New Warning Issued for Yaz, Yasmin Blood Clot Risks

Pharmaceutical companies like Bayer are still defending thousands of birth control lawsuits alleging that their contraceptives Yaz, Yasmin, Beyaz, Ocella and Gianvi caused severe blood clot injuries in women. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned women who take these birth control pills that they may increase their risk of blood clots, stroke and heart attack over taking other forms of contraceptive.

Extending beyond the Atlantic Ocean, the United Kingdom is adopting similar warnings about Yaz, Yasmin, and other combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs). Based on American reports that these birth control pills carry significant risks of blood clots, U.K. physicians are now warned to be more cautious when prescribing them.

A letter sent to doctors from the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in January 2014 stresses the risk of blood clot formation in association with these birth control pills. These CHCs are characterized by their combined composition of estrogen and a progestin, and are often referred to as “third generation” birth control pills.

While the MHRA acknowledges that all medications carry their own risks, the importance of weighing the benefits of contraceptives against the possible consequences they carry may be more vital. The reason for this concern is due to the magnitude of patients who rely on this medication for contraceptive purpose, and the severity of these these potential side effects. These side effects include heart attack, stroke, venous thromboembolism, and other related injuries. The U.K. agency released a chart comparing the progestins and their associated risks, and are calling for manufacturers to place stronger warnings about blood clot injuries on their labels.

The progestin with the highest risk mentioned on the list is the newest in development, drospirenone. Drosperinone is used Yaz, Yasmin, Ocella, Beyaz, Yasminelle, Gianvi, and several other generic variations. According to MHRA charts, between 9 and 12 women out of every 10,000 will experience blood clot injuries from one or more of these medications.

U.K. doctors have been ordered to go through a patient checklist when prescribing birth control pills to determine whether or not the patient is likely to experience these adverse side effects. Experts in the United Kingdom are hopeful that these informative measures will help prevent further injuries.

Overview of Birth Control Lawsuit Allegations

Yasmin and Yaz are manufactured by Bayer Pharmaceuticals, which had its first drospirenone birth control, Yasmin, approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001. Bayer is currently the only pharmaceutical that uses this hormone in its oral contraceptives.  Drospirenone is a “fourth-generation” progestin, which means it was only synthesized in the past two decades. Because the hormone is so new, there is not much scientific data available regarding the full extent of its side effects.

The lack of information has led many medical experts to suspect that the complications associated with Yaz and its relatives are due to the unknown complications of this hormone. Because drospirenone it is a diuretic, it causes the potassium levels in the blood to rise, potentially leading to a condition called hyperkalemia. When this condition occurs, the blood slows down and allows for the possible formation of blood clots.

As of now, more than 12,000 birth control lawsuits have been filed against Bayer. Approximately 5,000 lawsuits remain after Bayer reportedly agreed to pay $1.6 billion to resolve Yaz and Yasmin blood clot injury claims. Bayer states that it intends to continue considering settlements in blood clot claims on a case-by-case basis, following a review of medical records. The company is hopeful to solve the remaining cases this way.

File a Yaz Lawsuit Today

If you believe that you or a loved one experienced a Yaz blood clot, you have legal options. Please visit the Birth Control Lawsuits: Yaz, Yasmin, Beyaz, Gianvi, Ocella Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned Yaz lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation. You will be guided through the litigation process at no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The Yaz attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.