Low testosterone levels have been linked to fatigue, muscle and bone loss, and a decrease in libido. If you are over 35 and these things are hitting you… well, it sucks. But, all too often in 2018, the cure is worse than the original disease. There is a lot of good science out there suggesting that these therapies increase the risk for cardiac injury in a group already prone to heart disease. A lot of lawsuits have followed. This article explains where these class action lawsuits are now and what plaintiff can expect moving forward.
The Premise of These Cases
In January 2014, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it was investigating potential testosterone therapy risks. This was prompted after several studies suggested that the side effects of testosterone treatments may increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, blood clots, and death. The risks may be as much as double for a heart attack in young men with heart disease as well as for men 65 years of age and older, even those who have had no heart problems. Additional concerns with the products include the increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which can lead to life-threatening complications including pulmonary embolisms. DVT is where the body develops blood clots in the deep veins, most commonly in the legs. These blood clots can break off and travel through the body resulting in potentially life-threatening complications.
The first lawsuits were filed four days after the FDA announced its investigation. Is that a little too soon? Probably. Does it underscore the idea that lawyers are vultures? Absolutely. But all of this, as I talk about below, distracts us from the real issue: are low T drugs killing people?
Continue reading