More on testosterone

I had previously reported that the epidemic of low testosterone is, in my belief, a product of aggressive drug company marketing. And testosterone is a dangerous drug associated with cancer and heart disease.

This apparently has not stopped many from using it, so, in an unusual turn of events, an FDA advisory panel voted on Wednesday to limit the use of testosterone replacement therapies to men with medically related low testosterone — for example, due to a genetic condition or malignancy.

If the FDA adopts this recommendation, then any other use would be "off-label" making the physician liable for any side effects. Of course this could simply be a way for big Pharma to insulate itself by saying they don't recommend off label use (even when they do!).

In any case, more negative publicity may help deter the over use.