Men receive low testosterone treatment, often referred to as “Low T,” with products such as AndroGel. Commercials for such treatments promise to reverse aging’s effects, restore vitality and promote healthy energy levels. But due to many men reporting cardiovascular problems, drug manufacturers now face an increasing number of low testosterone treatment lawsuits. Abbot Labs subsidiary AbbVie manufactures AndroGel, a popular low testosterone treatment. Unfortunately, men across the country are filing failure to warn claims against AbbVie due to heart attacks and strokes.
Low Testosterone Treatment Lawsuits
There are several low testosterone treatments, including popular AndroGel. AndroGel, which contains synthetic testosterone, goes directly onto the patient’s skin. Then, the man’s body can absorb it topically. While the testosterone dosage is relatively low (less than 2% in both forms), it has a profound effect. In normal men, it raises their internal testosterone level to a healthy, normal level (though certain products, such as lotion, can raise this amount). Unfortunately, the drug has serious side effects, such as heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular problems. Other risks include prostate cancer, enlarged red bloods cells, high cholesterol and reduced sperm count.
While the greatest risk lies with the men applying the gel, women and children are also susceptible to secondary exposure. Unless clothing covers the application site, skin transfer testosterone onto others through touch. This may lead to unwanted effects, such as increased body hair, genital enlargement and aggression.
Lawsuits allege that Abbott and AbbVie didn’t warn doctors or patients about low testosterone therapy’s known cardiovascular risks. According to a JAMA study, 1 in 25 men takes some sort of low testosterone treatment. Interestingly, that number increased threefold since 2001. Yet another study indicated younger men with preexisting heart conditions as well as older men faced substantially increased cardiovascular risks.
FDA Announces Cardiovascular Risk Investigation for Low Testosterone Treatment Products
On Jan. 31, 2014, the FDA announced it would investigate the risk of stroke, heart attack and death in men taking this and other testosterone therapy drugs. On June 19, 2014, it posted a warning about the potential for venous blood clots, requiring drug companies to include non-polycythemia-related blood clots on all testosterone product packaging. While this does not directly address heart attack and stroke, it’s an important step forward for patients taking this drug.
Many suggest that aggressive marketing has raised the number of men taking this drug so substantially, as low libido, lack of muscle tone and lagging energy have all been targeted by major drug companies.
Get the Help You Need
If you or someone you love used a low testosterone treatment like AndroGel and experienced cardiovascular issues, act now. You can consult an attorney for free to see if you’re entitled to a cash settlement from the manufacturer. To see if you may qualify for compensation in just minutes, fill out your free low-t compensation evaluation form now. Once you’ve submitted your information online, an experienced advocate will contact you to discuss your compensation options.
Related: Low Testosterone Blood Clots and a Mistaken Fountain of Youth
Lori Polemenakos is Director of Consumer Content and SEO strategist for LeadingResponse, a legal marketing company. An award-winning journalist, writer and editor based in Dallas, Texas, she's produced articles for major brands such as Match.com, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, Xfinity, Mail.com, and edited several published books. Since 2016, she's published hundreds of articles about Social Security disability, workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, personal injury, mass tort, auto accident claims, bankruptcy, employment law and other related legal issues.