Testosterone Therapy

Personal Injury Lawyer Representing Victims of Heart Attacks, Strokes, and Death due to Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Accident and Injury Lawyer in South Florida Handling Testosterone Therapy Lawsuits Against Androgel, Androderm, Axirom, Bio-T-Gel, Delatestryl, Depo-Testosterone, Fortesta, Striant, Testim, and Testopel

If you or someone you know has been prescribed testosterone therapy in Broward, Miami, or Palm Beach counties or anywhere in South Florida, and has suffered a heart attack, stroke, or death, it’s best to contact a personal injury and accident lawyer to investigate and see if your injury was due to testosterone therapy.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been investigating several risks in men that have been taking FDA approved testosterone. Two different studies indicate a higher risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, and death in groups of men that have been taking testosterone products. Although the FDA is still examining these studies, alerts have already been issued by the FDA.

The first study, which was conducted on older men in the U.S. Veteran Affairs health system included men who had low serum testosterone and were doing tests for coronary heart disease. The men who were involved in the study were 60 years old on average and had underlying cardiovascular conditions. One group of men was put on testosterone replacement therapy while the other group was not. The results of the study indicated that 30 percent of the men that were put on testosterone replacement therapy had higher risks for stroke, heart attack, and death.

Another separate study suggested that men 65 years or older prescribed with testosterone therapy had a twice as great a risk for heart attack after only being on the prescription 90 days. The study also found that men under the age of 65 with a history of heart disease increased their risk for heart attack by two or three times after 90 days of filling their prescription. However, men under the age of 65 with no history of heart disease did not have an increased risk for heart attack after 90 days of taking the prescription.

Testosterone is a hormone that is responsible for building bone mass, building muscle, and stimulating sex drive. As men enter their thirties, their testosterone production gradually begins to decline. When testosterone decreases more than it should, men begin experiencing symptoms that are often mistaken with aging.

Testosterone increases the production of red blood cells, which can thicken blood and in turn cause cardiovascular events. Having thicker blood is dangerous for men who already have narrowed arteries due to preexisting conditions and/or aging. According to the New York Times, testosterone therapy is only approved for men who have a condition known as hypogonadism, which is an endocrine disorder that causes extremely low levels of testosterone. In order for men to be diagnosed with hypogonadism, a blood test must be performed. However, according to studies, twenty five percent of men that have been prescribed testosterone did not have their levels tested.

Men who are prescribed testosterone show symptoms of fatigue, low libido, lack of energy, hair loss, increase in body fat, loss of muscle mass, mood changes, decrease in bone mass, and other symptoms. Testosterone replacement therapy comes in the forms of topical gels, pellets, transdermal patches, and injections. Androgel is one of the most popular name brands and comes in the form of a clear alcohol based gel, which is fast acting once it’s absorbed into the skin. Other brands and types are Androderm, Axirom, Bio-T-Gel, Delatestryl, Depo-Testosterone, Fortesta, Striant, Testim, and Testopel

If you have suffered a heart attack or stroke or have lost a loved one that was prescribed testosterone therapy, call us at (954) 833-1440 for a free consultation to see if we can represent you.