Companies market testosterone products to young men for physical enhancement and older men hoping to stave off aging. Ranging in dosage and potency, low testosterone (often called “Low T”) therapy is more popular than ever. In fact, the low T industry grew from $18 million in 1988 to its $2.2 billion peak in 2013. But testosterone boosters can cause irreversible adverse effects that pharmaceutical companies don’t want to talk about. This year, a jury hearing the first AndroGel bellwether trial awarded plaintiff Jesse Mitchell $150 million in punitive damages.
Thousands of men have experienced adverse effects as a result of taking prescription testosterone products. These effects range in severity but include cardiac arrest, stroke, blood clots, and death. And most men say that they were not properly warned of the risks.
Testosterone Boosters Can Have Irreversible Adverse Effects
While heart attack and stroke are the leading dangers of using testosterone boosters, other side effects may plague men and should be reported.
The FDA warns men taking testosterone boosters to seek medical attention immediately for the following adverse effects:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath or trouble breathing
- Weakness in one part or one side of the body
- Slurred speech
- Acne or oily skin
- Increased urination symptoms, including decreased stream or urgent frequency
- Increased blood clot risk
Many healthcare professionals and studies show healthy men get zero benefits from using testosterone boosters. Since these therapies have no proven benefits, men seeking physical or sexual enhancement should avoid them. That’s because healthy men are more likely to suffer irreversible adverse effects from low testosterone therapy.
FDA Issues Warning about Low Testosterone Adverse Effects
As the FDA receives reports about serious adverse effects from low t patients, they typically issue new warnings. In March 2015, they issued a warning stating men taking pharmaceutical testosterone products may increase their risk for:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Sudden death (all mortality causes)
The agency also warned against men taking these products for physical enhancement and anti-aging reasons. In fact, the FDA’s warning states these products “are approved only for men who have low testosterone levels caused by certain medical conditions.” They also required manufacturers to clarify the medication’s approved uses on drug labels.
Get Justice for Low Testosterone’s Adverse Effects
While these label warnings may help some men avoid potential low-t adverse effects, for thousands of others, it’s already too late.
If you or a loved one experienced adverse effects while taking low-testosterone products, you may be eligible for compensation. To see if you may qualify for a cash settlement, get your free compensation evaluation now. Once you’ve submitted your information, an experienced low-t advocate will call to discuss your case and compensation options.
Related: Families File Wrongful Death Low Testosterone Lawsuits
Lori Polemenakos is Director of Consumer Content and SEO strategist for LeadingResponse, a legal marketing company. An award-winning journalist, writer and editor based in Dallas, Texas, she's produced articles for major brands such as Match.com, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, Xfinity, Mail.com, and edited several published books. Since 2016, she's published hundreds of articles about Social Security disability, workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, personal injury, mass tort, auto accident claims, bankruptcy, employment law and other related legal issues.