Men produce testosterone to help maintain bone density, muscle strength and sperm production. As they age, the production of testosterone naturally begins to decline. Testosterone replacement therapy is prescribed to combat the decline. Millions of prescriptions are written each year in the United States for testosterone replacement therapy.
Although testosterone replacement therapy is supposed to help aging men with the decline of testosterone production, there are many serious side effects, including serious or even cardiovascular complications that outweigh the advantages of the drugs. Until recently, prescribing physicians were unaware of the full potential of the risks and side effects.
The Medical Studies
Recent medical studies have linked testosterone replacement therapy treatments to the increased risk of cardiovascular problems, such as heart attacks and strokes. More specifically, in November 2013, the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) published an article finding that older men have a nearly 30 percent increase in stroke, heart attack and death when taking testosterone replacement therapy.
A similar article published by the National Cancer Institute reported that within 90 days of taking the testosterone replacement therapy drugs, the risk of heart attack in patients over the age of 65 nearly doubled.
The FDA’s Response
After reviewing the studies, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement of the potential risks of testosterone therapy and announced that it will be conducting further research into the potential risks.
The FDA further stated that although it had been monitoring the risks of the therapy on their own, it was the suggested risk of cardiovascular complications in the two separate medical studies that prompted them to reassess the safety issue.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one has suffered a cardiovascular complication due to testosterone replacement therapy, they should consult an experienced New York medical malpractice attorney to protect their legal rights.
For additional information about your legal options or to schedule a complimentary consultation, please call the Gersowitz, Libo & Korek, P.C. at 1-800-529-9997.
