Yaz Lawsuit

One Yaz lawsuit is one too many because that means more and more women have allegedly experienced disabling side effects from the birth control pill.

As it stands, the number of Yaz lawsuits are growing at a rather fast pace due to the alleged side effects that include stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism (PE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and even gallbladder disease. There have also been a few instances in which death has occurred and the finger was pointed at Yaz as the cause.

Aggressive marketing campaigns by the Bayer Corporation have led to sales as high as $616 million in 2008. The unique chemical drospirenone (DRSP) is a chemical that will not be found in other oral contraceptives. It not only works to prevent fertilization, but will work to prevent attachment of a fertilized egg to the uterus if the very rare instance of fertilization does occur. This has had women clamoring for the birth control pill because they want something that is effective. Yaz has also been effective in treating Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and acne in women as young as 14 years of age.

However, drospirenone has been under the microscope and so has the Bayer Corporation due to the number of Yaz lawsuits that have come to light. A number of states have lawsuits pending against Bayer over the most severe side effects of Yaz that have allegedly caused heart problems and other health issues in women.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruled that the marketing campaigns carried out by Bayer were “deceptive” and “misleading” in that they marketed the drug as “safe” despite knowledge that Yaz could cause healthy women to be at risk for life-threatening injuries. At this very moment, women are buying the pills and they still do not carry adequate warnings. A recall has been suggested, but the FDA has yet to issue that recall. Many advocacy groups state that the contraceptive should be recalled because the benefits are not any better than those using traditional birth control pill ingredients.

Of the 32 federal lawsuits against Bayer regarding Yaz, the plaintiffs consist of those who have experienced:

• Strokes
• Heart attacks
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• Heart arrhythmias
• Gallbladder disease
• Pulmonary embolism (PE)
• Sudden death

As for why drospirenone is being labeled as the reason for these side effects is due to the fact that it can raise the potassium level in the body. This elevated level of potassium can cause the balance between salt and water to become unbalanced, which can lead to significant health problems that include the above listed conditions. This is why consumer advocacy groups have listed Yaz as one of the medications that should not be taken. There have been several reports and studies that have shown possible problems with Yaz for several years. It was in April of 2002 that the British Medical Journal printed a story citing 40 cases of DVT of women using Yaz. In February 2003, the journal disclosed that 2 deaths had occurred as a result of thrmboembolism believed to be caused by Yaz.

Contact the McEwen Law Firm today at 800-732-3070 to speak with an attorney or fill the form out to the right.