Earlier this week, officials at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered a revision of the labels on Yaz, Yasmin and Beyaz products. Subsequently, the revision is to include an expanded warning section that acknowledges their association with the development of blood clots. Furthermore, these clots have served as a catalyst for litigation against Bayer. In response to the recent lawsuits, Bayer has agreed to pay approximately $110 million in an attempt to settle nearly 500 lawsuits over claims that several of their contraceptive products have caused severe blood clots.
Current birth control pills, the majority of which are considered to be fourth generation oral contraceptives, contain the active ingredient drospirenone. As a synthetic hormone, drospirenone has the inherent ability to alter the conditions in the cervical and uterine lining, therefore preventing the ovulation process in women (which increases the difficulty of sperm entry into the uterus). Furthermore, drospirenone reduces the likelihood of implantation by altering the cervical mucus of the endometrium as well. These combined efforts create an inhospitable environment for subsequent sperm.
The overwhelming success rate demonstrated by drospirenone-containing contraceptives has made them the most popular form of birth control in the United States, resulting in approximately 10.7 million women using them. However, the majority of women are unaware that prolonged drospirenone treatment may coincide with catastrophic complications. Of significant concern, however, is the recent association that has been made between the Yasmin line of contraceptives and the development of severe blood clots.
Yasmin, Yaz and Beyaz; each of which contain drospirenone, may increase blood potassium levels. Elevated potassium levels, beyond that of which is safe, may initiate the clotting cascade responsible for the development of blood clots. The formation of an unnecessary blood clot may prevent organs from receiving their required nutrients, resulting in the following complications:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Heart arrhythmia
- Gallbladder disease
- Pulmonary embolism
- Death
Due to the influx of adverse events such as these, Bayer has become the target of nearly 500 birth control blood clot lawsuits. However, in a recent turn of events, Bayer officials agreed to pay an average of about $220,000 a case to resolve the current claims made against their line of contraceptives. In all, the settlement will reach approximately $110 million after each individual involved with the case has received compensation. The case was the first set for trial of more than 11,000 lawsuits over injuries allegedly caused by the drugs.
The settlement comes literally days after members of the FDA ordered Bayer and other contraceptive makers to strengthen the blood-clot warnings on their products. According to a Drug Safety Communication, the revised drug labels will report that some epidemiologic studies reported as high as a three-fold increase in the risk of blood clots for drospirenone-containing products when compared to products containing levonorgestrel or some other progestins.
The following birth control pills are among the many that will be receiving the revised label change:
- Yasmin
- Ocella
- Gianvi
- Yaz
- Beyaz
- Safyral
Do I Have a Birth Control Blood Clot Lawsuit?
The trial lawyers at The Senators (Ret.) Firm, LLP have decades of experience navigating through complex legislative and regulatory issues and litigating high stakes cases all over the nation. Our law firm focuses on the representation of plaintiffs in birth control blood clot lawsuits. We are currently accepting new cases in all 50 states.
If you or a loved one has suffered from a blood clot after taking birth control, you may be entitled to financial compensation. For a free case review, please click the link below or call toll free 24 hrs/day 1-800-773-0849.