YAZ/YASMIN BIRTH CONTROL PILL DEADLY SIDE EFFECTS

The drugs marketed as Yaz and Yazmin are birth control pills. Berlex originally created Yaz, but now Bayer Healthcare owns, manufactures, and distributes both Yaz and the Yasmin. Ocella, made by Teva Pharmaceuticals, is a generic version of the same medication. The pills, also known as hormonal oral contraceptives, were the first of their kind to contain drospirenone, a synthetic progestin. Numerous reports of side effects including blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes prompted the FDA to issue multiple warning to the makers of Yaz and Yazmin to amend their advertising and marketing of the birth control pills. If you have been adversely affected or injured by taking Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella oral contraceptives in California, call the Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP at 1-800-ALAWPRO for a free case consultation.

Yaz/Yasmin Side Effects and Risks: Side effects associated with women taking Yasmin or Yaz birth control pills are the result of the drospirenone use in Yaz and Yasmin. A synthetic progestin, drospirenone, can increase levels of potassium in the blood, also called hyperkalemia. Side effects resulting from hyperkalemia may be felt as quickly as weeks after first taking the pill. The serious and potentially fatal side effects of Yasmin and Yaz include:

• Cardiac Arrhythmia
• Blood Clots in the Arm, Eye, Head or Pelvis
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)/Blood Clotting in the Legs
• Gall Bladder Disease
• Heart Attack
• Kidney Damage or Disease
• Pancreatitis
• Pulmonary Embolism (PE)/Blood Clotting in the Lungs
• Stroke
• Sudden Death

Increased risk of the above problems can occur in women who:

• Are over 35 years of age
• Smoke
• Have diabetes or high cholesterol
• Had a previously high blood potassium level
• Take additional meds that elevate potassium levels, including Heparin, ACE inhibitors, or NSAIDS (such as Advil, Aleve, Motrin)

Yasmin and Yaz Purpose and Use:

Yaz and Yasmin are used as oral contraceptives or birth control pills. The active ingredients in Yasmin and Yaz are drospirenone (progestin) and ethinyl estradiol (estrogen), with Yasmin containing a slightly higher level of the latter. The medications are considered “fourth generation” as three previous forms of birth control preceded them. Yasmin, first released by Berlex, has been on the market since 2001, and Yaz since 2006, after Bayer began releasing both of them. The pills are taken orally. Yasmin is taken on a 21/7 day dosing schedule (7 days are placebo pills). Yaz is on a 24/4 dose schedule (4 are placebos). The medications are also approved for the treatment of moderate acne and Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD).

Yaz/Yasmin Advertisements & FDA Warnings:

The FDA (Food & Drug Administration) has warned both Bayer and Berlex multiple times about their marketing of Yaz and Yasmin birth control pills. Misleading statements in television ads included false implications that Yasmin and/or Yaz are (a) superior to other oral contraceptives, (b) able to treat all acne severities, and (c) approved to treat PMS. The FDA and others also complained that the drug makers glossed over the potential for Yasmin and Yaz to produce serious side effects. Due to Bayer’s aggressive and misleading marketing, the FDA ultimately cited the pharmaceutical giant for failure to address the side effects and risks of taking Yaz and Yasmin, as well as overstating their approved uses. As a result, Bayer ran new ads in 2009 correcting their previous advertisements. All future ads for Yaz and Yasmin are to be approved by federal regulators.

Yasmin/Yaz Now: Serious & Deadly Side Effects, Negligence and Lawsuits.

As of October 2009, nearly 130 lawsuits have been filed against Bayer Healthcare for their marketing of Yasmin and Yaz, as well the medications’ numerous and serious side effects. Allegations of negligence include the following:

• Bayer & Berlex knew of the potential for serious side effects yet marketed Yaz & Yazmin without sufficient warnings.
• Bayer created and aggressively marketed Yaz, even though they knew of the potential dangers of Yasmin.
• Bayer falsely marketed Yaz/Yasmin as safe and effective birth control.
• Bayer failed to warn consumers of the dangerous, potentially life-threatening, and unreasonable side effects associated with Yasmin and Yaz.
• The drug makers did not adequately test and research the medication prior to or after its release onto the market.
• Neither Berlex nor Bayer showed due care in its promotion and advertising of Yaz.

What to do if you’ve been adversely affected by taking Yaz or Yasmin:

If you or a loved one has experienced side effects after taking Yaz or Yasmin in California, there is a Law Team who can help. The Law Offices of Greenberg & Rudman LLP have more than 50 years combined legal experience and have collected more than $150 million for clients. Let our seasoned pharmaceutical and product liability lawyers help you in your time of need. Call 1-800-ALAWPRO (1-800-252-9776) for a free and confidential consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers, and to learn more about us visit www.alawpro.com. We are here to fight for you.