Testosterone therapy is a common treatment for men diagnosed with low testosterone levels, also called “low T.” Unfortunately, it is a treatment method that may have significant risks. Studies show that patients who take low-T treatments may have a significantly greater chance of stroke or heart attack, which could cause lasting impairments or death.
Patients with low T are taking legal action to recover compensation for health problems caused by testosterone therapy. Recently, five men filed suit against Abbott Laboratories in federal court in Chicago. Their case was filed four days after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it was going to reconsider whether testosterone therapy was safe.
The FDA’s considerations came in light of “two separate studies that each suggested an increased risk of cardiovascular events among groups of men prescribed testosterone therapy,” according to an announcement by the federal agency.
Many more plaintiffs are likely to take action as the link between testosterone therapy and heart problems becomes more studied.
If you used testosterone therapy products and are now experiencing side effects, get help from an experienced attorney at Joye Law Firm.
Call Joye Law Firm now or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free claim evaluation and consultation. We are ready to discuss your potential legal claim and provide answers to questions, such as:
- Can I take legal action for a stroke, heart attack or death caused by testosterone treatments?
- How can I pursue a claim for compensation for illness caused by low-T treatments?
- Will my case be part of a class action or multidistrict litigation?
- How can a lawyer help me pursue a claim for compensation for an illness caused by low-T treatment?
Legal Action for Stroke, Heart Attack or Death Related to Low-T Treatments
Testosterone-replacement therapies may be administered to patients as pills, patches, injections, implants or gels. If you were prescribed testosterone in any form and you have now developed heart problems, you may be able to take legal action to recover compensation.
Testosterone therapy products that may be linked to stroke and heart attack include:
- AndroGel
- AndroDerm
- Axiron
- Bio-T Gel
- Delayestryl
- Depo-Testosterone
- Forestra
- Testim
- Testopel
- Striant
If you or a loved one used these treatments or other low-T therapies and a heart attack, stroke or death resulted, contact an experienced defective drug lawyer.
Pursuing a Claim for Compensation for Illness Caused by Testosterone Therapy
To obtain compensation for heart problems caused by low-T treatments, you will need to prove the testosterone medication was the cause of the heart attack or stroke. In cases involving death, the surviving family members would need to prove that the testosterone therapy led to a fatal stroke or heart attack.
Because these cases fall under product liability laws that make manufacturers ‘strictly liable’ for dangerous products, you may not have to prove the manufacturer of the testosterone treatment did anything wrong. All you need to prove is that the therapy caused the harm.
You may also pursue a case against a low-T treatment manufacturer based on its negligent failure to warn about the product’s risks.
Expert testimony and medical evidence may be necessary to pursue a claim to establish the link between the treatment and the stroke, heart attack or death.
Many medical studies have demonstrated the risks of testosterone therapy, including:
- A study of more than 8,000 men who received treatment through Veterans Administration hospitals revealed that low-T treatment could increase the risk of stroke, heart attack or death by as much as 30 percent.
- A PLoS One study indicated that men taking low-T treatment had a twofold increase in the risk of a heart attack, and a two- to threefold increase if they had a history of heart disease.
- A study of the impact of testosterone on muscle function conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine in 2010 had to be discontinued when test subjects began to develop cardiac problems.
Class-Action Claims and Multidistrict Litigation in Low-T Cases
In 2008, 208 million prescriptions were written for low-T treatments, and by 2013, the number of prescriptions had jumped to 432 million. With so many men using these products, there may be thousands who became ill because of testosterone therapies.
Many claims brought by low-T patients are likely to be consolidated into multidistrict litigations. This means the claimants retain their individual lawsuits and control over their claims, unlike in class actions where there is just one case with many plaintiffs.
Heart Attack or Stroke Due to Low-T Treatment? Talk to Our Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one has taken testosterone therapy and suffered a related heart attack or stroke – or if a loved one died from related heart problems – you need the help of a drug injury lawyer. You may be entitled to compensation.
An experienced attorney at Joye Law Firm can assist you in making a case to prove you were harmed by testosterone therapy.
Call Joye Law Firm or fill out our online contact form for a free claim review and information about your legal rights. We want to help.
Sources:
- FDA – Testosterone Products: Drug Safety Communication – FDA Investigating Risk of Cardiovascular Events
- JAMA – Association of Testosterone Therapy With Mortality, Myocardial Infarction, and Stroke in Men With Low Testosterone Levels
- PLoS ONE – Increased Risk of Non-Fatal Myocardial Infarction Following Testosterone Therapy Prescription in Men
- Reuters – Testosterone drugs should warn of cardiac risk, consumer group says
- Bloomberg – Abbott Labs Sued by Five Men Claiming Androgel Injuries
