If you use Auxilium’s Testim testosterone gel treatment for hormone therapy, you may not be aware that you could be at risk for cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke.
Testim is the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved, a prescription drug typically used as a topical gel to increase testosterone levels in men over age 18 who have low levels of the hormone. As with any other prescription drug, side effects and complications are possible.
Some complications are more serious than the manufacturer warns.
If harmed, call a Testim attorney in Dallas for help.
Auxilium has conducted research and listed the potential side effects of Testim as required by law. The following warnings are provided by Auxilium.
The list of common side effects listed by Auxilium does not include the risk for heart attack, stroke, or death, however. The FDA is investigating the risk of these cardiovascular events among men who use low-T drugs. Some recent studies indicate that men may be at higher risk for cardiac episodes while taking these drugs.
One of the studies was published in 2013 in the Journal of the American Medical Association and the other in 2014 in the journal PLOS One. The former found a higher rate of heart attack, stroke, and all-cause mortality among men who have low testosterone and who underwent coronary angiography. The latter found a higher risk of a heart attack in younger men with heart disease and older men after starting low-T therapy.
Auxilium and other similar manufacturers have not added the risk of cardiovascular illness to the potential side effects of Testim or other drugs. Speak with a Testim lawyer in Dallas if you suffered harm because of the drug.
Although the FDA has issued no conclusive statements regarding Testim and cardiovascular risk, there is speculation that the FDA may require additional warnings added to the Testim labeling and packaging inserts, as well as that of other low-T drugs. The FDA is still considering the studies as of August 2014.
At this time, it is suggested that physicians prescribing Testim should consider the risks vs. the benefits of the drug prior to recommending it to patients. Patients are also encouraged to educate themselves about the potential side effects of the drug.
If you or a loved one suffered the following within 30 days of using Testim then you may be entitled to file a claim for damages.
It’s important that you and your family understand the benefits to which you might be entitled. If your illness is related to the side effects of the drug you’ve been taking, you could receive compensation for some or all of the following.
Julie Johnson is a Testim attorney in Dallas who is familiar with cases like yours. She can tell you what your next step should be and help you to make sense of your legal options. Call the Law Office of Julie Johnson at 214-290-8001 or use our online contact form to schedule free consultation to review your case.