Dallas Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Blog
As previously mentioned in this blog, we believe there are serious medical risks from the use of testosterone gel supplements and plaintiffs agree with us. Several recent medical studies have found an increased risk of heart attacks from AndroGel and other testosterone treatments.
The manufacturers of the blockbuster testosterone gel are exposed to a number of lawsuits. This week men who claim injuries from the use of testosterone gels have filed lawsuits.
4 Lawsuits Filed in Federal Court
Recently four lawsuits were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, involving men who developed cardiovascular events after using Androgel for treatment of low testosterone.
The Androgel lawsuits were filed on behalf of Michael Gallagher, of Midlothian Virginia, Steven Myers, of Fort Worth, Texas, Steve Marino, of Saint Louis, Missouri and Kenneth Aurecchia, of Johnston, Rhode Island.
Gallagher, Myers and Aurecchia state that they suffered heart attacks, and Marino suffered a stroke. All of the plaintiffs deny any previous cardiac history and claim that the injuries were caused by side effects of AndroGel.
The complaints were filed in Illinois, the headquarters for the manufacturer of Androgel, AbbVie, which is a spin-off of Abbott Laboratories.
FDA Investigating Testosterone Supplements
The FDA approved AndroGel testosterone for the treatment of testosterone levels that are low due to a specific medical condition known as hypogonadism.
On January 31, the FDA announced it is investigating the safety of testosterone therapy, and the risk of stroke, heart attack and death. The FDA regulators said the decision to take a new look at the potential side effects of the hormone therapy was as a result of the recent medical studies.
Abbvie is “Disease Mongering”
AbbVie and other pharmaceutical companies have used direct-to-consumer advertising to entice men to seek treatment for various vague symptoms, including lack of energy, weight gain and decreased sex drive.
According to the lawsuits, AbbVie is “disease mongering.” Plaintiffs claim that a quiz on “Low T” made by drug maker describes general symptoms like being “sad or grumpy” and “falling asleep after dinner.” The quiz allegedly gets the men worked up that they go ask their doctors if this means they are experience Low T.
Studies have shown that many doctors never test the actual testosterone levels of their patients and prescribe the treatments when levels are normal.
Testosterone Therapy Medical Studies
In November 2013, a study found that side effects of testosterone treatments were linked to increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, and death among older men with certain pre-existing heart problems. This was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Recently a study found that low testosterone treatments may double the risk of heart attack for younger men with heart disease and men over the age of 65. This was published in the medical journal PLOSOne.