Testosterone is a hormone that is responsible for the development and maintenance of male characteristics such as a deep voice and hair on the chest. It is produced in the testes in men and in the ovaries in women.
Testosterone is a steroid hormone that plays key roles in physical development and overall health, including sexual function and muscle mass. For this reason, people who have low measurements of this substance may require treatment with medication such as testosterone injections.
To ensure proper dosing, experts recommend that testosterone injections are only administered in a doctor’s office or clinic by a medical professional.
Is Testosterone Safe?
Testosterone injections are considered safe when used as directed by a physician. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved testosterone injections to treat a condition known as low testosterone or hypogonadism.
Doctors may prescribe testosterone to patients at certain ages when they have low measurements of this substance. This treatment is sometimes used for young boys and men who do not produce enough testosterone, but it is more commonly used in older men to treat the symptoms of low testosterone.
Testosterone injections are intended to directly increase hormone levels in patients who have low measurements, potentially providing relief from medical conditions related to low amounts of this substance.
Some common side effects of testosterone injections include headache, mood swings, breast enlargement, and infertility. Others have experienced increased body hair, oily skin and severe acne.
The FDA ensures that each injectable has exact measurements of the hormone, sterile water, and other ingredients in order to be safe for human use. These individualized medications must also be properly refrigerated to maintain their freshness.
Any pharmacy not abiding by these rules would face significant consequences from the FDA since they take regulation very seriously.
It is important to note that testosterone injections, like any other form of drug therapy, are not without side effects. The safety concerns regarding injectable testosterone generally revolve around these side effects which have been the main focus of recent litigation.
What Are Testosterone Injections?
Testosterone injections are a form of hormone replacement therapy that many men use to increase testosterone levels that have been lowered due to aging or illness. Testosterone is available only as a prescription.
The most common method of delivering testosterone is through an injection, which can be done in the doctor’s office or clinic. A special needle directly injects the hormone into a patient’s body at areas including the thigh, buttocks, upper arm, or abdomen. These sites have muscle over them so that the substance can be quickly and easily absorbed by the body.
Some men receive testosterone injections to improve muscle strength, energy levels, and to treat sexual dysfunction. Those types of uses are often considered “off-label” uses of testosterone injections, which can have more serious side effects such as heart attacks and strokes.
While some men may need a prescription to receive a testosterone injection for medical reasons, many buy testosterone online without a prescription and use it as a performance-enhancing drug. Without the oversight of a doctor or other medical professional, abuse can lead to serious issues.
When testosterone is purchased clandestinely, there is a risk of bacteria contamination which can occur during or after production. Symptoms for bacterial infections include fever, pain at the injection site, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and headache.
Even if an athlete receives pure testosterone that has not been contaminated, there could still be other dangers associated with using this type of medication. Taking testosterone with anabolic steroids or another form of synthetic testosterone can cause serious side effects, including liver damage and cardiovascular issues.
Some professional athletes use illegal anabolic steroids and testosterone to improve their performance and look, but counterfeit products that mimic these illegal steroids are now also available online and in other countries, where some people travel to purchase testosterone without a prescription.
These products can contain a wide range of harmful substances or doses that aren’t disclosed with the purchase of the product. Some people may even end up purchasing counterfeits that may not even contain testosterone at all.
What If My Doctor Over-prescribed Testosterone?
There are other potential side effects If a physician over-prescribes testosterone and gives too high of a dose into the muscle tissue area.
These side effects may include joint pain, injection site pain, acute tendon rupture, swelling in the hands or feet, skin discoloration at the site of injection, and high blood pressure.
Testosterone Lawsuits
Testosterone lawsuits have been on the rise in the past decade. One of the reasons for this is due to the off-label uses mentioned above.
The lawsuits assert that the drug companies who manufacture the injectable form of testosterone marketed their drug directly to consumers via advertisements without adequately warning people about the potential severe side effects of testosterone injections.
In a recent case, drug manufacturer Abbott was ordered to pay over $150 million because it did not adequately warn patients about off-label usage that could lead to blood clots and other potentially fatal health issues.
The plaintiffs argued that advertisements for testosterone replacement therapy were misleading. The ads suggest that decreased energy levels and other symptoms of aging can be attributed to low testosterone, when the actual cause may actually lie in middle-aged males who have lost their strength due to becoming less active as they age or another factor entirely.
Websites and TV commercials also portray an idealized vision where men not only desire more energy, but are able to attract women with more testosterone.
This led to a multibillion testosterone industry of expensive supplements rather than helping men focus their efforts into better self care by eating healthy foods and exercising.
What Is Failure To Warn?
A failure to warn is a type of negligence lawsuit in which the plaintiff alleges that the defendant failed to provide adequate warning or instruction about a product. This can include drugs, medical devices, and other products.
In order to win a failure to warn case, a plaintiff must show that the defendant was negligent in not providing an adequate warning. This usually involves showing that the defendant knew or should have known about the risks associated with the product, and that a reasonable person would have provided a more comprehensive warning to consumers.
Do I Need A Lawyer?
If you or a loved one has suffered adverse effects after using a testosterone product, please do not hesitate to contact a class action attorney who can help you assess your legal options.
If you or someone you know has been injured by a testosterone related product that did not have an adequate warning, you may be able to file a lawsuit. Contact an experienced litigation attorney today for help determining whether you have a case.
It is important to understand that there are specific time limits in place for filing a lawsuit, so it is important to act quickly if you feel like you have a case. You may be able to receive compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more. Contact a testosterone injection lawyer today if you would like to learn more about filing a lawsuit.
