Expert States Testosterone Treatment Risks Are Too High

According to Professor Stephanie Page of the University of Washington and Harborview Medical Center, physicians do not have sufficient information from clinical trials to fully understand the testosterone treatment risks associated with these therapies in older men. Although the benefits of testosterone therapies in younger men with a testosterone deficiency have been studied and reportedly established, the products are now widely prescribed to older men throughout the U.S.

Existing studies have found conflicting data over whether testosterone prescriptions are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular complications in older men, and ongoing studies are unlikely to properly address these concerns. Professor Page asserts that since millions of men are using testosterone treatments every day, both the medical and public communities must provide support to fund an adequate clinical trial to fully assess the testosterone treatment risks and benefits in older patients. She continues by stating that there is a danger that regulatory and funding agencies may over-interpret the findings from ongoing and existing observational studies and conclude that longer and larger clinical trials are unwarranted and unnecessary.

However, testosterone is a billion-dollar industry, and many believe that millions of patients are seeking out these prescriptions due to overly aggressive direct-to-consumer advertising methods. Physicians should consider discussing the testosterone treatment risks and benefits with their patients before simply writing a prescription, as Professor Page states that the medical community simply does not fully understand the potential testosterone treatment risks.

Additionally, doctors may consider using the treatment guidelines provided by the Endocrine Society to guide them when making therapeutic decisions. The Endocrine Society has also stated that the testosterone treatment risks and benefits must be fully evaluated, particularly among older men with preexisting cardiovascular conditions. The Society issued a statement in which it calls for the development of larger and longer clinical trials to determine the true testosterone treatment risks and benefits and recommends that older or middle-aged men considering testosterone therapies should be aware of the potential for the treatments to lead to cardiovascular events.

Although testosterone therapies are approved for treating the symptoms of low testosterone levels due to diagnosed diseases of the pituitary, testes and hypothalamus, these therapies have not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of an age-related decline of symptoms or testosterone levels. Those who have allegedly suffered complications while taking these treatments accuse the manufacturers of claiming that the men needed the therapies to combat specific symptoms that occur as a result of low testosterone levels. However, plaintiffs claim that they were not suffering from the condition and were instead experiencing normal symptoms that occur as a man ages.

Contact the American Injury Attorney Group Today

Have you or someone you love suffered from life-threatening complications due to testosterone therapies and you were not fully aware of the possible testosterone treatment risks? The American Injury Attorney Group offers free consultations to patients who feel they were misinformed or misled into believing that they needed a testosterone prescription due to low testosterone levels. We can answer your questions and connect you with an experienced attorney who can help you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled.