Eli Lilly & Co. is facing a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) lawsuit from a man who allegedly suffered cardiac complications.

The North Carolina resident claims that as a direct result of the company’s low testosterone (low-T) product, Axiron, he underwent a potentially fatal heart attack.

Plaintiff Roderick G. had been prescribed Axiron to treat his wavering testosterone levels on Sept. 29, 2011.

According to the testosterone lawsuit, he had been using Axiron at the time of his injuries and had followed all prescription instructions. Roderick had used Axiron for a little over a year without incident but had found himself experiencing complications soon after.

On March 17, 2013, Roderick suffered a heart attack and was diagnosed with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. He was hospitalized for four days as a result of the heart attack and suffered both economic and non-economic damages.

Roderick discontinued the use of Axiron on the day he entered the hospital and has since learned of the strong implications of the low-T product allegedly causing heart attack complications.

Overview of Low-T Heart Attack Complications

Recent medical studies have made the American consumer population aware of the potential injuries that could be induced by low-T products. These studies have indicated that Axiron and other testosterone replacement therapy products may cause blood clots in patients resulting in such injuries like heart attack or stroke.

The January 2014 issue of PLOS ONE medical journal published a study that examined the link between low-T products and cardiovascular injuries. This is the most recent and, consequently, the most discussed of the latest studies.

The study found that younger men with certain heart conditions were twice as likely to suffer these heart attacks while taking testosterone supplements while elderly men were at risk regardless of their cardiac health. Between the years 2000 and 2011 the testosterone replacement therapy market has grown exponentially, reaching $1.9 billion by 2012.

Eli Lilly and other low-T manufacturers have profited greatly from the popularity of testosterone replacement therapy, convincing men that these products are needed to preserve their testosterone levels and thus slowing down the aging process. 

Axiron was released in 2010 and was meant to directly compete with another low-T supplement called AndroGel. Axiron and other testosterone replacement therapy products were originally approved to treat men suffering from testosterone deficiencies that can result from medical conditions like hypogonadism in order to provide an alternative to hormone therapy.

However, a number of men have reportedly suffered severe heart attacks as an alleged result of off-label prescriptions. Roderick is joining other claimants who had suffered similar injuries and are seeking compensation for economic and non-economic damages.

Many allege that Eli Lilly and other companies failed to warn them against the potential side effects of their low-T products. Potential claimants are encouraged to talk to specialized testsoterone lawyers to see if they qualify for legal action.

This Testosterone Lawsuit is In Re: Testosterone Replacement Therapy Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 1:16-cv-02499, in the U.S. District Court of Northern Illinois.