Wrongful Death Lawsuit Alleges Suicide From Yaz and Claravis
Published: November 3rd, 2009 • One Comment
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