Yasmin / Yaz Health Problems

ANSWER

Side effects of Yasmin and Yaz birth control pills have been linked to an increased risk of serious and potentially life-threatening health problems in generally healthy women.

As a result of the drug maker’s failure to adequately warn about extent of the risk of Yaz problems and Yasmin problems, compensation may be available for women who have suffered:

• Heart Attack or Stroke
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
• Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
• Gallbladder Disease
• Sudden Death on Yaz

While some health risks are associated with all estrogen-based birth control pills, Yaz
and Yasmin birth control side effects carry a much greater risk, which was not adequately disclosed to consumers or the medical community by the drug maker.

According to a study published in August 2009 in the British Medical Journal, the risk of blood clots from Yaz and Yasmin was 6.3 times greater than that of women not on birth control. By comparison, women who took birth control pills with the older progestin, levonorgestrel, were found to be at only a four times greater risk than women not on birth control.

In April 2011, two studies were published that provided further evidence of the health risks with Yaz and Yasmin. One study published in the British Medical Journal indicated that women taking the birth control pills face double the risk of a blood clot when compared to women taking levonorgestrel, an older pill. Another study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal identified a statistically significant increase in the risk of gallbladder disease among users of Yaz and Yasmin when compared to women using levonorgestrel-based oral contraceptives.

Health problems from Yaz and Yasmin birth control appear to be linked to the use of drospirenon, a unique type of progestin that is contained in the pills. Drospirenone can increase blood potassium levels, causing a condition known as hyperkalemia. This can lead to potentially life-threatening heart problems and other Yasmin and Yaz health concerns.

In April 2012, the FDA issued a drug safety communication to announce updated warnings about the health risks with Yaz, Yasmin and other drospirenone birth control pills. The revised labels state that some studies report users face triple the risk of blood clots when compared with pills containing other progestin. However, the label notes that some studies have found no increased risk.

Lawsuits over Yasmin and Yaz health problems allege that Bayer Healthcare failed to adequately test and research the birth control pills before heavily marketing them in direct-to-consumer advertisements that minimized the risk and encouraged their use over other, safer forms of birth control. Bayer has failed to adequately warn both consumers and the medical community about the risk of problems from Yasmin and Yaz, and many lawsuits allege that the drug maker should have issued a Yasmin and Yaz recall after it became apparent that these are unreasonably dangerous drugs.

FIND OUT IF COMPENSATION MAY BE AVAILABLE FOR YAZ OR YASMIN PROBLEMS

The Yaz and Yasmin birth control lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represented women throughout the United States who have suffered health problems or an injury as a result of the drug maker’s failure to adequately warn about side effects of the pills. All cases were previously pursued by our Yaz and Yasmin attorneys under a contingency fee, which means that there are no fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained.

New cases are no longer being accepted by Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. This page is maintained for informational purposes only.

Last Updated April 25, 2011
By Austin Kirk
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