TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (LOW T)

Keller, Fishback & Jackson LLP represents men who suffered heart attacks, strokes, other cardiovascular events or prostate cancer after taking testosterone replacement.

On January 31, 2014, the FDA issued a safety announcement that it is investigating the risk of heart attack, stroke and death in men taking FDA-approved testosterone products, in light of the recent studies that found heightened cardiovascular risks among men prescribed testosterone replacement therapy.

Recently published medical research has found that men who undergo testosterone therapy, generally administered as a gel, patch or injection, were much more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke or death compared to men who did not take testosterone replacement medication.

One study found a two-fold increase in the risk of heart attack following testosterone therapy, and concluded "the evidence supports an association between testosterone therapy and risk of serious, adverse cardiovascular-related events" in men. Another study found that testosterone therapy "was associated with increased risk of mortality, myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke." Yet another study was halted when it was determined that a large number of men in the testosterone treatment group had suffered adverse cardiovascular events.

Testosterone is a male hormone essential to the development of male growth and masculine characteristics. Testosterone products are approved by the FDA to treat the condition known as hypogonadism -- low levels of testosterone often caused by injury, chemotherapy or other trauma. This condition may result in low sex drive, low energy levels, muscle loss and depression. In its safety announcement, the FDA emphasized that testosterone products are not approved for men with low testosterone levels who lack an associated medical condition.

Numerous testosterone therapy products are currently marketed, including:

  • AndroGel
  • Androderm
  • Axirom
  • Bio-T-Gel
  • Delatestryl
  • Depo-Testosterone
  • Fortesta
  • Striant
  • Testim

Testosterone therapy has been heavily touted by the pharmaceutical industry to treat a condition commonly labeled as "low T." Manufacturers insist that the common effects of aging, such as slowing down and less sexual activity, are actually a new disease that requires a testosterone therapy prescription. In fact, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that many men who get testosterone therapy have no evidence of hypogonadism. For example, one third of men prescribed testosterone were diagnosed with fatigue, and one quarter of men did not even have blood work done to determine whether their testosterone levels were low. As one commentator stated, "in the age old tradition of snake oil peddlers and travelling medicine shows, testosterone replacement therapy is but the latest elixir from the fountain of youth."

If you or a loved one has suffered cardiovascular complications or prostate cancer following testosterone therapy, contact us today for a free legal consultation at 1-866-529-4968 or 1-866-LAW-4-YOU.

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