Erin Powers of North Carolina is suing Bayer Pharmaceuticals for the injuries she allegedly sustained from ingesting the birth control pill Gianvi, a generic version of Yasmin/Yaz. Powers alleges that she suffered deep vein thrombosis as a direct result of ingesting Gianvi.
Powers was first prescribed Gianvi in August 2010, and used the drug until November 2010. Although her first few months on the birth control pill were uneventful, Powers was soon sent to the emergency room due to blood clot injuries. On Nov. 24, 2010, Powers was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis, which could have been fatal if left untreated. She stopped taking the birth control pills after she was told that they may have been the cause of her injuries.
According to her Gianvi lawsuit, neither she nor her physician was aware of the possible Gianvi side effects. There were reportedly no warnings or indications on the drug’s label. Powers states that Bayer had the responsibility to warn her about these side effects because she was relying on the accuracy of the information given to her. She is suing Bayer for manufacturing, selling, distributing and marketing a dangerous product. Charges against Bayer include negligence, false advertising, concealing information and misrepresenting a product.
Overview of Gianvi Complications
Bayer Pharmaceuticals is currently the only company in the United States to use the newly-created hormone drospirenone in its contraceptive pills. This hormone is used in the company’s primary oral contraceptives Yaz, Yasmin, and Ocella. Gianvi is a generic version, and while it is owned by Bayer, it is manufactured and distributed by Barr Laboratories Inc. and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. Each of these pills are combination oral contraceptives (COCs), which means they have both estrogen and progestin components. Together with drospirenone, these components work inside the patient’s body to prevent fertilization.
Drospirenone is a “fourth generation” progestin. Because it is relatively new, there is currently not much scientific data available. For this reason, scientists have criticized Bayer for using this hormone because the exact side effects of this hormone are not yet known. Several side effects have been identified in using this hormone, the most significant being hyperkalemia. This condition occurs when the potassium levels in the blood rise too high, which causes the blood to slow down. When the blood slows down, blood clots can form or the heart’s rhythm can be disturbed. These conditions can lead to heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and other birth control pill complications.
Despite the severity of these side effects, it was not until April 10, 2012 that Bayer added language to their drug’s label pertaining to these risks. While helpful, this update came too late to many patients who took these oral contraceptives and suffered from significant complications. Many women and their family members have filed lawsuits against Bayer, seeking compensation for the injuries they allegedly suffered from the birth control pills. Due to the high number of Yaz, Yasmin and Gianvi lawsuits, they have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL).
Powers’ Gianvi lawsuit has joined 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 a Gianvi Lawsuit Today
If you believe that you or a loved one have been the victim of a Yaz, Yasmin, or a similar drug 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 side effects lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation. You will be guided through the litigation process with no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The Yaz side effects attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.
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2 thoughts onLawsuit Says Gianvi Birth Control Caused Deep Vein Thrombosis
Gallbladder disease and had surgery to remove
My daughter was prescribed Gianvi about 18 months ago. Within matter of weeks she suffered from side effects many of which we now find are documented. She had to have her gall bladder removed within a year due to failure. She suffered horrible headaches. She was taken to the ER 3 times. They had her tested for meningitis before finding out these are all causes or side effects of Gianvi.