Wrongful Death Lawsuit Alleges Suicide From Yaz and Claravis
Published: November 3rd, 2009 • Comments: 2
The parents of an Ohio girl have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the makers of Yaz birth control and Claravis acne medication, saying that side effect of the drugs caused her to commit suicide.
The Claravis and Yaz lawsuit was filed in Mahoning County Court by Christopher and Shirley Plevniak, the parents of Autumn Plevniak, according to a report by Courthouse News Service. The complaint alleges that Barr Laboratories, the maker of Claravis, and Bayer Healthcare, the maker of Yaz, are liable for Autumn’s suicide in October 2007.
Yaz (ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone) is a leading oral contraceptive, which uses a new type of progestin, drospirenone, in combination with ethinyl estradiol to prevent unwanted pregnancy. However, the drug was also heavily advertised for the benefits it provides in treating acne.
Bayer currently faces a number of Yaz birth control lawsuits that allege the drug increases the risk of injuries like strokes, heart attacks, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), gallbladder disease and sudden death. While the precautions section of the warning label does discuss the possibility of depression, the Plevniak’s lawsuit is believed to be the first Yaz case to allege that side effects of the birth control pill caused a user to commit suicide.
Claravis (isotretinoin) is used to treat severe acne in patients who have not responded to other treatments. It reduces the amount of skin oil the body produces and changes the chemistry of the skin oil to prevent hardening of the skin. It has been linked to a number of psychiatric side effects including thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts, depression, nervousness, psychosis, aggression and violent behaviors.
The Plevniaks said their daughter was prescribed Yaz and Claravis to combat her acne. The lawsuit alleges that both Barr and Bayer failed to give adequate warning that their medications could cause suicidal tendencies, and knew, or should have known, about the psychiatric side effects.
Comment by annette on 4 November 2009:
I am a clinical psychologist. In 2008 I wrote an article entitled “Medicine and Menatl Health – the Isotretinoin Issue” which was published in the New Zealand Clinical Psychologist Journal. If anyone would like a copy email me on: fea@xtra.co.nz
Comment by Loretta on 3 March 2010:
Oh my God, I cannot believe what I just read about this case. My husband and I have been going through the worst nightmare with our teenage daugter. The past two weeks have been the worst. My Daugter started taking Yaz in May of 2008. She went her whole Freshman year very sad, emotional and would get very angry easily. She started seeing a Phyciatrist and was then prescribed Prozac in July of 2009. The Prozac worked for about a month then stopped working. The Doctor kept increasing the dosage. As the dosage increased her suicide thoughts increased.
We have been monitoring her constanly. I decided to create a time-line to try to figure out what may have caused the change in her life. She never had mental problems and was extremely happy with life and did very well in school. She has since then missed so much school and cannot get out of bed and talks constantly about the pain she is in and how she wants to end her life.
Two weeks ago we stopped the Prozac. Two days ago we stopped the Yaz. I truly believe this all started because of the Yaz. I am deeply sorry to read about Autumn’s suicide. I cannot imagine going through the pain of losing a child. Just reading my daughter’s suicide letter was painful enough.
I truly hope that the word gets out and Doctors stop prescribing this drug.