Four lawsuits were filed in federal court in Illinois in recent days by men who claim they were badly injured as a result of using testosterone gel products. These lawsuits, filed individually, all named the same defendant. That defendant is AbbVie, Inc., which is the manufacturer of AndroGel. AndroGel is one of the most popular testosterone therapy replacement products on the market, and it is available via prescription. It has generated billions of dollars in revenue for the manufacturer since it hit the market a few years ago.
The reason that these AndroGel lawsuits are being filed is because it has been discovered that men who are using these products are facing much higher risks of heart attacks, strokes and death than those who do not. This is very concerning when one considers that the number of men who are using these products quadrupled between 2001 and 2011. In addition, 1 out of every 25 men in the United States over the age of 60 has been using these medications. That means that if these products are indeed dangerous and lead to heart attacks, strokes and death that the overall consequences could be severe.
What Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy?
Testosterone replacement therapy is commonly known as TRT. It is supposed to be used by men who suffer from decreased testosterone levels, or low-T. The level of testosterone in a man tends to decrease by an average of one percent per year after a man passes the age of 30. However, that does not mean that every man needs TRT, as the decrease in testosterone is a natural process. It just drops more in some men than it does in others.
What Problems Arose with TRT?
Problems began to arise with regards to TRT because several studies and investigations have been done that indicated a few important things:
- Using testosterone replacement products can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke by a factor of 5.
- Even men under the age of 60 face this heightened risk, unlike what was previously thought.
- Testosterone replacement therapy products are marketed in an extremely aggressive manner, meaning that many men are using them who likely do not need them.
As a result of these different findings, the FDA has recently announced that it will take another look at these products. No one knows what that analysis could lead to at this point. Given all of these developments and the harm that has been suffered by men around the country, many believe that the lawsuits recently filed in Illinois will be only the first of many.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy Side Effects and Your Legal Rights
If you or someone you love has been harmed as a result of using testosterone replacement therapy drugs, you are unfortunately a part of a growing number of potential plaintiffs. You need to make sure that your voice is heard and that your legal rights are protected. You can do so by contacting the testosterone replacement therapy lawyers at Parilman & Associates today either by emailing the firm or by calling 800-800-DRUG.
