Yaz Side Effects

All medications have the potential for side effects and the oral contraceptive, Yaz, is no exception to this very well known rule. However, not everyone experiences side effects and, if they do, the side effects are minimal in most cases.

Yaz, manufactured by Bayer Pharmaceuticals, has been under the microscope with 32 federal court cases pending against Bayer regarding their famous contraceptive. It seems to not be one of those medications that sport few side effects and are hardly a blip on the side effect radar. As a matter of fact, Yaz has left quite the mark due to its side effects and the number of women reporting experiencing them.

As for what is the alleged cause of these side effects is the ingredient drospirenone, which is not found in other oral contraceptives. This is an ingredient that not only prevents ovulation, but also changes the cervix and the uterine lining in a way that a fertilized egg cannot attach to the uterus even if fertilization does occur.

Although this sounds fantastic and is why Yaz is an extremely popular birth control pill, there have been numerous side effects listed and they are not your average birth control pill side effects. These are more serious side effects that include:

• Blood clots in the legs – Oral contraceptives have warned of the potential for blood clots for years, but it has been alleged that Yaz causes deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can lead to a pulmonary embolism (PE). If you have pain in your calf, leg cramps, or swelling in your feet and legs, it is important to seek medical attention immediately because this could be a sign of a serious condition.
• Pulmonary embolism (PE) – If you experience shortness of breath, sharp chest pains, or you are coughing up blood, you are experiencing signs of a PE.
• Heart attack – If you feel heaviness in your chest or chest pains, you could be having a heart attack.
• Stroke – You may experience a severe headache, numbness or weakness in a single arm or leg, or changes in your vision or speech.
• Liver damage – Liver damage has also been associated with Yaz in that individuals become Jaundiced (yellowing of skin or whites of eyes), pain in the upper-right abdomen, and dark urine.
• High cholesterol – High cholesterol can later lead to issues with the circulatory system that can lead to heart attack and stroke.

These side effects are a far cry from the usual dizziness, nausea, and headache side effects that accompany most oral contraceptives. However, other oral contraceptives do not use drospirenone as one of their ingredients. Although proven to be quite effective in preventing pregnancy, treating PMDD, and also treating acne, some women have developed the more serious side effects that have led to severe conditions that required medical intervention. This has led to a total of over 30 federal cases against Bayer Pharmaceuticals regarding the side effects of Yaz. As it stands, there has been no recall of the birth control pill by the Food and Drug Administration.

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