Low T treatments, or testosterone therapies, are prescribed to men experiencing low testosterone levels as they age. These treatment methods such as creams and other products are intended to improve sexual performance and desire, strengthen bone density and build muscle mass. In 2011 alone, according to news reports, over five million prescriptions for testosterone were written in the U.S., and the products most often come as injections, gels and patches. The most commonly prescribed products include Axirom, Delatestryl, Androderm, Testopel, Depo-Testosterone, Fortesta, Striant, Bio-T-Gel, Testim and AndroGel.
However, while many men have benefited from low testosterone therapies, new research has found that AndroGel, in particular, as well as other products, may increase a man’s risk of suffering from strokes, heart attacks and death. According to the study, those prediagnosed with heart conditions were 30 times more likely to experience one of the aforementioned conditions than those who opted for other forms of treatment and avoided testosterone supplementation altogether.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, analyzed roughly 8,700 participants who engaged in testosterone therapy for 36 months and is the second largest study that has concluded that these products increase the patient’s risk of complications. Consider contacting Florida AndroGel testosterone attorneys if you or a man you love used AndroGel or other testosterone products and subsequently suffered from adverse or life-threatening complications.
Plaintiffs Across the U.S. File Lawsuits and Allege Complications
AbbVie, Inc., the manufacturer of AndroGel, has recently been named as a defendant in several lawsuits brought forth by plaintiffs whom have allegedly suffered from serious and life-threatening side effects while using its product. Additionally, plaintiffs allege that the manufacturer failed to adequately warn consumers and the medical community of the risks and side effects of AndroGel before they began treatment with the product. However, once patients began to come forward, the manufacturer acknowledged that its testosterone cream could result in adverse complications in those who had currently been diagnosed with kidney, lung or heart disease. Still, AbbVie allegedly continued to promte AndroGel by claiming that low testosterone levels could also result in symptoms that occur naturally in a man’s aging body such as grumpiness, less energy levels and a low libido.
AndroGel, approved in 2000 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), quickly became the most commonly used form of testosterone in the country. However, in 2000, the FDA informed the manufacturer that its marketing methods were misleading, incorrect and incomplete. Later, in May 2009, the FDA reported that the warning label on AndroGel would be updated to include adverse effects in children who had been exposed to the product. The FDA ultimately placed a black box warning label on AndroGel in September 2009.
Florida Androgel testosterone attorneys can assist those who feel as though they have a valid claim against the manufacturer if they have sustained serious injuries or complications due to the product. Possible compensation may include damages for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering, although every case is different and a settlement is never guaranteed.
AndroGel May Cause Adverse Side Effects
As is the case with most medications and products, AndroGel may produce less serious side effects such as:
- Depressed mood, headache
- Swelling of the breasts
- Breast tenderness
- Increased acne
- Rapid hair growth
- Changes in libido
However, you may consider working with Florida AndroGel testosterone attorneys if you experienced one or more of the following severe side effects that has recently been linked to the product:
- Difficulty urinating
- Jaundice
- Dark urine
- Clay-colored stools
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Low fever
- Loss of appetite
- Swelling in the ankles
- Bothersome, frequent or prolonged erections
However, despite the numerous adverse side effects allegedly linked to AndroGel, the product has been used successfully in many men currently living with low testosterone levels. Still, Florida AndroGel testosterone attorneys can assist you in filing a claim if you believe you are at an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, death and other complications such as:
- Artery blockage
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- High cholesterol
- Plaque buildup
Florida AndroGel Testosterone Attorneys Can Help You to File Your Claim
Have you or a loved one been prescribed AndroGel or other testosterone therapy products to treat low testosterone levels and you have developed heart complications or suffered from cardiac arrest or stroke? Contact Attorney Group for Florida today to receive a no-obligation consultation, free of charge. We will help you determine whether you have a claim and can connect with affiliated Florida AndroGel testosterone attorneys who will handle your case and work to help you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled.
