testosterone stroke – Memphis Trial Attorneys

June 25, 2014

Testosterone Therapy Heart Attack Side Effect Leads to Class Action

FREE CASE EVALUATION: CALL 1-800-632-1404

A testosterone therapy lawsuit seeking class action status has been filed in a Pennsylvania federal court claiming product liability against Watson, Actavis, and Pfizer. The Low T supplement class action has sought to represent all individuals subject to wrongful death or injuries following use of Depo-Testosterone injections and AndroDerm testosterone patches. Depo-Testosterone is made by Pharmacia & Upjohn, a Pfizer subsidiary, while AndroDerm is a product of Watson Pharmaceuticals. Recent reports linking Low-T supplements to serious heart attack and stroke risks have led to surge in testosterone lawsuits across the United States.

Filed in the Eastern District Court, the testosterone therapy lawsuit alleges that “pharmaceutical corporations involved in the manufacture, sale, distribution, marketing and promotion of testosterone replacement therapy products collectively engaged in aggressive direct-to-consumer, physician promotion, and unbranded ‘disease awareness’ campaign to alert men that they might be suffering from ‘Low T’ to create and expand a market for testosterone replacement therapy and as a result of this ‘disease mongering’…individuals diagnosed with Low T has increased exponentially.” The absence of any information on side effects encouraged the use of their products by consumers, who experienced heart problems later.

Lead plaintiff 39-year-old Walter McGill suffered myocardial infarction, commonly known as heart attack, within months of using Depo Testosterone and AndroDerm to overcome low-testosterone signs he noticed following promotional campaign. Non-disclosure of testosterone heart attack risks by drug makers led him to consider the products as safe until he suffered the heart attack.

Testosterone Therapy Heart Attack Risk

Low-T supplements, including AndroGel, Depo-Testosterone, Testim, and AndroDerm, have been approved as a treatment for hypogonadism, a medical condition resulting in very low testosterone production in men. However, marketing promotion and easy availability of these products have led to their use for lifestyle purposes, causing adverse cardiovascular events, such as

ü blood clotting

ü heart stroke

ü heart attack

ü metabolic disorders causing diabetes

ü cardiovascular death

Consumers using testosterone therapy face the risk of one-third increase in heart attack possibility, claim research findings based on the study of over 9,000 veterans. Reported in the JAMA journal of November 2013, the study warned of 29 percent rise in heart problems among people without any pre-existing cardiovascular disorder. According to the PLOSOne journal, the risk increases by two times and goes up with age. Both reports highlighted the possibility of death for people with existing heart ailments and blamed off-label promotion of the medications for most of the side effects.

Testosterone Lawsuits on the Rise

Research reports and the January 31st FDA decision to review testosterone heart attack risks have triggered a rush for litigations by men considered to have suffered from blood clots, strike, and heart attack within months of using testosterone enhancing drugs. About 100 testosterone therapy lawsuits claiming heart attack and similar incidents have been filed in the last six months. More than 50 of these are Androgel lawsuits filed against AbbVie, a unit of Abbot Laboratories.

A testosterone wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Auxilium Pharmaceuticals claiming that its Testim gel-based supplement caused a 61-year-old Louisiana man to have a fatal heart attack. Actavis and Watson have been named defendant in a number of testosterone lawsuits filed over heart disorders in consumers linked to AndroDerm.

If you or a loved one have experienced a testosterone replacement therapy injury after undergoing low testosterone therapy, please contact our team of lawyers today for a free case evaluation at:

CALL: 1-800-632-1404

FILL OUT THIS FORM FOR A FREE CONSULTATION AND CASE EVALUATION:

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Phone Number (required)

Case Details

1+1=?

NOTE: Our team of attorneys will review potential cases for all fifty states, including Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin and Wyoming.

February 21, 2014

FDA To Launch Investigation Into AndroGel and Testosterone Replacement Therapy

FREE CASE EVALUATION: CALL 1-800-632-1404

FDA To Investigate Claims of Injury

Our defective medical device and prescription drug attorneys are pleased to see the FDA acting in the best interests of the US population. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched aninvestigation into risk of stroke, heart attack and death in men usingtestosterone products following the publication of two separate studies that showed an increased risk of cardiovascular eventsamong men using the hormone treatment. The agency said it was already monitoring the risk but decided to reassess the safety issue in light of the new studies.

The FDA says it has not yet concluded whether these FDA-approved treatments increase the risk of stroke, heart attack or death, and that patients who are currently using the treatment should not stop taking it without first talking with their doctor. The agency will issue its findings and recommendations once its investigation is complete.

Nevertheless, our team of attorneys have reported on a number of occasions that Low T therapy may cause blood clots, heart attacks and strokes in men, which could lead to a number of disabling conditions.

Types of medication for testosterone replacement therapy include Androgel, Axiron, Androderm, Fortesta, Testim, Testopel, Depo Testosterone, Bio-T-Gel, Delatestryl, and Striant.

CALL: 1-800-632-1404

FILL OUT THIS FORM FOR A FREE CONSULTATION AND CASE EVALUATION:

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Phone Number (required)

Case Details

1+1=?

February 6, 2014

Testosterone Therapy Increases Odds of Stroke by Thirty Percent (30%)

FREE CASE EVALUATION: CALL 1-800-632-1404

Wrong Low T Therapy Treatment Widespread, Users at 30 Percent Higher Risk of Heart Attack

Two recent studies have highlighted that the use of inappropriate testosterone therapy among U.S. men puts them at a greater risk of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack. According to the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, while the number of testosterone therapy users has registered a five-fold rise in the United States, only a small percentage of them adhere to appropriate testing and user guidelines. Published in January 2014, the report highlights that a vast majority of them are receiving the Low T supplements without any test or even after have been tested with normal testosterone levels.

Researchers hold that aggressive and direct-to-consumer marketing by manufacturers of testosterone supplements, such as AndroGel, Androderm, Testim, and others, was responsible for large-scale inappropriate use by men. Advertisements focus on encouraging men to go for Low T medications to increase their muscles, sexual ability, and energy level. Hypogonadism or testosterone deficiency, for which the supplements are available, is no more a condition for the treatment.

The study found that the abuse was more prevalent in the United States despite a severe risk of testosterone therapy cardiovascular side effects. The enthusiasm to increase libido and strength pushes them to “initiate the testosterone therapy at normal levels and many even initiate it without recent testing,” researchers claim.

30 Percent Increase in Fatal Heart Attack Risk

Testosterone therapy may cause serious and fatal cardiovascular side effects. The testosterone therapy heart attack risk leading to stroke and death is as high as 30 percent when compared to those not using Low T supplements, the Journal of the American Medical Association reported in November 2013. Based on a study of ex-servicemen registered with the Eastern Colorado Health Care System, it found nearly 30 percent greater risk of serious and fatal heart problems linked to testosterone therapy. We expect that scientists will continue to link Low T therapy with cardiovascular injuries.

According to the JAMA report, Low T supplements play a role in increasing cardiovascular disorders risk of heart attack, stroke, and death. Of 8,700 men with low level of testosterone and coronary angiography studied, 1,223 received supplements to boost their testosterone production. Doctors discovered that 26 percent of those treated with the Low T supplements had suffered a stroke or heart attack, with a few deaths, within three years. The rate of same events among the non-testosterone group was less than 20 percent. It was found that those treated with testosterone therapy faced a higher risk of cardiovascular disorder despite being younger and with very few health disorders.

FDA Advises Against “Age-Related” Testosterone Therapy Solution

According to the FDA guidelines, men should not use testosterone therapy to prevent normal reduction in hormone production with age. Low T solutions are only for those suffering from hypogonadism, a medical conditions that results in testosterone deficiency. The Endocrine Society has also advised against use of testosterone supplements without proper clinical diagnosis and abnormal reduction in testosterone levels. The fatal side effects of Low T supplements play a crucial role in the publication of such suggestions. We recommend you, of course, consult with your doctor about whether to undergo a Low T program.

However, contrary to all these warnings, manufacturers continue to promote the Low T supplements through direct-to-consumer ads, a key factor in men using testosterone therapy on their own and facing fatal side effects.

CALL: 1-800-632-1404

FILL OUT THIS FORM FOR A FREE CONSULTATION AND CASE EVALUATION:

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Phone Number (required)

Case Details

1+1=?

February 6, 2014

Testosterone Therapy Health Risk Eclipses Benefits

FREE CASE EVALUATION: CALL 1-800-632-1404

Testosterone Therapy: Health Risks Eclipse Benefits

With mounting evidence suggesting serious health risks connected to testosterone therapy, doctors healthcare professionals have become cautious in suggesting Low T supplements to patients. Testosterone therapy use has almost quintupled in the last 11 years with over 5.5 million prescriptions and $2 billion in supplement sales. However, there is an increased risk of health disorders from the therapy. Recent studies have indicated that the use of Low T supplements without clinical diagnosis of testosterone deficiency may result in heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular adverse events leading to death.

Post-marketing reports suggest higher prostate-specific antigens, a leading cause of prostate cancer, among testosterone therapy patients. Abnormal increase in blood counts, clots, metabolic disorders, and a variety other health problems may cause Low T users to suffer more than they gain.

According to Mayo Clinic experts, testosterone also leads to male breast abnormalities, dermatological disorders, and sleep apnea, which may worsen quality of life.

Testosterone Therapy Side Effects

Wrongful Death: Low T supplements result in the onset and aggravation of existing heart disorders, which may cause testosterone death.
Cardiovascular Disorders: Testosterone therapy may cause 30 percent greater risk of cardiovascular problems. Heart attack and stroke are most reported disorders connected to the treatment.
Blood Clots: Low T supplements have been linked to the heightened risk of clotting within arteries. It leads to thrombotic events that prevent blood circulation to heart, brain, and lungs.
Metabolic and Sleep Disorders: Reversing age-specific testosterone formation results in metabolic syndrome, sleep apnea, rise in cholesterol level, and diabetes, impacting the life quality of users.
Prostate Cancer: Researchers have discovered an increase in prostate-specific antigens caused by Low T supplements. It may result in prostate cancer.
Endocrine Disparity
Worsening kidney and liver problems

FDA on Testosterone Therapy

Testosterone supplements are recommended for medical conditions, such as hypogonadism. The manufacturer claims that these help prevent natural decline in the hormone level caused by age-related factors. The federal regulator also advises for adequate clinical testing prior to using Low T supplements to boost testosterone production. A boxed warning mandated by the FDA for AndroGel and Testim, two Low T supplements commonly used by people to stay young and improve health, cautions users against secondary exposure that may cause children and women to have fast and unusual psychological and sexual behavioral changes.

Testosterone Therapy Lawsuits

The recent researches highlighting heart disorders and death due to Low T supplements have resulted in a number of testosterone therapy lawsuits. A recent Wall Street Journal report, claiming an abrupt end of a testosterone trial by the National Institutes of Health in 2009 because of high rate of cardiovascular problems in patients, have added further support to the allegations by litigants.

Anyone who has suffered from injuries following the use of Low T supplements can file a testosterone therapy lawsuit seeking product liability against the medication manufacturer. Contact an experienced drug injury attorney to evaluate your claim.

CALL: 1-800-632-1404

FILL OUT THIS FORM FOR A FREE CONSULTATION AND CASE EVALUATION:

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Phone Number (required)

Case Details

1+1=?

January 29, 2014

CBS Reports Testosterone Therapy Can Cause Heart Attack, Stroke and Death

FREE CASE EVALUATION: CALL 1-800-632-1404

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kogkW1lil5s

Dr. Jon Lapook of CBS News reviewed the recent JAMA article showing a 29% increased risk for men over 60 undergoing testosterone replacement therapy and suffering from a blood clot, stroke or other similar attack. The video likewise contains the comments of Dr. Steve Missen of the Cleveland Clinic and Dr. Elizabeth Kavalere, a urologist.

CALL: 1-800-632-1404

FILL OUT THIS FORM FOR A FREE CONSULTATION AND CASE EVALUATION:

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Phone Number (required)

Case Details

1+1=?

January 29, 2014

What Were the Results of the JAMA Study on Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

FREE CASE EVALUATION: CALL 1-800-632-1404

What Were the Results of the JAMA Study on Testosterone Replacement Therapy?

The JAMA study looked at two groups of veterans with medical problems in the VA Health System, including (1) those who were taking testosterone therapy to treat low testosterone and (2) those who were not. The group of veterans taking testosterone therapy were generally healthier than the veterans who were not taking testosterone therapy. The study found that in a three year period the men on testosterone therapy suffered 29% more heart attacks, strokes and deaths than the men who were not on testosterone therapy. The study’s authors ruled out other diseases as a cause of this association.

CALL: 1-800-632-1404

FILL OUT THIS FORM FOR A FREE CONSULTATION AND CASE EVALUATION:

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Phone Number (required)

Case Details

1+1=?

January 29, 2014

Are Patients Being Injured With Testosterone Therapy While Companies Make Millions in Profits?

FREE CASE EVALUATION: CALL 1-800-632-1404

You may be visiting this website because you or a loved one has experienced a testosterone replacement injury including a testosterone stroke, a testosterone heart attack or a testosterone blood clot. If so, please keep reading.

In the opinion of some, large businesses have turned testosterone-boosting drugs into a $2 billion marke. In a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association there are concerns over Low T therapy: it may cause cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, blood clots, strokes and pulmonary embolism. These would result in a low testosterone injury.

Over the past couple of years, therapies such as Eli Lilly’s Axiron; AbbVie’s AndroGel; and Auxilium and GlaxoSmithKline’s Testim have taken off like a rocket as companies rolled out new products and amped up their advertising. IMS Health says sales of testosterone drugs grew by 90% over 5 years, reaching $1.9 billion in 2011. By 2017, the entire testosterone market is expected to hit $5 billion.

Researchers analyzed the medical records of 8,709 male veterans with low testosterone who had a coronary angiogram. Of that group, 1,223 men began testosterone therapy after their procedure. The rate of death, heart attack or stroke hit 25.7% in that group, compared with 19.9% in the men who didn’t use testosterone drugs

After controlling for various factors, the researchers calculated a 29% increase in risk for the men who used testosterone. And as Forbes points out, the change in risk was the same in men who had coronary artery disease as in men who didn’t–and the testosterone group had a lower risk profile to begin with. The research isn’t conclusive; as an observational study, it’s more of a flag for future study than a clear warning. A JAMA editorial points out that the analysis includes little information about whether the drugs were prescribed according to label guidelines. But the editorial also advises caution. The number of prescriptions is growing quickly, and drugmakers continue to aggressively advertise the treatments. As the editorial points out, some men are using testosterone for lifestyle reasons, rather than to replace actual, clinical deficits in their hormone levels–for antiaging and “physical enhancement,” for instance, JAMA notes. Does any increase in risk apply to these younger, perhaps healthier, men?

Here’s where pharma advertising comes in. Earlier this year, Consumer Reports urged men to be wary about starting hormone therapy, saying most men really don’t need the drugs. The magazine cited drugmakers’ big-time spending on marketing the products, with promotional expenses up to $100 million in 2012 from $14 million in 2011. For 2013, that figure may grow substantially. For the first half of this year alone, AbbVie spent more than $45 million promoting Androgel, which is now its second-best-selling drug. Still, AbbVie, Lilly and other drugmakers say they only market their testosterone products for men whose hormone levels are clinically low. For now, the data on testosterone use is far from comprehensive. A National Institutes of Health study is set to wrap up next year. In the meantime, the JAMA researchers say their study at least offers some perspective. “Prior to this study, we didn’t know much about the cardiovascular risk,” said lead author Michael Ho, a cardiologist with the Veterans Affairs Eastern Colorado Health Care System.

CALL: 1-800-632-1404

FILL OUT THIS FORM FOR A FREE CONSULTATION AND CASE EVALUATION:

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Phone Number (required)

Case Details

1+1=?

January 26, 2014

Dr. Larry Mulkerin Outlines Why The Low T Treatment Plan Was Made Up To Make Money

FREE CASE EVALUATION: CALL 1-800-632-1404

Testosterone Therapy Injury Lawyer Asks if Low T Treatment Plan Was “Made Up”

Dr. Larry Mulkerin is a retired clinical professor and oncologist who lives in Walla Walla. He is a former U.S. Army Green Berets medical officer with experience in the Middle East, and he also is the author of “The Ayatollah’s Suitcase,” a novel available at amazon.com and other online book retailers. Dr. Mulkerin explains in his article that “The pharmaceutical industry wants men to think their sex lives, muscle mass and energy levels are in trouble because of — oh my goodness — low testosterone.”

He gives six examples on why this is only a fiction:

AbbVie, the manufacturer of AndroGel spent $80 million of the $3.47 billion the industry spent in 2012, according to The New York Times in an Oct. 15, 2013, article. Direct-to-consumer advertising is a strong driver of medical costs and it often promotes ineffective or dangerous products. It’s hard to convince patients that they were suckers of a sales pitch.
The cost of one bottle, about one month’s supply, is quoted at more than $400.
The risks from treatments are uncertain, but the list extends from prostate cancer to shortened life expectancy. Other concerns have included liver damage, overproduction of red cells, prostate enlargement, sleep apnea and worsening heart failure. A study of 8,709 men was published Nov. 6, 2013 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The men in that study all had risks for vascular disease and testosterone levels below 300 nanograms per milliliter. The study was stopped because the testosterone-treated group had more heart attacks and strokes, and they also had a higher death rate — 27.7 percent compared to 19.9 percent in the untreated group.
Doctors use average testosterone levels in young men as the standard for determining what is normal and what is not. It’s not reliable. Individuals vary and the response to treatment is different depending on what you measure: muscle mass, strength, sexual function and so on.
There’s a lot we don’t understand about possible benefits and risks. The chemistry is complicated. For example, 80 percent of the female hormones in men arise from a chemical reaction with testosterone. More testosterone means more female hormones.
I suspect the most important thing we have to learn is that the basic concept was a mistake, one we’ve made before. We haven’t seemed to benefit from history. What warnings did we have?

Dr. Mulkerin goes on in his study to examine what may be causing other problems with Low T and hormone/growth therapy, which costs thousands of dollars and may have limited benefits.

Testosterone medications, like AndroGel, Androderm, Axiron, Depotestosterone, Fortesta, and Testim, could increase the percentage of red blood cells in your blood. The increase in red blood cells can cause strokes, blood clots, and possibly death.

If you or a loved one have experienced a testosterone replacement therapy injury after being diagnosed with Low T, please contact our team of lawyers today for a free case evaluation at:

CALL: 1-800-632-1404

FILL OUT THIS FORM FOR A FREE CONSULTATION AND CASE EVALUATION:

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Phone Number (required)

Case Details

1+1=?

January 26, 2014

Center for Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care at Saint Louis University Hospital Warns of Risks Associated with Testosterone Replacement Therapy

FREE CASE EVALUATION: CALL 1-800-632-1404

Risks Associated with Testosterone Therapy Injury

Male hormone therapy can put men at risk, says a new study by the JAMA. Dr. Richard Lee, the co-director of the Center for Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care at Saint Louis University Hospital is “concerned” about the “not so simple” problem about increased risk of cardiovascular events.

The study with JAMA shows a 29% increased risk of cardiovascular related events, such as heart attack, stroke, blood clot, or pulmonary embolism. Dr. Lee recommends all patients immediately consult with their doctors about a treatment plan in light of these risks.

If you or a loved one have experienced a testosterone replacement therapy injury after being diagnosed with Low T, please contact our team of lawyers today for a free case evaluation at:

CALL: 1-800-632-1404

FILL OUT THIS FORM FOR A FREE CONSULTATION AND CASE EVALUATION:

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Phone Number (required)

Case Details

1+1=?

January 26, 2014

Dr. Michael Ho Discusses JAMA Article on Heightened Risks Associated with Low Testosterone Therapy

FREE CASE EVALUATION: CALL 1-800-632-1404

There Are Heightened Risks with Testosterone Therapy, Including Heart Attack, Strokes and Blood Clots

Dr. Michael Ho, an Associate Professor of Medicine at the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System in Denver, Colorado, explains and discusses the JAMA Article entitled Association of Testosterone Therapy With Mortality, Myocardial Infarction and Stroke in Men with Low T-levels” as published on November 6, 2013.

This study looked at men undergoing cardiac angiography in the VA health system, who also had low T levels. The study shows a relationship with an increased risk of health problems associated with Low T levels and were on testosterone therapy. There was no difference as to whether the therapy was via patches or shots. 82% of the men undergoing Low T therapy filled more than 1 prescription, signifying long term use of the therapy.

This was a retrospective study only, per Dr. Ho, but it “raises a question about the safety of testosterone therapy” to Dr. Ho. He believes a study should be undertaken as to the risks vs. benefits of testosterone therapy.

If you or a loved one have experienced a testosterone replacement therapy injury after being diagnosed with Low T, please contact our team of lawyers today for a free case evaluation at:

CALL: 1-800-632-1404

FILL OUT THIS FORM FOR A FREE CONSULTATION AND CASE EVALUATION:

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Phone Number (required)

Case Details

1+1=?