A recent study published in PLos One, the Public Library of Science Journal, is linking testosterone therapies to stroke, heart attack, and related deaths in older males. According to the findings, the heart attack risks went up significantly in men older than 65, as well as those under that age with a history of heart disease.
If you think that your heart condition, heart attack, or stroke may have been caused from testosterone therapy, please contact our Boston defective medications lawyers today. You may have reason to pursue a Massachusetts products liability case.
Funded by the National Cancer Institute and the Intramural Research Program, the study looked at approximately 56,000 middle-aged and older men who took testosterone therapies for over 90 day. UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Professor Sander Greenland, who specializes in epidemiology, led the study. He and his team, which included experts from Consolidated Research Inc. and the National Cancer Institute, found that not only did heart attack rates more than double in males over 65 that took a testosterone prescription but the risk more than tripled in men who were 75 or older.
The study’s findings confirm the results of two recent smaller studies, including one released in the Journal of the American Medical Association that found that “low T” Therapy upped the risk of stroke, heart attack, and death in men with low testosterone and heart problems. Another study reported that men with higher levels of the male hormone had a likelier chance of hardly responding or not at all to a flu vaccine, which indicates a weaker defense system.
Still, testosterone products continue to be marketed to older men. Meantime, the US Food and Drug Administration says it will start investigating testosterone therapy.
Low Testosterone Therapy
Also known as low T treatment, testosterone therapy is prescribed to males to fight the natural drop in testosterone that happens to them the older they get. The therapy is supposed to enhance bone density and sex drive, as well as increase muscle mass.
Typically administered via gel, patch, or injection, testosterone treatments include Androgel, Bio-T-Gel, Fortesta, Testopel, Androderm, Delatestryl, Striant, Axiron, Depo-Testosterone, and Testim. BloombergBusinessweek recently reported that testosterone drug sales are expected to reach $5 billion in three years. NBC News says that nearly 3% of American men in the 40 and older age group have been issued testosterone replacement therapy prescription.
Unfortunately, as our Boston testosterone therapy injury law firm has mentioned, the risk of heart problems, heart attack, stroke, or death can go up from this type of treatment. Related complications from some of these risks may include artery blockage, obesity, plaque buildup, diabetes, and high cholesterol. The manufacturer of testosterone supplement AndroGel has even put out a statement acknowledging that their drug can cause serious health issues for people with kidney, heart, and lung disease.
Call Altman & Altman at (800) 481-6199 and ask for one of our Massachusetts drug defect lawyers today.
Study confirms ‘he hormone’ link to heart attacks, NBC News, January 29, 2014
FDA Will Review Safety of Testosterone Therapy, MedLine Plus, February 3, 2014
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FDA Issues Warning to Males: Research Links Low-T Treatment to Increased Risk of Adverse Side Effects, Drug Injury Lawyers Blog, February 25, 2014
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New Study Links Tylenol to ADHD in Kids, Drug Injury Lawyers Blog, February 27, 2014