AndroGel Lawsuit Filed Over Stroke Side Effects of Testosterone Treatment
Yet another lawsuit have been brought against AbbVie over side effects of its controversial testosterone replacement therapy, AndroGel.
A New York man has filed a testosterone therapy lawsuit against AbbVie, Inc., alleging that side effects of the controversial testosterone gel caused him to suffer a stroke that has permanently altered his quality of life. The product liability lawsuit was filed by Gary White in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on March 10, and joins a number of other complaints brought on behalf of men throughout the country who believe they have been adversely affected by side effects of testosterone replacement therapy. If you used a testosterone treatment like AndroGel, and you have since suffered a life-threatening complication like stroke, heart attack or another serious medical event, contact an experienced testosterone therapy attorney today for legal help.
Health Risks of Testosterone Treatments
According to allegations raised in this latest AndroGel lawsuit, Gary White was 56 when he first began using AndroGel, and only used the testosterone gel for about five months before suffering a cerebrovascular event, or stroke, in May 2011. Before that time, White was reportedly in good health, led an active lifestyle, and had no history of heart disease. Since his stroke, however, White must undergo regular medical monitoring, take medications and alter his diet in order to prevent further injury. In his complaint, White is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages from AbbVie for negligence, failure to warn, breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentation and fraud.
Side Effects Linked to TRT
White’s AndroGel case is one of a growing number of complaints filed over AndroGel and other types of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), alleging that the low testosterone (low T) treatments increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, blood clots and wrongful death among men. All of the lawsuits involve similar allegations that the makers of the testosterone treatments failed to adequately research the products or provide adequate warnings about the cardiac risks associated with testosterone replacement therapy. Plaintiffs also claim that AbbVie and other manufacturing companies marketed their medications in a way that encouraged use among men who had no medical need for the low T treatments.
“Low T” Drug Makers Accused of Failure to Warn
Testosterone replacement therapy is designed to elevate testosterone levels among men with certain medical conditions like hypogonadism. However, an increasing number of men are seeking treatment for fatigue, decreased libido, and other symptoms associated with the natural aging process, and critics say this is due to drug makers creating a market for the drugs that has extended far beyond the approved uses of low T treatments. “The marketing program sought to create the image and belief by consumers and physicians that low testosterone affected a large number of men in the United States and that the use of AndroGel is safe for human use,” White’s complaint states, “even though Defendants knew these to be false, and even though Defendants had no reasonable grounds to believe them to be true.”