A New York resident filed a testosterone product lawsuit alleging Pfizer is misrepresenting Depo-Testosterone as a safe and effective treatment for hypogonadism, or “low testosterone,” despite reports the drug is causing such medical problems as stroke and life-threatening cardiac events.

Plaintiff Paul C. claims in the testosterone product lawsuit that he was prescribed Depo-Testosterone, an injectable testosterone drug, to treat symptoms attributed to low testosterone and used it as directed from November 2011 until September 2012. At the time, the lawsuit says, he was 71 years old and healthy.

In May 2012, Paul was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and a second DVT in February 2013, allegedly as a result from taking Depo-Testosterone. Blood clots from DVT typically occur in the legs, but they can break off and travel to the lungs, where they can cause a deadly pulmonary embolism.

As a result of his diagnosis, he must take medications, adhere to a strict diet, and undergo routing medical testing to monitor his condition. He is also at risk of deadly complications.

The Depo-Testosterone lawsuit further alleges that Pfizer failed to properly disclose the risks associated with the use of the testosterone replacement therapy drug and did not warn consumers and health care providers that Depo-Testosterone could cause serious injury, like deep vein thrombosis.

Depo-Testosterone Problems

Depo-Testosterone is a testosterone injection of the synthetic hormone testosterone cypionate that is FDA-approved to treat male hypogonadism (low testosterone).

The problem with testosterone replacement therapy is that it can elevate the number of blood platelets. This can potentially increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and blood clots by thickening the blood and elevating blood pressure.

Recent studies have linked testosterone replacement therapy drugs, such as Depo-Testosterone, with an increased risk of blood clots in the legs — a condition known as deep vein thrombosis or DVT. DVT is a serious medical condition that occurs when blood clots grow deep inside the body when there is no injury. These abnormal blood clots usually grow in the calf or thigh, but they may also grow in the arm, pelvis, or other veins.

The most serious complication of DVT is a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs). This occurs when blood clots travel in the bloodstream, through the heart, and into the lungs. Although DVT alone rarely causes death, up to one-third of people who have a pulmonary embolism do not survive.

Testosterone Product Lawsuits

Many testosterone product lawsuits against Pfizer claim that the drug giant engaged in an aggressive unbranded “disease awareness” campaign to alert men that they might be suffering from low testosterone. As a result of this alleged “disease mongering,” the number of men diagnosed with low testosterone increased dramatically, and sales of Depo-Testosterone and other testosterone replacement therapy drugs rose to several hundred million dollars.

Paul joins approximately 1,400 other testosterone product plaintiffs in asserting that if the drug manufacturers had provided sufficient warnings and information about the potential testosterone side effects, men throughout the United States may have been able to avoid serious and potentially life-threatening medical problems.

Paul is seeking actual and punitive damages as well as relief, general and special damages and equitable relief in order to enable him to treat and monitor the permanent side effects allegedly caused by Depo-Testosterone.

The Depo-Testosterone Lawsuit is Case No. 154376/2015, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York.