A testosterone replacement therapy lawsuit was recently filed in federal court. The AndroGel lawsuit alleges that pharmaceutical manufacturers failed to warn the medical community and the general public about dangerous risks associated with using the testosterone product.

The low-t drug lawsuit is brought against defendants AbbVie Inc,. Abbott Laboratories, Unimed Pharmaceuticals, Solvay, S.A., and Besins Healthcare Inc. Each of these companies either manufactured, marketed or produced the testosterone replacement therapy.

Plaintiff Frank L., a resident of New Jersey, filed this testosterone replacement therapy lawsuit due to side effects he experienced while taking AndroGel. Frank was prescribed and began using AndroGel in October of 2012. AndroGel comes in a packet of clear testosterone gel that is absorbed directly through the skin. Patients prescribed AndroGel are directed to apply the gel once a day. Frank stopped using the medication approximately 9 months later in July of 2013.

The AndroGel lawsuit alleges that the testosterone replacement therapy caused Frank serious injuries and damages, which include developing a superficial venous thrombosis. This is a blood clot in a superficial vein of the upper or lower extremities.

According to the testosterone lawsuit, in May of 2013, Frank was also diagnosed with chronic deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This is a condition where older clots become hard and scar the veins. This constricts the vein and prevents blood from flowing effectively through the body. In Frank’s case, the clot began to ascend dangerously. The clot continued to ascend dangerously even after Frank stopped taking AndroGel testosterone replacement therapy.

In the testosterone lawsuit, Frank alleges claims for strict liability, negligence, breach of warranty, fraud, and unjust enrichment. Frank is also asking for punitive damages against the defendant companies.

Overview of Testosterone Replacement Therapy Lawsuits

Testosterone is a hormone naturally produced by humans and is responsible for stimulating the sex drive, building bone mass and muscle mass. As men age, levels of testosterone naturally decrease. This is a normal part of the aging process, but extremely low testosterone levels can cause a wide range of symptoms and complications. Many medical professionals debate whether testosterone replacement therapies have any real health benefits except in situations of extremely low testosterone levels.

Now, recent medical research suggests that men taking testosterone replacement therapies are more likely to suffer from heart attack and stroke. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association followed over 8,500 men for approximately 3 years. According to their research, men using testosterone replacement therapy increased their risk of heart attack and stroke by almost 30 percent.

Testosterone lawsuits also suggest that pharmaceutical companies have been aggressively advertising testosterone products to middle-aged American men without providing any health benefits. Marketing materials suggest that testosterone replacement therapies help improve sex drive, build muscle mass, and strengthen bone density, but omit or downplay testosterone side effects.

Several testosterone product lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturer of low-t drugs. Awards and settlements from these lawsuits will help victims pay both past and future medical bills, as well as compensate victims for the pain and suffering they have endured by using a testosterone product.

The Testosterone Lawsuit is Case No. 1:15-cv-05399, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.