Have you suffered a health crisis due to taking Yaz®, Yasmin®, or other birth control pills containing drospirenone? Recent studies have shown an increased risk for dangerous side effects that can occur through regular use of these contraceptives. If you believe your health has been harmed due to such side effects, you should seek legal advice. At Michigan Injury Lawyers, our experienced drug injury lawyers routinely stand up to negligent prescription drug manufacturers as well as other consumer product manufacturers who put profits ahead of safety considerations. A Yaz® attorney at our firm is a legal professional who focuses exclusively on building strong cases for those who have been unnecessarily injured or harmed due to the misconduct of others. We are not afraid to tenaciously pursue justice on your behalf to help you secure the financial compensation you deserve whether that harm has been caused by an individual or a large corporate entity.
Yaz® and Other Fourth-Generation Birth Control Pills
Yaz®, Yasmin, Ocella, and other recent contraceptive pills for women are known as “fourth-generation birth control” because of their use of the latest evolution in synthetic hormones. The type of progestin used in Yaz®, called drospirenone, is combined with a type of estrogen to prevent pregnancy, treat PMS, and acne. Since its approval by the FDA in 2006, however, a litany of side effects has been reported with its use, some of which are life-threatening. These include:
- Nausea
- Cramping
- Migraines
- Uterine bleeding
- Kidney problems
- An increased risk of high blood pressure
- Potentially fatal blood clots, such as in deep vein thrombosis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Liver problems, including tumors
- Anaphylactic reactions and shock (allergic reactions which can life-threatening)
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Gallbladder problems which may result in the necessity for the organ’s surgical removal
- Dangerously high potassium levels (hyperkalemia)
- Irregular heartbeat
- Numbness in arms and legs
- Inflammatory bowel syndrome
FDA Warnings about Yaz®
Bayer, the pharmaceutical giant that manufactures Yaz®, aired a series of TV ads concerning its new wonder pill in 2008 which prompted FDA warnings about exaggerating its benefits while downplaying its risks. In an update concerning those risks, the FDA published a safety warning in April 2012 stating that some studies showed a threefold increase in the risk for dangerous blood clots in women taking Yaz® and other drospirenone contraceptives as opposed to women taking other types of birth control pills. Yaz® now contains a black box warning from the FDA. Many other medical industry and news media have also reported on the serious problems arising from usage of drospirenone, including WebMD, Medscape, and ABC News.
Thousands of injuries and an estimated 100 deaths have been associated with Yaz® ,which have led to more than 10,000 lawsuits against Bayer. Bayer settled many of these cases in a settlement of $1.4 billion, but thousands more remain pending in both state and federal courts.
Talk to an Experienced Yaz® Lawyer
You may be entitled to monetary compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering due to taking prescribed Yaz®. You can get skilled legal advice and guidance about a potential claim by discussing your situation with a Yaz® attorney at Michigan Injury Lawyers. Should you have a valid case, we charge no fees unless we recover compensation. Contact us for a free consultation today.