Kentucky Couple Sues Bayer over Ocella Birth Control Injuries

Jessica was first prescribed Ocella in December 2010, and continued taking the birth control pill until she suffered Ocella complications in 2012. On October 23, 2012, the plaintiff suffered from left lower extremity deep venous thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary embolism, which reportedly left her permanently disabled. 

According to the Ocella lawsuit, at no point in time was Jessica aware of these possible Ocella side effects. Jessica states that Bayer had the responsibility to inform doctors and patients about the risks associated with the birth control pill. She says that had she known about the possible Ocella side effects, she never would have taken the medication.

Jessica and Adam are suing Bayer for being directly responsible for manufacturing, selling, distributing, and marketing a dangerous drug. The charges in their Ocella lawsuit include negligence, false advertising, concealing information, and misrepresenting a product.

Overview of Ocella Complications

Yaz, Yasmin, and Ocella are all birth control pills manufactured and marketed by Bayer Pharmaceuticals. They are combination oral contraceptives (COCs), which means they each contain both an estrogen and progestin component. These components work together inside the patient’s body to prevent pregnancy by suppressing ovulation, fertilization and implantation. These are the only birth control pills in the United States which contain a newly created progestin called drospirenone.

Ocella was first approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2008, as the generic version of Yasmin. The main difference between Ocella and Yasmin is that they contain a different amount of drospirenone. Ocella is considered slightly weaker than its older cousin. Yasmin was first approved by the FDA in 2001, with Yaz following in 2006. 

However, Ocella and its older cousins are troubling to some scientists due to their main component, drospirenone. Before Yasmin, drospirenone was never used or marketed in the United States, leaving most of its scientific data yet to be discovered. This lack of available data makes many health experts nervous due to the fact drospirenone’s full effect on the body is not yet understood. 

Even more concerning to medical experts, Ocella is a diuretic, which means that it increases the potassium levels in the blood. If potassium rises uncontrollably in the blood, it slows down the body’s blood flow, which then allows for possible cardiac complications to occur. 

Jessica’s Ocella lawsuit has joined ongoing multidistrict litigation (MDL) In Re: Yasmin and Yaz (Drospirenone) Marketing, Sales Practices, and Relevant Products: Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2100, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. 

File an Ocella Lawsuit Today

If you believe that you or a loved one have been the victim of a Yaz and Yasmin injury, you have legal options. Please visit the Yaz/Yasmin, Beyaz & Ocella Birth Control Pill Class Action Lawsuit Settlement & Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned Yaz and Yasmin 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 and Yasmin attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.