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Testosterone Therapies Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Attacks

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The Federal Drug Administration has begun an investigation into recent allegations that testosterone drugs and therapies increase the risk of cardiovascular complications. This comes on the heels of a new study published in PLOS One that found an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes in men who were prescribed testosterone therapy. The study showed that men under the age of 65 who had a history of heart disease, as well as men over the age of 65—even those without heart disease—were 2x more likely to suffer a cardiac complication.

This most recent study was not the first study to find a connection between testosterone therapy and heart attacks. Researchers with Veterans Affairs studied 8,700 men between 2005 and 2011 who were undergoing various forms of testosterone therapy. Their results found that men using testosterone drugs were 30% more likely to suffer from heart attacks, strokes, and death.

…But It’s FDA Approved!

The FDA approved testosterone therapies only for men that suffered from low-testosterone due to a medical condition, such as hypogonadism. This medical condition results in the body not producing enough testosterone and men can exhibit signs of fatigue, decreased sex drive, and difficulty concentrating.

Yet the drug has been used to treat men who simply exhibit these symptoms—and not those who have been properly tested. Men’s testosterone levels naturally decline as a result of aging and testosterone therapy is not recommended for these men.

“We’re giving people hormones that we don’t know they need, for a disease that we don’t know they have, and we don’t know if it’ll help them or harm them.”

—Dr. Lisa Schwartz, a professor at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice

The Risk of Heart Attack is Being Ignored

Unfortunately, drug manufacturers have been aggressively marketing their testosterone therapy drugs, and between 2001 and 2011, the use of hormones among men increased by 40%. These companies have not specifically addressed heart attack concerns and stroke warnings on testosterone therapy labels. As a result, more men are beginning to experience serious heart conditions.

If you or someone you love has suffered a heart attack, stroke, or serious heart complication after using a testosterone-enhancing drug, it is important to speak to an experienced testosterone lawsuit attorney immediately.

Filing a Low Testosterone Lawsuit

Men who have experienced adverse side effects, heart attacks, strokes, or even death after using a testosterone-enhancing drug may be able to file a lawsuit. The lawyers at Phillips Law Firm have represented countless families across the country in their quest for justice. If you are interested in learning more about your legal options, call us at 1-800-708-6000. Our low testosterone lawsuit attorneys are waiting to assist you 24/7, offering a free case evaluation. Remember our no fee promise. If we do not recover anything for you, you do not owe us an attorney fee.

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5 Lawsuits Filed Against AbbVie for Dangerous ‘Low T’ Drugs

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Testosterone enhancing drugs are facing intense scrutiny after claims of heart attacks and strokes have increased. The FDA has already begun an investigation into the heart and stroke dangers of testosterone enhancing drugs after two recent studies raised concerns.

In November 2013, the Journal of the American Medical Association found that when men without a history of heart disease used testosterone drugs, their risk of death from heart attack or stroke increased by 29%. A separate study also found that men with a history of heart disease were also at an increased risk.

AndroGel Users File Suit

Now 5 men who allege that they suffered heart attacks or strokes after using AndroGel have filed separate lawsuits against Abbott Laboratories and their spinoff AbbVie. In particular, three of the five men suffered heart attacks, one suffered a stroke, and one suffered a mini-stroke after using the ‘Low T’ drug AndroGel.

In addition to causing heart attacks and strokes, testosterone-enhancing drugs have also been known to cause enlarged prostates, enlarged breasts, sleep apnea, and blood clots.

These Drugs Are Unnecessary For Most

Even more concerning is the fact that the majority of men do not even need these drugs. A gradual decline in testosterone is a part of the aging process—it is a fact of life. Yet these testosterone-enhancing drugs have only been approved for treating medical conditions, such as the failure of the testicles to produce testosterone due to genetic issues or as a side effect of chemotherapy. Being used to simply treat low testosterone levels has not been approved.

Yet even with multiple warnings and increased scrutiny, low-T drugs are on the rise. IMS Health said that sales of their testosterone drugs grew by 90% over the past 5 years and reached $1.9 billion in sales in 2011 alone. AndroGel itself reported $1.15 billion in 2012 sales and is now AbbVie’s second best-selling drug. Experts estimate that by 2017, the testosterone market will hit $5 billion.

Contact National Dangerous Drug Attorneys

Men who have experienced adverse side effects, heart attacks, or strokes after using a testosterone-enhancing drug may be able to file a lawsuit. Our experienced defective drug lawyers have represented families across the country in their quest for justice. If you are interested in learning more about your legal options, call us at 1-800-708-6000. Our AndroGel lawsuit attorneys are waiting to assist you 24/7, offering a free case evaluation. Remember our no fee promise. If we do not recover anything for you, you do not owe us an attorney fee.

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Low T or High Risk? – The Real Story Behind Low Testosterone Drugs

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AndroGel Low Testosterone TreatmentLow testosterone drugs have exploded onto the market in recent years, promising aging men a renewed interest in everything from sex to life. Pervasive marketing campaigns warn that low testosterone can interfere with sex drives, moods, and even energy levels. This in turn prompted annual prescriptions for Low-T drugs to increase five fold from 2000 to 2011. In fact, sales totaled nearly $2 billion in 2012 from 5.3 million prescriptions thanks to global ad campaigns.

The Dark Side Of Low Testosterone Treatments

Yet there is a dark side to Low-T drugs. In the first 3 months after starting low testosterone therapy, men younger than 65 who had a history of heart disease were 2x more likely to experience a heart attack or stroke. For men over the age of 65, their risk of heart attacks and strokes increased 2x—even without a history of heart disease.

The latest study to confirm these findings is particularly interesting because it involved a large population, unlike previous studies. The researchers reviewed the records of 55,593 men who had been prescribed testosterone treatments, including over 48,000 records from men that were younger than 65 years old. Specifically, they compared patients who were given testosterone treatments, including Axiron and Androderm with those patients who were simply given Viagra or Cialis. The testosterone group was 2x as likely to suffer a heart attack compared to the impotence pill group. This suggests that the increase in heart complications is due to the treatment prescribed and not merely the sexual behavior.

FDA Intervention is Needed

These results have prompted calls for the FDA to update product labeling and warn consumers of cardiovascular concerns. In addition, physicians and academics have raised concerns that the advertising campaigns of these companies, such as AndroGel, exaggerate both the effectiveness of these drugs and the prevalence of low testosterone among men. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2010 found that only 2% of men between the ages of 40 and 80 actually suffered from Low T.

Contact National Dangerous Drug Attorneys

Men who have experienced adverse side effects, heart attacks, or strokes after using a testosterone-enhancing drug may be able to file a lawsuit. Our experienced dangerous drug lawyers have represented families across the country in their quest for justice. If you are interested in learning more about your legal options, call us at 1-800-708-6000. Our low testosterone lawsuit attorneys are waiting to assist you 24/7, offering a free case evaluation. Remember our no fee promise. If we do not recover anything for you, you do not owe us an attorney fee.

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