Studies find AndroGel and other testosterone therapy drugs can cause heart attacks

Taking testosterone therapy doubled the risk of heart attack among men over age 65 and nearly tripled the risk in younger men with a history of heart disease, according to a recent report published in PLOS ONE, an inclusive, peer-reviewed resource from the Public Library of Science. The report, which involved a study of over 55,000 men, is the latest of several studies raising concerns about the risk of heart attacks in men taking testosterone therapy.

This and other studies, which have concluded that testosterone therapy was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events, particularly in men over 65 years, have spurred an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Lawsuits have also been filed on behalf of men who have suffered heart attacks and strokes after taking testosterone products, such as AndroGel.

Although testosterone replacement is an important therapy for men with hypogonadism, […]

Read More

Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer warns spring is a dangerous time for dog bites

Spring is finally here, and after a long, cold winter in Northeast Pa, that means going outside to enjoy the warmer weather. The warm-up will also bring more dog owners outside to walk their pets, which may be why the incidence of dog bites always seem to increase in the spring.

According to the American Humane Society (AHS), an estimated 4.7 million dog bites occur in the U.S. each year. Nearly 800,000 of those bites require medical attention. The AHS also reported that at least 25 different breeds of dogs have been involved in 238 dog-bite-related fatalities in the U.S.

The American Pet Products Association found that pet ownership is at an all-time high. There are currently 83.3 million dogs in the U.S., which are kept by 56.7 million households. The number of dog bites, as well as their severity, has risen dramatically since the 1980’s. […]

Read More

Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer, Marion Munley, warns of the FDA investigation of testosterone products due to health risks

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that it is investigating the risk of stroke, heart attack, and death in men taking FDA-approved testosterone or “low-T” products, including AndroGel. This comes in light of two recent studies that showed higher rates of cardiovascular problems in men taking these drugs.

According to several lawsuits filed in February in Ilinois federal court, Abbot Laboratories, Inc., and AbbVie Inc. downplayed the stroke and heart attack risks associated with testosterone replacement treatment AndroGel.

The two drugmakers have engaged in an extensive advertising campaign about low testosterone, telling consumers that the natural effects of aging in men, such as listlessness and weight gain, were actually symptoms of the condition that could be treated with their products, according to the lawsuits, brought separately by five plaintiffs.

The suits came four days after the FDA announced it was investigating possible increased risks of stroke, […]

Read More

Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer warns of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning

There was news this past weekend of many cases of carbon monoxide poisoning and one life tragically lost. A restaurant manager died and dozens of others were treated and released after inhaling carbon monoxide at a Long Island, NY mall. Investigators at the scene found a leak in the flue pipe of the water heater in a restaurant. This terrible tragedy highlights the inadequacy of the codes for carbon monoxide detectors in commercial spaces.

This same weekend, several guests at a resort in Maine were also taken to a local hospital and treated for carbon monoxide poisoning due to a high level of carbon monoxide near a furnace in the building. Last week, three adults died and a fourth person was hospitalized after a carbon monoxide poisoning inside a home in New Hampshire. In January of this year, a Saint Clair man died of carbon monoxide poisoning after the flue pipe of a coal furnace he was using clogged, […]

Read More

Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer discusses the problem of nursing home abuse

Millions of Americans place their loved ones in nursing homes every year with the belief that they will be well cared for. Unfortunately, nursing home abuse is a very real problem in the United States. From malnutrition to overmedication and mental and physical abuse, there are a variety of ways that residents can be mistreated in a nursing home. An estimated 3.3 million Americans lived in nursing homes in 2013, which translates to 1 in 7 people ages 65 and up and 1 in 5 of those 85 and older. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA), Bureau of Justice Statistics, 36% of nursing homes have been in violation of elder abuse laws.

CNN has reported that 90% of nursing home facilities are understaffed, and one in 3 across the country have been cited for nursing home abuse and other related infractions. Demographics show that the incidents of nursing home abuse will likely rise. […]

Read More