One cannot escape an AndroGel commercial while listening to the radio or watching television these days it seems. AndroGel and other low testosterone product marketers practically shout out questions to the listener as to whether they suffer from the horrible, bad, very awful condition of low testosterone. Even the most viral consumer might begin doubting their own testosterone levels and long for the better life touted in the commercials for those who use Androgel. It may seem funny to imagine some poor guy trying to watch sports but being sucked in instead to believing he has low testosterone that must explain his partner’s dissatisfaction or his lack of a partner. Low testosterone (aka low T) products, however, are no joke as it is dangerous to its users and the subject of lawsuits for users who have suffered heart attacks, strokes, and other heart problems while using low testosterone products. Lawsuits were initiated after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated in January of 2014 that they were looking into such heart related risks with the use of low T products. The FDA had previously decided, in September, 2013, that low T product manufacturers would be required to state clearly on the product labels that they have not been proven or shown to actually lessen low libido, fatigue, muscle loss and other age-related symptoms and also manufacturers be forced to do research as to the relation of their products and cardiovascular issues.
One of the lawsuits related to AndroGel, made by Abbott Laboratories, is the defendant in one particular lawsuit that alleges that Dr. John Morley of Saint Louis University’s School of Medicine has actually admitted he accepted grant money to the tune of $40,000 to write a quiz for Androgel to use in its marketing that would supposedly tell the taker they have low T and need AndroGel. The result has been AndroGel’s sales increasing to $1.4 billion in a single year and low T being over diagnosed to men it has endangered. Another highly marketed product also marketed for low T is Axiron, and has also been shown to have the same heart related side effects as AndroGel. The danger does not stop with the male patient using the low T product, however, as the products have also caused side effects in women and children unfortunate enough to be accidentally exposed to the drugs through touching. Women have experienced acne and body hair growth, while children have experienced early puberty symptoms. The low T gels are also highly flammable, as anyone can see from the product labels! Warnings advise washing the area the low T gels are applied, with soap and water, if it is expected anyone will touch the patient’s skin with their skin. They also warn users to cover areas with clothing after application, to wait five hours before taking a swim, and to never apply the gel to the penis or scrotum!
It would seem the risk would highly outweigh the benefits and not be the ticket to a wonderful, newfound love life for users. Ask your medical providers whether the benefits would indeed be appropriate, given the dangerous complications, and do not hesitate to let your provider know if you or someone close to you has already experienced side effects. Do not hesitate to contact a well-respected injury firm to see whether you may be entitled to compensation if you have been harmed by low T products.