FDA warns Doctors against over-prescribing Testosterone Drugs

According to reports, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned doctors against over-prescribing testosterone-boosting drugs for men. As per the federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the treatments are not effective for common issues like fatigue and libido, which are age-related.

The agency said that drug-making companies should clear in their promotions and labeling that the drugs they are making which are taken by many men in the United States are approved to treat levels of low testosterone caused by an injury or disease.

The agency also said that the testosterone-boosting drugs could also increase the chances of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular problems in men. The FDA also said that drug making companies should write about the potential risk of the drugs on labels. According to the agency, the drug-makers must also conduct a long-term study to examine the issue.

Last year in July, health officials in Canada had issued same type of warning about testosterone risks. The warnings by FDA are for gels, patches and injections that promise to heal people with testosterone. Biopharmaceutical companies like AbbVie, Eli Lilly & Co. and others sell drugs that promise relief from a variety of common ailments in aging men, which includes low mood and sexual problems.

Dr. Sidney Wolfe of Public Citizen said, "There's been a very successful advertising campaign to make men feel that whatever their problem is, the answer is to buy more testosterone". Last February, the consumer advocacy group had petitioned the FDA to add boxed warning to testosterone drugs about strokes and heart risks. But the federal agency had rejected the petition. According to the agency, it had not found sufficient evidence for such type of warnings.

According to some reports, the advertising blitz has pushed sales of testosterone drugs to more than $2 billion for drugs like Androgel of AbbVie and Axiron of Lilly.