Five men have filed lawsuits against the manufacturer of AndroGel, alleging that they suffered from life-threatening cardiac events after using the testosterone treatment. According to the lawsuits, one man suffered from a stroke after using AndroGel, while another suffered from a mini stroke. Three additional plaintiffs allegedly suffered heart attacks.
According to the lawsuits, Abbott Laboratories Inc. never warned patients or doctors about the increased risk of serious cardiac events that may occur with use of AndroGel, despite knowing that testosterone therapies were linked to increased rates of heart attack, stroke and death. The plaintiffs claim that Abbott disregarded the public’s safety in failing to provide warnings for these risks and did so for the primary purpose of increasing profits.
According to the complaint, Abbott and its partner company, AbbVie Inc., coordinated a massive advertising campaign to convince millions of men that they suffered from low testosterone, which they termed “Low T.” Both companies allegedly created a “disease awareness” marketing campaign for a “previously nonexistent market” and ultimately made at least $1.4 billion in AndroGel sales. AbbVie even created a special website for the drug, IsItLowT.com, where men can take a quiz to determine if they are suffering from low levels of testosterone.
The “Is It Low T?” quiz asks men if they are experiencing weight gain, fatigue, and loss of libido, energy and muscle mass – all of which AbbVie claims may be symptoms of Low T; however, the plaintiffs claim that there were safer alternative drugs available to treat these symptoms, which may just be the result of old age, according to the complaint.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for past and future medical expenses, past and future mental and emotional distress, and loss of earnings, care, comfort, society, and companionship. They are also requesting punitive damages, which a judge may decide to award if he or she believes that the manufacturer in question acted with wanton and willful disregard for the plaintiffs’ safety.
The lawsuit comes just days after the FDA announced that it would be investigating the risk of stroke, heart attack and death in men using prescription testosterone therapies. According to the agency, the investigation was spurred by two recent studies: the first study found that men who were treated with prescription testosterone were 30 percent more likely to suffer from a cardiac event, and the second study found that middle-aged men with a history of heart problems and older men were twice as likely to suffer from a heart attack when undergoing testosterone treatment.
Have you suffered from a heart attack or stroke after using a prescription testosterone treatment? If so, you may be entitled to compensation. For more information on your potential legal rights, contact us today.
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