Yaz Blood Clots Damaged Woman’s Colon, Lawsuit Says

Ruby Rios says she developed ischemic colitis while taking a popular birth control pill, according to a Yaz lawsuit that was filed directly into consolidated litigation on August 27, 2013.

Rios was living in Oklahoma when she began taking the oral contraceptive Yaz in October 2011. In roughly a month, a doctor diagnosed her with blood clots caused by Yaz side effects that led to the colitis. She alleges in the Yaz lawsuit that had she known of the increased risks of blood clots linked with Yaz birth control pills, she would not have taken it.

According to her Yaz lawsuit, pre-marketing studies in 2003 indicated that the key hormone in Yaz, drospirenone, “has certain effects that are different from those of traditional birth control pills… and potentially more dangerous.” Subsequent research conducted prior to Rios beginning treatment indicated that there was a statistically significant risk compared to older alternatives. Two hypotheses exist for Yaz blood clot side effects: excessive potassium (hyperkalemia) or inadequate blocking of estrogen.

In 2003, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) admonished Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, noting that in commercials for the birth control pills, the company did not “communicate that the potential to increase potassium is a risk” nor that “increased serum potassium can be dangerous.” It was not until April 2012 that the drug maker acknowledged Yasmin blood clot side effects in drug safety packets, especially an increased risk compared to older contraceptives.

As a result of the alleged lack of warnings and the risk of fatal consequences to due to hyperkalemia, Rios’ complaint includes counts of defective manufacturing and design, failure to warn, negligence, breaches of express and implied warranties pursuant to Oklahoma statutes, negligent misrepresentation and fraud and violation of the Oklahoma Consumer Protection Act. Many of them revolved around the new updated labeling that the company added nearly a year after Rios’ diagnosis. 

The Yaz blood clot lawsuit is Ruby Rios v. Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc., Case No. 13-cv-10798, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

Many women have learned that hormones like drospirenone could have caused Yasmin blood clot side effects, which can lead to conditions like ischemic colitis. Legal help is available to those who visit the Yaz/Yasmin, Beyaz & Ocella Birth Control Pill Class Action Lawsuit Settlement & Investigation. Filling out the short form there entitles you to a free consultation with a Yasmin side effects lawsuit attorney.