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Jackie Fedeli
Jackie Fedeli
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Low T Manufacturers Create Demand But Hide Testosterone Side Effects

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Millions of men may be at an increased risk of suffering a heart attack, stroke, or sudden cardiac death as a result of taking a drug that some doctors and advocacy groups argue they may not necessarily need. However, the pharmaceutical companies have lead men to believe that they have a medical condition that necessitates the use of these potentially dangerous drugs.

Watch TV in the evening, and you’ll no doubt be bombarded with commercials for drugs used to treat low testosterone, also known as Low-T. Low-T refers to the gradual decline of testosterone that happens naturally as men age. Testosterone drugs such as Androgel, Axiron and Forgesta are prescribed to treat Low-T by increasing a man’s testosterone level.

With more than 14 different brand name testosterone drugs on the market, the Low-T industry is a $1.6 billion industry, according an Article published in the Los Angeles Times, to, and testosterone prescriptions have increased fivefold over the past decade.

Is the supply of testosterone drugs increasing because the need for Low-T drugs has increased, or has the demand for testosterone drugs increased because the pharmaceutical companies increased their marketing efforts for Low-T drugs?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicates that testosterone drugs are only to be used by men with abnormally low testosterone caused by a medical condition. At the same time, consumer advocacy group Public Citizen argues that the advertising of easy-to-use gels and patches are aimed at a much broader population of otherwise healthy men with low levels of testosterone.

Not only are the pharmaceutical companies advertising testosterone drugs for men who may not necessarily need them, there may be some potentially dangerous side effects of testosterone drugs that users may not have known about.

A study released in 2009 suggested testosterone drugs could increase a patient’s risk for suffering a cardiovascular event. However, the drug makers did not warn users of the potential link between testosterone drugs and heart attacks and other life-threatening problems.

Now, thanks to a more recent study, the connection is coming to light.

The study, published in JAMA in November 2013, has suggested that some men taking testosterone drugs may have a 30 percent increased risk of suffering a heart attack, stroke or sudden cardiac death.

Millions of men are putting themselves at the risk of suffering a testosterone heart attack or other cardiovascular event in by taking drugs that the pharmaceutical companies convinced them they needed. In a recent NPR article, Dr. Bradley Anawat criticized popular Low-T clinics claiming they promote potential virtues and great myths about how testosterone may solve all problems.

Men who suffered from a heart attack while on testosterone have begun filing testosterone lawsuits against the manufacturers in an attempt to seek justice and compensation for their injuries. One of these lawsuits involves a heart attack caused by Androgel, one of the most widely advertised testosterone drugs.

Sales of testosterone drugs are only expected to increase unless men injured by testosterone drugs come forward. Testosterone lawsuits will make Low-T manufacturers take responsibility for their negligence. If you suffered a heart attack from Androgel or any cardiovascular side effects from testosterone drugs, consider hiring a testosterone lawyer to act on your behalf and obtain justice from the manufacturer.