A recent study reinforces the previous notion that testosterone drugs are linked to an increased risk of a heart attack, especially in certain patients. The study draws even greater focus to existing concerns about men being prescribed testosterone drugs unnecessarily, in order to treat a common part of aging, and placing them at elevated risks of experiencing dangerous side effects from testosterone therapy.
Low-T Patients among those at Risk of Serious Side Effects
Recently, a group of prescription drug safety advocates have announced new information on the site for patients taking testosterone replacement drugs, or “low-T” drugs. A number of lawsuits recently filed in a federal court allege the drugs caused heart attacks or stroke.
Last year, at least 5.5 million men filled prescriptions for testosterone replacement drugs like AndroGel, Axiron and AndroDerm as the testosterone replacement therapy industry grew 500 percent in a decade. However, recent studies have brought the safety of these drugs into question. One study from the National Institutes of Health and UCLA found that men ages 65 and older, plus those with a history of heart disease, had double the rate of heart attack after starting testosterone therapy.
A separate study published in November of 2013 by the American Medical Association also found that older men or those with prior heart disease using the drugs had a 29% increased rate of heart attacks, stroke or death. Early in 2014, the FDA launched a new investigation into stroke, heart attack and death risks for testosterone therapy drugs based on these findings.
Testosterone therapy, which is only approved by the FDA to treat men with a diagnosis of low testosterone levels, has increased to 432 million prescriptions, including refills sold in 2013, from 208 million in 2008. During the period 2000 to 2011, annual prescriptions for testosterone increased more than five-fold. In 2011, the total number of prescriptions numbered 5.3 million equaling a market of $1.6 billion.
Testosterone Therapy Overview
Testosterone is a sex hormone produced by the gonads, but testosterone is also produced in small amounts in woman’s ovaries and in the adrenal system. Some medical conditions or changes in the body may result in a decreased production of testosterone, leading to a range of possible health issues. Doctors will often prescribe drugs designed to increase the body’s production of testosterone, which may also consist of treatments and prescriptions that introduce testosterone into the body directly.
Testosterone medications are administered using a transdermal gel or patch, or by injection. The most common names of a few popular testosterone drugs include:
- AndroGel
- AndroDerm
- Androplex
- Delatestryl
- Depandro 100
- Depo-Testosterone
- Testosterone Cypionate
- Testosterone Enanthate
References:
Drugs.com
