FDA Cites Increased Blood Clot Risk to Yaz and Yasmin

Oct. 29, 2011 - PRLog -- A new study released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 27, 2011
revealed that the popular birth control pills, Yaz and Yasmin, certainly increase blood clots risks by almost 74%, reported Attorney David Ennis.
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm277346.htm

Yaz contains a synthetic hormone called drospirenone, which is known to increase potassium levels in the blood.   The FDA compared medical records of women taking Yaz with those taking an older birth control pill containing the hormone called  levonorgestrel, when they came up with their results.

This independent study was prompted and funded by the FDA after noting there was conflicting information about the blood-clot risk associated with the drospirenone-containing birth control pills.  Its study  reviewed the medical history of more than 800,000 U.S. women taking different forms of birth control between 2001 and 2007.

Yaz was released in 2006 with an aggressive marketing campaign, touting that it treated moodiness, irritability, anxiety, bloating, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches and acne.   In 2009, the FDA took the unusual step of ordering Bayer to run corrective TV advertisements on Yaz, saying the drugmaker’s marketing campaign overstated the drug’s ability.  Some critics claim that corrective advertising was too late, as millions of women were already under the impression that Yaz could be a “miracle drug”.   Interestingly, Yaz, Yasmin and other related drospirenone-containing pills were Bayer’s second-best-selling franchise last year with $1.6 billion in global sales.

Unfortunately, the surprisingly high risk of blood clots associated with Yaz and Yasmin have caused pulmonary embolisms, deep vein thrombosis, stroke and even death in some women.  

The agency’s study also reported higher complications in women using the Ortho Evra patch from Johnson & Johnson and the Nuvaring vaginal ring from Merck & Co. Inc. Those drugs combine estrogen, which is present in all birth control pills, with two other synthetic hormones launched in the last decade.

The FDA has scheduled a joint meeting of the Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee and the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee on December 8, 2011 to further discuss their finding and to determine how to proceed as a result of these findings.  http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm273021.htm

Symptoms of blood clots include persistent leg pain, severe chest pain, or sudden shortness of breath.

Attorney David Ennis recommends that women who have taken drospirenone-containing birth control pills and experienced any of these symptoms should first immediately consult with their physician.  Next, the patient should fill out a MedWatch Form at www.fda.gov.  Lastly, patients should seek the opinion of an experienced lawyer to explore their legal rights.

Ennis & Ennis P.A. is offering free nationwide confidential consultations for patients who are taking or have taken drosepirenone-containing medications and suffer these symptoms by calling toll free 1-800-856-6405 or by going to www.ennislaw.com and completing an online case evaluation form.

Ennis & Ennis, P.A. is a nationwide law firm with offices in Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and Washington D.C.  Ennis & Ennis, P.A. concentrates its practice in mass torts and represents individuals against pharmaceutical companies worldwide, as well as medical device makers.

Ennis & Ennis, P.A. has been representing clients individually since 1986 and has recovered over $100 million in settlements for its clients.

Ennis & Ennis, P.A. is also investigating cases involving, Accutane, Actos, Avandia, Fosamax, Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac, DePuy Hip Recall, Zimmer Hip Recall, Depakote, Reglan, SJS/Dilantin, Yaz, Yasmin, Ocella Birth Control Pills and Transvaginal Mesh Devices.

Remember the law limits the time in which you can file a claim, so don't wait to explore your legal rights.  Call today toll free 1-800-856-6405 or visit www.ennislaw.com.