Florida Testosterone Lawsuit
Men who have undergone a testosterone therapy and sustained injuries or experienced complications as a result of the treatment may be entitled to file a Florida testosterone lawsuit and recover compensation for their injuries. Testosterone therapies, available as patches, gels, injections, creams and pellets, are prescribed to men with low testosterone levels. These include Bio-T-Gel, Axiron, AndroGel, Depo-Testosterone, Delatestryl, Striant, Fortesta, Testopel and Testim.
Contact an experienced attorney to learn more about filing a Florida testosterone lawsuit if you suffered a stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism or blood clotting while taking testosterone supplements. You may be entitled to compensation for your condition or the loss of a loved one.
About Testosterone Therapies
As men age, they often experience a natural decline in testosterone levels. Testosterone is the hormone responsible for maintaining sperm and red blood cell production, sex drive, fat distribution, muscle strength and mass and bone density. By using testosterone treatment therapies, men are able to resume their quality of life as these products are intended to treat the symptoms of hypogonadism, or low testosterone levels. News reports state that in the U.S. in 2011 alone, physicians wrote more than five million prescriptions for testosterone treatment therapies.
Side Effects Include Heart Attack, Stroke
Testosterone treatments are approved by the FDA only for men with low testosterone levels who also have been diagnosed with an associated medical condition such as a failure of the testicles to produce testosterone, chemotherapy poisoning or other illness. It is also known that brain structure issues may also affect testosterone levels.
After reviewing data from two studies, the FDA announced on January 31, 2014 that it would be evaluating the risk of heart attack, stroke and death associated with testosterone supplements. In its safety alert, the agency said it would begin to reassess the safety and effectiveness of these products.
One study published in the journal PLOS ONE concluded that testosterone therapy in men over the age of 65 doubled their risk of suffering from a heart attack and tripled the risk of cardiovascular events in men under the age of 65 who were diagnosed with pre-existing cardiovascular disease. The other study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in November 2013, found that testosterone therapies increase a man’s risk of stroke, heart attack and death by 30 percent.
Additionally, if you have suffered from side effects other than a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular complication, you may still be entitled to file a Florida testosterone lawsuit and recover damages for your condition. Possible side effects include:
- Mood changes
- Bothersome or frequent erections
- Liver damage
- Breast tenderness
- Vomiting or nausea
- Trouble urinating
- Abdominal pain
- Fatigue
- Jaundice
Plaintiffs Attempt to Seek Compensation
Although many men have successfully used testosterone treatment therapies to treat their low testosterone levels, many have suffered from adverse and potentially life-threatening side effects including heart attack and stroke, leading many to file lawsuits against the manufacturers in an effort to recover damages for their conditions.
In particular, one manufacturer is accused of using aggressive marketing techniques in an effort to increase sales. In their materials, the company states that men should consider a testosterone treatment prescription if they are suffering from fatigue, grumpiness, low sex drive, weight gain or lack of energy. However, while these are, in fact, symptoms of low testosterone levels, they are also normal occurrences that can happen to a man as he ages and are not necessarily indicative of a serious condition. As a result, plaintiffs allege that they took testosterone treatments when it was not truly necessary, placing themselves at a needless risk for heart attack, stroke and death.
Additionally, plaintiffs claim that manufacturers did not fulfill their obligation to adequately research these products prior to releasing them to the public. In particular, plaintiffs allege that the link between testosterone therapy and cardiovascular complications should have been evaluated further, particularly in men currently living with heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, blocked arteries, obesity or other cardiovascular conditions. Plaintiffs also allege that manufacturers withheld information from the public and medical communities about the possible risk of heart attacks and stroke in an effort to boost their sales, placing their desire for profit ahead of the safety of consumers.
File Your Florida Testosterone Lawsuit Today
If you or a loved one feel as though you have a valid Florida testosterone lawsuit after suffering injuries during or after a testosterone treatment, contact Attorney Group for Florida today to receive your free, no-obligation consultation. We will review your case, help you to determine if you are eligible to recover damages for your condition, and connect you with an affiliated attorney who will handle your Florida testosterone lawsuit. Depending on your injuries and treatment, you may be eligible to seek compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages and medical expenses, among other damages.
For more information, see our Testosterone Replacement Therapy Info Page
