Use Low T Drugs? You May Have Grounds for a Lawsuit
For middle-aged men out there working a full-time job, paying for a child’s college education, saving for retirement and still making it to the golf course for a few rounds on the weekend, life can be pretty tiring.
Add that to changes in home values, job insecurity and age-related physical challenges and you’ve got a recipe for a potentially tired, stressed-out modern man.
Men who can relate to the low energy, restlessness and fatigue of middle age are looking for a tangible solution. Many of those men even ask their doctors what’s going on. For those men who receive a prescription to treat “ Low T” (for testosterone), it may seem like a magic elixir – a quick fix that restores energy, libido and youthful feelings.
Are ‘Low T’ Drugs Dangerous?
But the drugs prescribed for Low T, including AndroGel, are not just a cure-all without side effects.
Several recent studies of testosterone replacement drugs revealed very serious side effects – increased risk of heart attack, stroke and even death.
The manufacturers of AndroGel and other testosterone therapies are obligated to communicate those risks to their patients through their marketing materials. Sadly, the manufacturers did not include information about these potentially life-threatening risks in their advertising messages or their product packaging.
As a result, many men have taken testosterone therapy without realizing the risks.
Men who have experienced these serious side effects may have cause for a lawsuit against the manufacturer of AndroGel, and can pursue legal action to recoup damages caused by the drugs.
Approved Uses for ‘Low T’ Drugs
Testosterone drugs were originally developed to treat hypogonadism – the condition where a man does not produce enough testosterone to develop and maintain general masculine characteristics.
As with any hormonal imbalance, hypogonadism can affect men physically, emotionally and mentally. It is similar to menopause in women, which has been treated with hormone replacement therapy with negative outcomes, as well.
According to a statement from the FDA, “Testosterone products are FDA-approved only for use in men who lack or have low testosterone levels in conjunction with an associated medical condition.”
However, more and more men are being prescribed these drugs to treat conditions that don’t meet the criteria of hypogonadism. Doctors can make a diagnosis of hypogonadism based on a blood test that determines current hormone levels produced by the reproductive and endocrine systems. The normal range for adult men is as broad as 300 to 1,200 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL).
Side Effects of Low T Drugs
According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), prescriptions for the drug increased threefold from 2001 to 2011 in men over the age of 40. The rate of prescriptions increased from 0.81% to 2.91% during that 10 year time period.
Because of that increased use, it’s especially alarming that the use of testosterone therapy has been associated with a substantial increase in heart attacks in men aged 65 and older and younger men with a pre-existing heart disease. Another study in JAMA illustrated that testosterone use was associated with an increased risk of not just heart attack, but also stroke and death.
Should You File a Low T Lawsuit?
Patients who were prescribed testosterone therapy drugs to address concerns that are not technically diagnosed as hypogonadism and experienced serious side effects may have cause for legal action against the makers of the drug.
Filing a Low T lawsuit may help patients recover damages for medical and non-medical expenses and it can begin to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for selling drugs without properly educating patients about the side effects.
If you suffered serious side effects from using low testosterone drugs and would like more information about taking legal action, contact us today. We can help you determine if you have grounds for a lawsuit and if that makes sense for your particular situation.
“Fighting for your rights” Contact David Weissman and the law firm of Raybin & Weissman for a confidential consultation of your case today at 615-256-6666.