A recent warning issued by Health Canada following a study that testosterone increases cardiovascular problems.
Heart risks from testosterone replacements flagged by Health Canada
Heart attack, stroke, blood clot and heart rate problems identified with use of testosterone replacement
CBC News Posted: Jul 15, 2014 3:00 PM ET| Last Updated: Jul 15, 2014 3:00 PM ET
Testosterone
Heart attack risk increased after testosterone therapy in one study. (Erin Siegal/Reuters)
Testosterone replacements can increase the risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems, Health Canada says.
The regulator said 12 testosterone replacement products are available, such as Androderm, Andriol, Delatestryl, Androgel, Axiroin, Depo-Testosterone, Testim, and their equivalent generics.
■Study shows testosterone therapy doubles the risk of heart attack
Men use the products because their bodies can€™t make enough testosterone.
"Health Canada has recently completed a safety review on testosterone replacement products," the department said Tuesday.
"This review found a growing body of evidence (from published scientific literature and case reports received by Health Canada and foreign regulators) for serious and possible life-threatening heart and blood vessel problems such as heart attack, stroke, blood clot in the lungs or legs; and increased or irregular heart rate with the use of testosterone replacement products."
Health Canada said it is working with manufacturers to update the product labels to describe the risk.
It also reminded the public about safety information on the use of testosterone products:
■They should not be used in men for non-specific symptoms if laboratory tests have not been done to confirm a low testosterone level and other possible causes for the symptoms have not been excluded.
■They should not be used in children under the age of 18 as the safety and effectiveness has not been established in these patients.
■They should not be used by women.
Patients should be assessed for cardiovascular risk factors before starting testosterone therapy.
It has become quite popular for older men to start using testosterone as a "fountain of youth" drug, but there are risks involved so a complete work up should be done before starting as well as periodic monitoring.
Heart risks from testosterone replacements flagged by Health Canada
Heart attack, stroke, blood clot and heart rate problems identified with use of testosterone replacement
CBC News Posted: Jul 15, 2014 3:00 PM ET| Last Updated: Jul 15, 2014 3:00 PM ET
Testosterone
Heart attack risk increased after testosterone therapy in one study. (Erin Siegal/Reuters)
Testosterone replacements can increase the risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems, Health Canada says.
The regulator said 12 testosterone replacement products are available, such as Androderm, Andriol, Delatestryl, Androgel, Axiroin, Depo-Testosterone, Testim, and their equivalent generics.
■Study shows testosterone therapy doubles the risk of heart attack
Men use the products because their bodies can€™t make enough testosterone.
"Health Canada has recently completed a safety review on testosterone replacement products," the department said Tuesday.
"This review found a growing body of evidence (from published scientific literature and case reports received by Health Canada and foreign regulators) for serious and possible life-threatening heart and blood vessel problems such as heart attack, stroke, blood clot in the lungs or legs; and increased or irregular heart rate with the use of testosterone replacement products."
Health Canada said it is working with manufacturers to update the product labels to describe the risk.
It also reminded the public about safety information on the use of testosterone products:
■They should not be used in men for non-specific symptoms if laboratory tests have not been done to confirm a low testosterone level and other possible causes for the symptoms have not been excluded.
■They should not be used in children under the age of 18 as the safety and effectiveness has not been established in these patients.
■They should not be used by women.
Patients should be assessed for cardiovascular risk factors before starting testosterone therapy.
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