According to the website of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the multidistrict testosterone therapy litigation MDL 2545 now includes 1,530 testosterone lawsuits—nearly 200 more than it did just one month ago. The multidistrict testosterone litigation was established in June 2014, and initially consisted of eight separate testosterone lawsuits. Testosterone lawsuits claim that testosterone therapy products from companies like AbbVie and Eli Lilly caused serious health problems including stroke, heart attack, and death.
Testosterone therapy is a type of treatment used to regulate hormone levels in men with low testosterone, or “Low-T.” The drugs come in a variety of forms, from topical gels, to pills. Popular brands include Androgel, Axiron, Fortesta, Striant, and Testim. Annual sales from these drugs number in the billions of dollars, and it is estimated that upwards of two million men use testosterone therapy products every year. But despite the popularity of “Low-T” medications, testosterone therapy has been shown to pose significant health risks to those receiving it.
For instance, a study published in November 2013 linked testosterone therapy to increased rates of heart attack, stroke, and death. In the 8,709 men observed in the study, incidence of heart attack, stroke, and death was 29 percent higher for those who used testosterone therapy products. An additional study in 2014 analyzed the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in over 55,000 testosterone drug patients. The study compared the rate of MI in the initial 90-day period after testosterone therapy was prescribed with the rate of MI in the year prior to treatment. The rate of MI was found to be 36 percent higher in all men using testosterone therapy, and 119 percent higher in users 65 years and older.
In response to these and other studies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it would re-evaluate the health risks posed by testosterone products. In January 2014, the agency issued a Drug Safety Communication alerting doctors and patients to a potential link between testosterone therapy products and cardiovascular problems. Later that year, the FDA released a statement that all testosterone therapy products on the market must include a warning about the general risk of blood clotting.
Testosterone therapy has been approved by the FDA only for use in “men who have low testosterone levels due to disorders of the testicles, pituitary gland or brain that cause a condition called hypogonadism.” However, an alarming number of men continue to be prescribed testosterone to combat the natural effects of aging.
The number of testosterone therapy lawsuits is expected to increase over time. As always, you should speak to your doctor or physician if you intend to switch or discontinue medication. If you or a loved one suffered a stroke, heart attack, or other sever injury after using testosterone replacement drugs, contact the testosterone lawyers at Lopez McHugh today for a free consultation. You may be eligible to receive compensation for injuries through a testosterone therapy lawsuit.
