A recent testosterone lawsuit alleges that the testosterone replacement therapy drug Axiron is hazardous and has the propensity to cause serious injuries to men who use Axiron, putting them at an increased risk for stroke, blood clots and heart attacks.

A Louisiana resident has filed a testosterone gel lawsuit against Eli Lilly and Company for misrepresenting Axiron as a safe and effective treatment for hypogonadism or “low testosterone”, when the drug allegedly causes serious medical problems, including life threatening cardiac events, strokes, and thrombolytic events.

Plaintiff Philip T. claims in the Axiron lawsuit that he was prescribed Axiron to treat symptoms attributed to low testosterone and used it as directed for approximately one year. In November 2012, Philip was hospitalized after he suffered a “transient ischemic attack” or stroke purportedly as a result from taking Axiron.

The Axiron testosterone lawsuit further alleges that the Eli Lilly 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 Axiron could cause serious injury.

Axiron Testosterone Problems

Axiron is a newer testosterone product, which was introduced by Eli Lilly in 2010 as competitor for the widely used AndroGel testosterone. A testosterone gel that is applied under the arm via deodorant, Axiron is designed to elevate low testosterone levels.

While it was originally approved for use among men suffering from testosterone deficiency caused by a medical condition, such as hypogonadism, Axiron and other testosterone products have been widely promoted for use among men who may not have any medical need for testosterone replacement therapy.

Although it was marketed as a safe and effective treatment for low testosterone, side effects of Axiron may increase the risk that certain men suffer from one of the following:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Blood clot (Pulmonary Embolism or DVT)
• Sudden death

Eli Lilly sold Axiron as a superior alternative to AndroGel and other testosterone products, joining the “low-t” drug market long after drug makers knew or should have known about the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening heart problems from testosterone replacement therapy.

Testosterone Therapy Lawsuits

Eli Lilly appears to have placed their desire for profits before consumer safety by failing to adequately and sufficiently research potential Axiron side effects before joining the crowd of other drug makers aggressively marketing these treatments for low testosterone.

Through aggressive marketing, testosterone drug makers have promoted the products for users beyond the treatment of medical conditions they were designed to treat.

As a result of direct-to-consumer advertisements that created terms like “low-t” and used other slogans designed to encourage otherwise healthy men to have their testosterone levels checked, it has been estimated that most men receiving testosterone replacement therapy have no medical need for the treatments.

It is alleged in the testosterone product lawsuit that the risk of Axiron testosterone gel problems was known, or should have been known, before this product was introduced to the market. As a result of their failure to warn consumers and the medical community, Eli Lilly was able to allegedly develop a prescription testosterone gel that quickly captured more than $300 million in annual sales.

Philip joins others in asserting that if Eli Lilly had provided sufficient warnings and information about the potential Axiron risks when the testosterone gel was introduced, men throughout the United States may have been able to avoid serious and potentially life-threatening medical problems.

Philip 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 stroke side effects allegedly caused by Axiron.

The Axiron Testosterone Replacement Therapy Lawsuit is Case No: 1:15-cv-00711 filed in the U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division.