AndroGel Lawsuits Allege Health Risks

In this article, Laurence Banville comments on the alleged risks of AndroGel drug use. In this article, Laurence Banville discusses the risk allegations surrounding the use of AndroGel. About 5 years ago, a published study of testosterone levels in older men appeared in The New England Journal of Medicine. The highly regarded journal used the study to highlight the dangerous effects testosterone drugs had on men who were over 65 years old. The results of the study showed that when men used testosterone drugs such as AndroGel, their cardiac event rates were over 10 times higher than patients who did not. This significant discovery spurred the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to take a closer look at low testosterone drugs and the way they were being used.

Why Do Low T Treatments Have FDA Approval?

AndroGel Lawsuit Plaintiff With Cardiac Issues The FDA, who initially approved AndroGel in 2011, required that manufacturers of testosterone drugs increase the severity of the warnings on the product’s labels, hoping to better reflect their connection with health risks. Many men across the nation who had been prescribed testosterone drugs also began filing lawsuits after allegedly experiencing health issues ranging from blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks. Family members of loved ones who had died after suffering complications allegedly connected to the product’s use also filed suit. The FDA approved low t treatments like AndroGel to treat men with significantly low levels of testosterone and diagnosable conditions like hypogonadism. Through marketing, however, the product became popular with men experiencing normally decreasing levels of testosterone as they aged. In many noted cases, physicians prescribed testosterone treatment to clients without checking their testosterone levels at all. Lawsuits from across the United States now number over 2,000, and have been consolidated to form Multidistrict litigation (MDL) number 2545. They are being overseen by the Honorable Judge Matthew F. Kennelly in a Chicago, Illinois courtroom. AndroGel, one of the most commonly used testosterone treatments, will be the first drug to be discussed.

What Is AndroGel?

AndroGel is a topical gel treatment containing synthetic testosterone. Users apply it to their skin, typically in the arm/shoulder areas, once each day. They skin absorbs the gel and provides the body with increased testosterone for a period of 24 hours. Currently, AndroGel is available in two strengths. The product comes with warnings which instruct users to thoroughly wash their hands after applying the treatment, so that is is not accidentally transmitted to others. It also warns that until the gel is dry, it is a flammable substance. The FDA has given the product a black box warning, (the most strict warning possible,) for secondary exposure to children or women. Even unwashed clothing can be dangerous for non-users to touch. One of the most dangerous side effects currently connected to AndroGel use is cardiovascular problems, such as strokes and heart attacks. Additional allegations indicate that AndroGel may cause prostate cancer, edema, high cholesterol, or gynecomastia (enlarged breasts).

The Lawsuits

Lawsuits surrounding the drug began to surface in 2014, when five men stepped up to sue manufacturer Abbott Laboratories and AbbVie, Inc., alleging that the product had caused them to suffer heart attacks and strokes. This lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, where the multidistrict litigation is centered today. Initial complaints stated that the product's manufacturers “deceived potential users by relaying positive information through the press, including testimonials from retired professional athletes” all while “downplaying known adverse and serious health risks.”

Contact Us For Assistance

If you or a loved one suffered from health complications after using AndroGel or a similar low testosterone drug, you may be entitled to legal action and compensation. Contact us at any time for a confidential and complimentary evaluation to explore your rights by calling Laurence Banville, Esq. at 917-809-6595. For additional information, please visit LowTestosteroneCase.com.

About Laurence Banville

Attorney Contributor:

Laurence P. Banville, Esq. is the managing partner of Banville Law. He is a regular contributor on several topics including negligent security cases, child sexual abuse and Dram Shop and liquor liability cases.

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