March 5, 2014 — The manufacturers of Testim (1% testosterone gel), Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, have been hit with a lawsuit from a man who suffered a stroke after using the testosterone replacement product. The lawsuit (.PDF) was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California on February 26.
The plaintiff, 56 year-old Joseph Myers, used multiple doses of Testim to treat symptoms he believed were caused by “low testosterone.” The lawsuit accuses Auxilium of engaging in a deceptive “disease awareness campaign” aimed at convincing millions of middle-aged men that they might have “Low T” if they are feeling tired, losing interest in sex, or have other common problems.
After using Testim, Myers suffered a stroke (blood clot in the brain), which caused memory loss and requires around-the-clock oxygen therapy. In addition, he has incurred medical expenses, disability, and lost income. Myers was not aware of evidence linking Testim and stroke and he had no prior history of cardiovascular events.
According to the Testim lawsuit filed by Myers:
“Consumers of Testim were misled as to the drug’s safety and efficacy, and as a result have suffered injuries including life-threatening cardiac events, strokes and thrombolytic events.”
The complaint also cites several studies linking testosterone therapy and stroke, including:
- “Association of Testosterone Therapy with Mortality, Myocardial Infarction, and Stroke in Men with Low Testosterone Levels” — Testosterone linked to a 30% increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and death in the first three months of treatment.
- “Increased Risk of Non-Fatal Myocardial Infarction Following Testosterone Therapy Prescription in Men” — Testosterone linked to a doubled risk of heart attack for men over 65 years old.
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