levels of testosterone are being prescribed testosterone drugs.
Why has there been an increase in testosterone prescriptions in recent years?
The number of testosterone prescriptions in the U.S. has grown substantially within the past few years. Testosterone drug manufacturers are heavily advertising their products to both healthcare providers and consumers alike as being able to overcome the effects of “low T.” For example, AbbVie, the manufacturer of the popular testosterone gel Androgel, markets “low T” as one of the five most serious health conditions that men face, listing it alongside high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Packaging for Androgel, a popular testosterone prescription marketed in the U.S. (obtained from http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/archives/fdaDrugInfo.cfm?archiveid=53749)
Response to recent finding of link between testosterone drugs and heart risk
It is important that patients receive the proper health screenings to verify that they do have low levels of testosterone before starting on any testosterone drug regimen. Furthermore, more studies need to be conducted to assess the relationship between testosterone use and heart attacks. And finally, government regulators and pharmaceutical companies alike need to assess whether better warning labels can be added to testosterone drugs.
If you or a loved one has experienced a heart attack or stroke while taking testosterone therapy, contact the Law Offices of John David Hart at 800-247-1623 or johnhart@hartlaw.com to discuss your legal rights. We are experienced in helping individuals and families deal with the devastating effects of dangerous drugs and are dedicated to helping you during this difficult time.
(Images obtained from NIH website)
