Do testosterone replacement products like AndroGel increase risk of heart attack or stroke?
Medical treatments for men with low testosterone (“low T”) have become increasingly popular in the drug markets over the past two decades. As with any advances in medicine, the long-term effects of new treatments are always unknown until a large population of people is being treated over a long period.
Low T treatments are now coming under scrutiny as more and more men who have used medications like AndroGel and Testoderm have reported increased incidences of cardiovascular episodes.
On March 3, 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement requiring prescription testosterone products to include a product liability label warning consumers of the possible increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Some Studies Show Increased Heart Attack Risk
Epidemiologist William Finkle published a study in January of 2014 that noted an increased risk of heart attack. His study followed the health of 55,000 American men taking testosterone replacement products. During the first 90 days of treatment, 1 in 167 participants aged 65 and older were at risk of a heart attack, while 1 in 100 men under 65 years of age who had pre-existing heart disease were in danger of a heart attack.
In 2010, two smaller studies were conducted, with one revealing a significant cardiovascular risk to participants treated with low T drugs. That study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, was quoted as saying, “The danger of a cardiovascular-related adverse event remained significantly greater among men in the testosterone group than among men in the placebo group.”
In light of those findings, the other study scheduled to take place that year was canceled because of the high risk of adverse cardiovascular events. This telling information lets consumers know that you can sue the manufacturer of AndroGel if it caused a heart attack, using a product liability attorney.
Increased Risk of Stroke and Blood Clots
Use of testosterone replacement products has also been found to carry an increased risk of developing blood clots and experiencing strokes. Two studies, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and Journal of the American Medical Association, found that testosterone gels raised the risk of stroke. Researchers estimate the likelihood of stroke to be approximately 30 percent higher in men using testosterone therapy.
One of the reasons that doctors suspect testosterone therapy increases the risk of strokes and blood clots is that testosterone therapy drugs can cause increased size in red blood cells. Enlarged blood cells allow the blood to thicken and this is when blood clots occur. If a clot breaks loose and travels to the brain, a stroke occurs which can be life-changing or fatal if not treated promptly.
Your Right to File a Claim for Low T Drug Damages
Low T drugs like AndroGel have already been the target of lawsuits by several American men and their surviving families. If you suffered an adverse reaction after starting testosterone replacement therapy or your family lost a loved one because of testosterone replacement prescriptions you may have the right to recover damages and losses from the drug manufacturers.
Contact Bressman Law to schedule a free consultation regarding your rights to recovery if you believe a pharmaceutical company’s dangerous drug harmed yourself or your family member. Call today: 877-538-1116.
