Man Blames Testosterone Gel Products for His Father’s Death

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A Delaware man filed a testosterone product lawsuit against AbbVie Inc., Abbott Laboratories, and Eli Lilly and Company alleging the wrongful death of his father. The plaintiff alleges that his father died from a heart attack after prolonged use of the testosterone products AndroGel and Axiron.

According to the testosterone product lawsuit, Richard Ott, 58, was prescribed AndroGel in October 2011 by his doctor and was later prescribed Axiron testosterone gel on April 2, 2012. Ott, who had no history of heart disease, died of a heart attack on April 17, 2012. His son alleges that AbbVie., Abbott Labs, and Eli Lilly did not warn his father and other consumers of the possible testosterone gel side effects, including a possible increase in the risk of heart attacks.

History of Testosterone Products

AndroGel was approved by the FDA as a low testosterone (Low T) product in 1999 to treat hypogonadism, a condition common in older men that diminishes the production of testosterone. The testosterone gel Axiron was approved by the FDA more than a decade later.

According to testosterone product lawsuits, the manufacturers of AndroGel, as well as other testosterone product companies, “coordinated a massive advertising campaign designed to convince men [and physicians] that they suffered from low testosterone.” This marketing strategy seemed very enticing to middle-aged men like Ott who were likely to suffer from any of the symptoms that the manufacturers of AndroGel and other companies claimed resulted from Low T. These supposed symptoms include listlessness, increased body fat and moodiness, general symptoms that can be medically attributed to other factors such as aging and weight gain, and are not conclusive indicators of hypogonadism.

Testosterone Product Side Effects

Androgel, Axiron, and other testosterone products and injections can reportedly cause a number of unwanted side effects including:

• Blood Clot
• Enlarged prostrate
• Heart Attack
• Stroke
• Death

Studies show that in some cases, “AndroGel and Axiron use may increase the incidence of myocardial infarctions and death by over 500%.” Additionally, there is a high chance of secondary exposure to spouses and children of AndroGel and testosterone product consumers. “In 2009 the FDA issued a black box warning for testosterone prescriptions, advising patients of reported virilization in children who were secondarily exposed to the gel,” the testosterone gel lawsuit says. “Testosterone may also cause physical changes in women exposed to the drug and cause fetal damage with pregnant women who come into secondary contact with testosterone.”

Testosterone Lawsuits

Many other families are pursuing Testosterone product class action lawsuits for gel and cream testosterone products like Androgel and Axiron, as well as other products, that increase the chance of blood clot, stroke, and heart failure in men over the age of 65.

As of May, many of these cases have been consolidated into a centralized testosterone product lawsuit to better serve the parties, witnesses, and courts involved in the testosterone product cases.

The testosterone gel lawsuit is Richard Sean Ott v. AbbVie Inc., et al., Case No. 1:14-cv-02495, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Join a Free Testosterone Product Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you or someone you know suffered a heart attack, stroke, blood clot, or other injury as a result of using a testosterone gel or cream, legal options are available. Find out if you qualify to join a free testosterone gel class action lawsuit investigation and pursue compensation for you or your loved one’s injuries:

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