Thousands of Yasmin/Yaz Blood Clot Lawsuits Remain
By Amanda Antell
Bayer’s latest financial report states the company has spent nearly $1 billion in Yaz lawsuit settlements to resolve 4,800 claims alleging Yaz blood clots. This knocks down the original lawsuit numbers from 13,000 to 9,961 cases that have yet to be settled or fully processed. Many researchers and scientific studies believe the reason for Yaz and Yasmin’s extreme side effects is their main component: drospirenone, a synthetic hormone used in birth control pills. Drospirenone is sold under the following brand names: Yasmin, Yasminelle, Yaz, Beyaz, and Ocella. Each of these drugs is composed of drospirenone and an estrogen agent of some kind, such as ethinyl estradiol.
It has been found that women who take birth control pills containing drospirenone are six to seven times more likely to develop blood clots compared to women who do not take any oral contraceptives at all, but are at twice the risk compared to women who take other contraceptive pills that do not contain drospirenone. When the body reacts to drospirenone, the hormone actually potassium levels uncontrollably, which can lead to medical complications like hyperkalemia, which is a dangerous buildup of excess potassium.
Yasmin was the first oral contraceptive to contain drospirenone, and Yaz, the best-selling oral contraceptive in the U.S., also contains drospirenone. The FDA became concerned about the risks of drospirenone when they found in funded studies that women were 93% more likely to develop serious side effects when taking drospirenone, based on the medical records of more than 800,000 women taking oral contraceptives. These women had only been on drospirenone for three months or less, and as the months continued, the risk percentage climbed up to 290% higher for women at 7–12 months.
The compound is part of certain newer oral contraceptive formulations:
- Yasmin contains 3 mg drospirenone and 30-mcg ethinyl estradiol per tablet
- Yasminelle contains 3 mg drospirenone and 20-mcg ethinyl estradiol per tablet
- Yaz and Beyaz contain 3 mg drospirenone and 20-mcg ethinyl estradiol per tablet
- Ocella contains 3 mg drospirenone and 30-mcg ethinyl estradiol per tablet
Bayer Pharmaceuticals is currently facing numerous allegations from the victims of Yaz blood clots. These include claims of false advertising and purposefully misleading customers and withholding information about drug safety. Other allegations include but are not limited to:
Failing to identify the risks associated with the products, and overstating their approved uses in an effort to mislead customers into believing that the drugs were safe without side effect possibility.
Failure to properly research the medication, and notifying patients and doctors of this lack context.
Failing to recall the drug after post-marketing data reported the risks of potentially life-threatening side effects of Yasmin and Yaz, which outweighed potential benefits that could be achieved from other available oral contraceptives.
If you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of a Yaz-related injury, you have legal options. Please visit the Yaz/Yasmin, Beyaz and Ocella Birth Control 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.
Updated May 28th, 2013
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