A testosterone drug lawsuit was filed by the family of a Virginia man who allegedly died from blood clot complications after using the Androderm testosterone patch.

The testosterone product lawsuit filed by the family of Alvin Harris against Actavis Pharma said he was prescribed the drug in October 2005. Harris continued to take the drug through February 2012, with a gap in 2008, according to the testosterone side effects lawsuit.

Prior to using the drug, Harris had no history of stroke or thrombosis, according to the testosterone product lawsuit. However, in October 2011, Harris’s physicians diagnosed him with deep vein thrombosis (DVT). In this condition, a large blood clot forms in the large blood vessels of the leg. While this condition may not cause problems in and of itself, it is a very serious risk factor for strokes and other complications, as the clot can dislodge or break apart, and get stuck in the blood vessels that feed the brain. In the summer of 2012, Harris suffered a series of strokes, which culminated in his death on Aug. 3, 2012.

Drugs like Androderm are designed to raise patients’ testosterone levels. As males age, their bodies produce less and less testosterone. In some males, this produces more changes than others, and can cause symptoms like irritability, decreased libido, declining energy levels, and less muscle mass. However, testosterone drug lawsuits have alleged that these drugs can cause deadly blood clots to form within the body, risking stroke, heart attack, and related complications.

Testosterone drug lawsuits allege that the makers of these drugs were aware — or reasonably should have been aware — of the serious risk of stroke and other blood clot related problems alleged to be associated with these drugs. The lawsuits further allege that not only were drug makers aware of these risks, but that they actively downplayed these risks, continuing to market these drugs to consumers. These lawsuits typically seek to recoup the cost of medical care, lost wages, final expenses, court fees, and other costs associated with these alleged complications.

To support these allegations, testosterone drug lawsuits cite a number of research studies. This includes studies from the New England Journal of Medicine and Journal of the American Medical Association, as well as the newer journal PLOS ONE. All of these articles found an increased risk of blood-clot related problems in patients using testosterone-based drugs.

This Androderm Testosterone Drug Lawsuit is Gloria L. Marshall, et al. v. Actavis PLC, et al., Case No. 2:14-cv-00567-DBP, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah.