Are Low-T medications worth the risk?

ORLANDO, Fla. -

Commercials touting the benefits of testosterone replacement therapy are all over the airwaves.

And lately, commercials from law firms claiming testosterone therapy can harm you are dominating the airwaves as well.

Several lawsuits filed nationwide by users of testosterone therapy gels have recently been consolidated through a federal court in Illinois, paving the way for the legal system to ultimately decide if testosterone therapy is safe, and if the testosterone therapy industry has been honest enough about the risks in its ads.

Orlando's Morgan and Morgan law firm is one of many law firms advertising that "these drugs may dramatically increase the risk of heart attack, stroke -- and yes -- even death."

"This is a classic example of a solution looking for a problem," attorney Frank Petosa of Morgan and Morgan said of the advertising by AndroGel, Axiom and other members of the testosterone therapy industry. The industry is estimated to see sales increase to $5 billion by 2017, according to one of the lawsuits filed.

"What was originally broadcast as about a million potential men in this country that could suffer from this condition in the early part of 2000, the industry has expanded to say it could be up to 20 million," Petosa said.

Petosa contends that the industry's advertising didn't properly warn people of risks, like strokes and heart attacks.

"We have families calling us because their father, or husband or grandfather has died as a result of complications from using this drug," Petosa said, adding that he has injured clients from Orlando and across the country.

But while one side of the debate says taking testosterone can end your life, the other side says testosterone could actually save it.

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Are Low-T medications worth the risk?

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