Mass Torts: Unsafe Medications & Low-T Drug Usage

“We don’t try to take on the drug companies alone. We work with independent experts to ensure that we have the right evidence to prove that you have suffered damages and deserve to be fully compensated.”
- Partner, Matthew E. Birch

Every Medication Is Potentially Dangerous.

Each year, pharmaceutical companies rush to obtain approval of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications. Despite the most vigorous testing, thousands of people still become sick or die in the U.S. every year after taking dangerous drugs. Just because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a prescription drug or over-the-counter product, it doesn’t mean the medication is safe for you.

If you or a loved one has been made sick because of recalled medication or dangerous drugs, we’ll give you a clear explanation of the law and what options you have to recover money damages.

Here is a partial list of the most commonly recalled pharmaceutical products:

• Ephedra
• Propulsid
• Rezulin
• Vioxx
• Fen-Phen
• Seldane
• Lotromex

Low-Testosterone Drugs Have Been Linked to Serious Heart Problems.

If you’re a man who has used or is currently using testosterone therapy and you have experienced serious health issues, you may be entitled to compensation. New medical research has found that prescription testosterone treatments administered in the form of patches, gels, and injections could cause an increased risk of blood clots, resulting in dangerous health complications or even death.

Injuries Linked to Testosterone Drugs

• Stroke
• Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
• Blood Clot in the Lungs (Pulmonary Embolism)
• Blood Clot in the Deep Veins (Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT)
• Death

Testosterone and Low-T Drugs Under Investigation

• AndroGel – Produced by AbbVie
• Androderm – Produced by Actavis, Inc.
• Axiron – Produced by Eli Lilly and Company
• Bio-T-Gel – Produced by Teva Pharmaceuticals
• Delatestryl – Produced by Endo Pharmaceuticals Solutions, Inc.
• Fortesta – Produced by Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• Striant – Produced by Columbia Laboratories
• Testim – Produced by Auxilium Pharmaceuticals

Recent Studies Show the Potential Dangers of Using Testosterone Drugs.

A medical study published January 29, 2014, by a team of independent experts from Consolidated Research, the University of California, Los Angeles and the U.S. National Cancer Institute examined the records of more than 55,000 testosterone treatment users. Those researchers found that heart attack risk nearly tripled for men younger than 65 with a history of heart disease during the first three months of use, and doubled in all men older than 65.

That study came on the heels of a November 2013 report published in The Journal of the American Medical Association, which found testosterone therapies raised the risk of heart attack in men by nearly 30%. The study was an analysis of more than 8,700 men around the age of 60 who were treated by the U.S. Veterans Affairs health system.

These two studies are not the first research to suggest a link between testosterone treatments and cardiac events. We have uncovered several more.

FDA Drug Safety Warning Regarding Testosterone Drugs

On January 31, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a medical safety alert warning men of the potential risks and side effects associated with testosterone therapy. In its statement, the FDA indicated that it was investigating the risk of stroke, heart attack, and even death in men taking testosterone products. The FDA also urged doctors to weigh the benefits of testosterone therapy against potential risks – such as heart problems, strokes and death.

Public Citizen Petitions FDA for Addition of Black Box Warning

On February 25, 2014, Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy organization with more than 300,000 members and supporters, petitioned the FDA to add a black box warning about the increased risks of heart attacks and other cardiovascular dangers to all testosterone-containing drugs currently on the market. Public Citizen further urged the FDA to instruct drug companies to send letters to physicians warning them of these serious dangers. They concluded that testosterone treatment increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and called the FDA’s failure to take action “reckless, from a public health perspective.”

Testosterone Therapy: Big Business for the Pharmaceutical Industry

Doctors prescribe testosterone therapy to treat hypogonadism, a condition which causes abnormally low testosterone levels. Unfortunately, the pharmaceutical industry has been quick to market testosterone as a miracle cure for energy loss, mood change, physical and emotional changes, and reduced sex drive – conditions also caused by naturally decreasing testosterone levels due to aging. This aggressive marketing has tripled the number of testosterone prescriptions given to American men over the last decade. Industry analysts predict that the sales of testosterone drugs could reach millions or men and $5 billion in revenue by 2017.

Testosterone Lawsuits

Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman is currently investigating nationwide legal claims on behalf of men who suffered a stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or death while taking testosterone drugs or undergoing testosterone therapy. If you need help, call us.

Free Consultation

Contact our mass torts legal experts to learn more about our record of success. Our experienced trial attorneys represent clients in cases throughout Missouri, Kansas and the Midwest.

You can call (816) 542-5999 to arrange a free consultation. If you can’t come to us, we’ll try our best to come to you. Contact us today.