In 2017, drug manufacturer Abbvie was ordered to pay $150 million in punitive damages. Further, in September 2018, at least 4,200 AndroGel lawsuits were settled, however, the settlement amounts were not disclosed. So far, manufacturers have paid out more than $200 million in settlements. The highest number of lawsuits reached about 25,000. And as of April 2019, there were still 5,503 federal cases in an Illinois federal court. Men in the United States spend at least $2 billion on testosterone each year. While many of these cases have been settled, there are still thousands that have yet to reach settlements as of January 2020.
Despite misconceptions that drugs and medical devices are safe for use and consumption because of approval from the Food and Drug Administration, some drugs and products are later discovered to have serious side effects that leave patients with debilitating injuries, pain, conditions and even death.
One of the most recent discoveries of serious side effects related to medicine is tied to the treatment for low testosterone, Androgel, which can result in serious heart conditions and stroke.
What is Androgel?
Androgel is sold in gel, patch, pill and injection form and can be seen among advertisements filling the pages of magazines and television screens. But despite the prevalence of ads and the rising number of patients using the treatment, Androgel is tied to serious side effects that can have life-altering effects.
Like many other drugs and treatments, Androgel is sold with a variety of names among other types of testosterone therapy. Some of the other names Androgel and dangerous testosterone therapies can be identified by include:
- Androderm
- Axiron
- Bio-T Gel
- Androgel
- Delatestryl
- Dep-Testosterone
- Fortesta
- Striant
- Testim
- Testopel
How does Androgel lead to heart conditions?
The science linking between Androgel and heart risks is firmly established. According to research, over time, Androgel and similar medications can thicken the blood. Thick blood results in a higher risk of blood clots forming inside the body. As a result, significant damage may occur when there are blood clots present in the body. Thickened blood and blood clots can lead to:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Pulmonary embolism (blood clot blocking blood flow in the lungs)
Although the Testosterone Therapy industry is worth billions of dollars. This is a testament to the abundance of marketing efforts and rocketing number of prescriptions, the side effects are not diminished by the drug’s popularity. Some of the most serious Testosterone side effects include the following:
- Increased Risk of Heart Attack
- Cardiac Complications
- Strokes and Mini Strokes
- Coronary Artery Disease
- Pulmonary Embolism
The link between these conditions and Androgel is not minor. Older men over the age of 65 were at a higher risk of developing a heart condition after using Androgel. In addition, men of any age with a prior history of heart disease or other risk factors have an increased risk for a heart condition.
What did the drug makers do to lead to Androgel lawsuits?
A bulk of Androgel lawsuits were filed by men against manufacturers for pushing therapy for the natural aging process while downplaying its deadly side effects. The lawsuits accuse companies of heavily marketing a made-up condition. The condition, hypogonadism, is when a problem occurs in parts of the brain that directs the testicles to produce testosterone. This condition is a natural part of the aging process.
Men who were prescribed treatment for the condition suffered heart attacks and other coronary conditions. Many of these men suffered significant injuries and blame AndroGel for their injuries.
Testosterone Therapy Lawsuits
One of the most devastating facts that are often revealed after patients have endured conditions, injuries and death related to the use of a medicine or drug, is the fact that a drug company may have been aware of those dangers, yet, failed to take action in order to protect consumers. In addition, some of the marketing questionnaires, aimed at getting consumers to questions whether they may need the therapy and see their doctor, have been under fire as too generic and general. According to safety advocates, the questions asked of potential patients may prompt consumers who do not need the drug or therapy to ask their health care provider for it, unnecessarily.
By early 2014, the FDA took action against allegations that Testosterone therapies may be linked to an increased number of strokes and heart complications, beginning an investigation into previous studies linking the drugs to cardiac complications and events.
In addition, news reports have highlighted the negligence of health care providers, who failed to test some patients for conditions that would actually make them a good candidate for Testosterone therapies.
We Care. We can help.
While we are no longer taking Androgel lawsuit cases, our bad drug attorneys are ready to take your call about other dangerous drugs and defective medical devices, contact us. We serve injured patients nationwide and can help you through the aftermath of a personal injury. With registered nurses right on staff, we have the resources and capabilities to thoroughly research and scour our clients’ medical records in relation to dangerous drug side effects and associated injuries.
Call 24/7 for a free initial case evaluation. We care. We can help.
