An AndroGel lawyer can help men who took the drug for testosterone therapy and suffered severe side effects. According to a recent study, men who take testosterone medications may be at an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Affected men and their families may be eligible to seek compensation with the help of a bad drug attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated AndroGel lawyer who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Testosterone Therapy?
In 2011, more than five million prescriptions were written for testosterone therapy medications and products, resulting in sales of nearly $2 billion. Testosterone therapy treatments may be delivered as an implant, an injection, a cream, a gel, a patch or a pill. Along with AndroGel, the following brand names are intended to help men struggling with low testosterone levels:
- Depo-Testosterone
- Androderm
- Striant
- Testopel
- Testim
- Bio-T-Gel
- Delatestryl
- Fortesta
- Axiron
Despite the prevalence of testosterone, or low-T, therapy, these drugs are not without reported risks.
Risks of AndroGel Testosterone Therapy
AndroGel was approved in February 2000 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and quickly became one of the most commonly used form of testosterone. However, in the same year as its release, the FDA told the manufacturer of AndroGel, AbbVie, Inc., that its marketing claims were misleading and incorrect.
Although AndroGel testosterone therapy treatment has helped some men who are truly experiencing symptoms of hypogonadism (extremely low testosterone), several studies have shown that these products may increase a man’s risk of stroke, heart attack, blood clot, DVT, pulmonary embolism, and even death. Various cardiac problems such as high cholesterol, diabetes, plaque buildup, artery blockage and obesity are also linked to these drugs. If you or a loved one has suffered from any of these things, call an AndroGel Lawyer now for urgent information about your potential claims.
While several studies have concluded that treating low testosterone levels may improve a man’s bone density, sexual function, lean muscle mass and strength and lower insulin resistance and cholesterol, the Journal of the American Medical Association released results of a study in which researchers found that the risks of AndroGel may outweigh the benefits. Another study also examined AndroGel testosterone therapy and the potential risks.
Data showed that men who used testosterone therapy treatments may be up to 30 percent more likely to have a stroke, a heart attack or die during a three-year period than men with low testosterone levels who did not take testosterone supplements. Additionally, patients who began the study with unobstructed, clear coronary arteries were just as likely to suffer from cardiac complications as men who entered the study with known coronary artery disease.
Those who have experienced adverse side effects while taking AndroGel report that the medication caused swelling in the ankles, difficulty urinating or unable to urinate at all, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice, nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, low fever and penile complications including frequent, prolonged or bothersome erections. Less serious side effects of AndroGel include changes in sex drive, depressed moods, breast swelling or tenderness, headaches and increased acne or hair growth. On the other hand, the most severe side effects include stroke, heart attack, blood clot, DVT, pulmonary embolism, and even death. If you have experienced one or more adverse complications while taking the medication, you should call an AndroGel heart attack lawyer today to discuss the pending Androgel lawsuits and seek compensation for your injuries.
AndroGel Lawsuit Claims
According to court documents, five AndroGel heart attack lawsuits were filed in Illinois federal court on February 4, 2014 against Abbott Laboratories, Inc. and AbbVie, Inc. Plaintiffs claim that the manufacturers concealed facts pertaining to the possible life-threatening side effects associated with the drug.
Additionally, plaintiffs reference a statement issued by AbbVie, Inc. in which the drug maker acknowledged that the medication could cause adverse side effects in men with kidney, lung and heart disease. However, AbbVie had allegedly promoted AndroGel by claiming that normal symptoms of aging such as less energy, lower libido and grumpiness could occur in men with low testosterone levels.
As a result, many men sought prescriptions for AndroGel under the impression that they lacked a normal balance of testosterone when, in fact, they were more likely simply experiencing the usual effects of growing older. However, in 2000, the FDA told AbbVie that AndroGel was only approved for use in men with hypogonadism, a condition in which the body fails to produce enough testosterone.
How an AndroGel Lawyer Can Help
Drug manufacturers have a duty to ensure their products are accompanied by full and accurate instructions and warnings to guide prescribing doctors and other health care providers in making treatment decisions. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
Patients who are injured by AndroGel may be entitled to compensation for damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- The permanency of the injury
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of income or ability to work
If a patient dies from complications after taking AndroGel, family members may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:
- Conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from the loss of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
Patients who have suffered severe side effects after taking AndroGel, as well as the families of those who have died as a result of complications with the drug, are encouraged to seek the advice of a AndroGel lawyer to learn more about their rights and remedies.
For more information, or to be connected with an AndroGel lawyer, contact Attorney Group.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
