Recent studies have linked commonly prescribed testosterone therapies—injections, gels, and patches—to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and death among certain groups of men undergoing the treatment. Common, FDA-approved testosterone therapies such as AndroGel and Fortesta, do not currently have labeling that warns of heart attack risk. If you want to find out if you have a dangerous drug claim in South Carolina, please call our experienced attorneys at 888-353-5513.
The Potential Dangers of Testosterone Therapy
Testosterone brand names include Bio-T-Gel, Axiron, Delatestryl, Depo-Testosterone, Striant, Testopel, and others. Although an exact cause-and-effect relationship between testosterone treatment and cardiac events has not been proven, two important studies have shown these drugs may increase your risk of:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Death
You should contact our injury firm now if you have suffered heart attack or stroke while being treated for low testosterone.
The FDA is currently reviewing these risks, which appears to be motivated at least in part by two recent studies. One of the studies had particularly worrisome findings. It surveyed more than 55,000 men undergoing some form of testosterone therapy. It showed that for men age 65 and older, within 90 days of beginning testosterone treatment, their risk of heart attack doubled. For men under 65 with a history of heart disease, the risk also doubled within 90 days.
Testosterone therapies are FDA-approved to treat low testosterone caused by a medical condition. With the recent proliferation of testosterone advertisements, it appears the therapy is being used off label to treat men who report decreased libido, fatigue, or other changes that may be hormone related. In certain cases, men are being treated with testosterone therapy regardless of already having normal levels of the hormone in their bodies, as evidenced through blood tests.
It’s worthwhile to note that long-term studies on the safety of testosterone therapies are virtually nonexistent.
What to do if you are being treated with Testosterone
If you are currently being treated with testosterone, do not make any changes until you have spoken with your doctor. Ask about your risk for a cardiac event or stroke because of the treatment, and find out if you were a good candidate for the treatment in the first place.
If you have suffered heart attack, stroke, or a life-threatening blood clot while undergoing testosterone therapy, you should contact our dangerous drug attorneys right away. You may be eligible to pursue compensation for the injuries and harm the testosterone treatment has caused you.
If you or a loved one has suffered heart attack or a stoke because of testosterone therapy, or if you lost a loved one who died because of this kind of treatment, please contact McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates, PA, to schedule a free case evaluation with our experienced defective drug attorneys serving the areas of Camden, Columbia, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg and Sumter, South Carolina.
