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.
In recent years, testosterone therapy has been increasingly prescribed to men with a condition commonly called “Low-T”. This condition is often found in older men with symptoms of fatigue, low libido and loss of energy. This condition is not uncommon in younger men as well. The testosterone therapy prescribed by physicians is intended to increase the production of red blood cells in men and thus in turn increase energy and libido.
Testosterone therapy has been approved for men with a condition called hypogonadism, an endocrine disorder typically resulting in severe testosterone deficiencies. Doctors are supposed to perform a blood test to determine if men have this disorder before prescribing testosterone therapy. However, many men are placed on testosterone therapy without having the proper blood tests done first. Common drugs for testosterone therapy include Androderm, Androgel, Axiron, Fortesta and Testim.
Recent medical studies have reported a link between these testosterone therapies and increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and death in patients. In November 2013, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published the results of a study that sought to understand the relationship between testosterone therapy intake and health issues in men, particularly heart attack and stroke. The study assessed a group of men across the country with low testosterone levels that underwent heart tests, such as coronary angiographies, between 2005 and 2011. The results of the study indicate there is an association between the use of testosterone therapy and an increase in adverse health risks, specifically heart attack and stroke. Perhaps more alarming, this association was found amongst patients with and without coronary artery disease (CAD). The researchers themselves stated that “these findings raise concerns about the potential safety of testosterone therapy.”
Another study published in January 2014 in PLoS ONE followed 56,000 older and middle-aged men around the country who were prescribed testosterone between 2008 and 2010. The study looked at the rate of heart attacks in the year before the patients received the testosterone prescription and then the three months after. The study found that men 65 and older had double the rate of heart attacks in the months after starting the drug. The same was true for men younger than 65 who had a previous diagnosis of heart disease. The study did not find any evidence of a greater risk of heart attack in younger men without a history of heart problems.
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 on the lives and health of those involved and are dedicated to helping you during this difficult time.
Read frequently asked questions regarding “Low T”
Read the FDA’s safety announcement regarding testosterone products