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.
