Yasmin and Yaz Lawsuit Consolidation Hearing Set for Next Month
Published: August 18th, 2009 • Comments: 20
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A panel of federal judges will hear arguments later next month to determine whether all federal lawsuits against Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation over serious and potentially life threatening side effects of Yaz and Yasmin birth control should be centralized and consolidated in one district for coordinated handling as part of an MDL, or Multidistrict Litigation.
According to a notice issued on Friday by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, a hearing will be held on September 24 to consider whether the cases filed in various federal districts throughout the United States involve sufficiently common questions of fact and whether consolidation is appropriate.
The hearing was scheduled in response to a motion filed last month by a group of plaintiffs asking that the Yasmin and Yaz litigation be centralized and consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
There are at least 32 federal Yaz lawsuits or Yasmin lawsuits currently pending against Bayer, which all involve claims that the medications caused women to suffer injuries like heart attacks, strokes, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), gallbladder disease or sudden death. In addition, it is expected that the number of claims will increase substantially in the coming months, as Yaz / Yasmin lawyers are currently investigating hundreds of other cases for women throughout the United States.
Yaz and Yasmin are different from other available birth control pills, as they contain drospirenone, which is a new type of progestin. Drospirenone is used in combination with ethinyl estradiol in the pills to prevent unwanted pregnancy, but it can also increase potassium levels and lead to hyperkalemia, which could increase the risk of various heart and other health problems.
The Yasmin and Yaz lawsuit complaints all contain similar allegations that Bayer failed to adequately research their products, fraudulently concealed the risk of injury, negligently failed to warn about the degree of risk women faced and misrepresented the safety of Yasmine and Yaz in comparison to other available birth control pills.
If the MDL Panel decides to consolidate the Yaz / Yasmin litigation, all of the cases filed in different federal districts throughout the country will be transferred to one court for pretrial litigation. Plaintiffs argue that this will help eliminate inconsistent rulings, avoid repeat discovery on issues common to all cases and serve the convenience of the parties, the witnesses and the courts.
Bayer also faces a number of similar lawsuits over Yas and Yasmin in state courts, which would not be included in any federal MDL that is formed. Plaintiffs in four lawsuits recently filed in Philadelphia are seeking to have Pennsylvania state court cases also consolidated before one judge for similar mass tort treatment.
Comment by Michele on 18 August 2009:
I recently survived Bi Lateral PE… brought on by Yaz. I am lucky to be here to type this post and only took Yaz for less than 2 mos. I spent 13 days in the hospital and was fortunate enough to survive a scarey episode 1 week before I actually drove myself crying all the way to the hospital. I am meant to be on this earth and have many great friends, nurses and Dr.s saying I am One Lucky Gal. The course of my life is forever changed and my new purpose is to make sure that everyone knows that Yaz is poison and I am on a mission!!!!!
Comment by tania on 23 August 2009:
i just had gallbladder surgery my liver enzymes were elevated i have been on yasmin for many years. i have gained a total of 50 pounds without been able to get the pounds of no matter wat i tried, i am retainig lost of fluids in my legs. i am very scared, i continue taking the yasmin just because i have been taking contraceptives for so many years and i know that you can not stop abruptly
Comment by Jody on 24 August 2009:
Tania, while that is true for most prescription drugs, there is no problem abruptly stopping birth control. Birth control pills just increase a couple naturally occurring hormones, and the worst case scenario is that you will menstruate within 3 days of stopping. If you feel like you need to still be on a contraceptive, you should immediately contact your doctor about switching to ortho cyclen or a similar one that has been on the market for a long time.
Comment by Holly on 27 August 2009:
I had a TIA while at work on June 29th 09, I had a medic come into work and check me since the left side of my body went numb, including my tongue and gums. I had test and MRI done and went back to my Gyn. to be put on another contraceptive and he said the only thing he would consider putting me on is an IUD. Since Im only 24 years old and plan to have children in the next 5 years that wasnt an option for him either. He said since I had a TIA that the “pill” or “shot” was no option either. So for now my husband and I just have to be safe, as safe as you can be I guess…lol we will use store bought protection untill we have children and then I will try the IUD. So you may not be able to be put on a different method once this has happened to you.
Comment by Michelle on 30 September 2009:
I am 28 yrs old and was on yaz for about 2 yrs, Aug 31, 2009 I was diagnosed with extensive DVT’s to my right leg and had 2 PE’s in my right lung, I am now having to take Coumadin for at least the next 6 months if not longer. I had to spend 3 nights and 4 day in the hospital and then had to give myself shot in the stomach after coming home.
Comment by Tamara on 12 October 2009:
I took yasmin since 1997 then switched to yaz in 2006 since then I have had severe gasto problems. I went to several specialist which were unable to diagnose any problems unitil March of 2008 when I went to the hospital thinking I was having a heat attack. After countless tests they determined it was my gallbladder. I had to have emergency surgery and was left with four terrible scars. Not only the scaring but the severe side effects of not having a gallbladder. I had know idea it was my birth control pill that was causing me all these health problems. I am a 30 year old healthy female who will never have a normal life. After having my gallbladder removed I still produce large amounts of bile I am very limited on what I can eat and always have to make sure I am close to a bathroom. Not only that I have to use baby diaper rash ointment on my bottom because the bile burns it. I wish I would have known my birth control pill was causing all this.
Comment by rob on 20 October 2009:
I am a family physician and ask that all women get informed about ALL birth control products that contain ANY hormone. YAZ or Yasmin have man-made hormones that are NOT natural to a woman’s body and they(YAZ and YAsmin) DO NOT increase natural hormones of a woman’s body.
The only way women can control her fertility is too understand her body and to speak to the one man they decide to marry, that as a woman, her body has a meaning. That meaning is unity to one man only and motherhood. If you must space pregnanciess, for God sake do not disrupt the naturallly occuring cycles of fertility and infertility of your body. Fertility is a gift and is definitely a sign of Health.
Comment by rob,MD on 20 October 2009:
Oh, and learn Natural family planning. there are several excellent and highly reliable methods that you can search out and learn. One is the creighton FertiltyCare system. Others are the Billings Ovulation Method and the couple-to-couple system.
Of course, having multiple sexual encounters, as in sex is for fun, also puts women and men at risk for multiple types of sexuallt transmitted diseases, many of which have consequences to fertility and may result in other diseases as in cervical cancer after infection with human papilloma virus.
Comment by Robyn on 31 October 2009:
I was on yasmin for 3 years and experienced what the ophthmalogist called a stroke in my eye, this has caused a blind spot in my eye that will never go away. They urged me to get off the yasmin because the storke was undoubtably caused by the drug. Who do I contact about damages?
Comment by Aime on 10 November 2009:
In April 2009 I was diagnosed with bilateral PE’s after severe chest pain and shortness of breathe left me in ICU for a week. At the time, I was a healthy 28 year old who had taken birth control since the age of 16. In 2007 I carried and delivered twins to full term and decided that I would stay off of contraceptionshortly after my divorce. When I expressed a concern to my OB/GYN to start oral contraception due to excessive mesntrual flow, he wrote for Yaz and not knowing any better, I took it but only for 3 months. Once my insurance would’t cover it, I switched over to another form of BC and shortly thereafter can the terrifying near-death experience. It has been 7 months of Coumadin (oral blood-thinner) and Lovenox (SC abdominal injections twice a day) and they have yet to get my blood on a therapeutic level. The standing recommendation is that I get off the meds at the end of the year but I am truly terrified that this can happen to me again. I hope that this gets looked into thoroughly as I wouldn’t want anyone to ever go through this horriying experience as I am now faced w a potentially life-long condition and added side effects for the drugs that would help keep me alive.
Comment by geisha on 10 November 2009:
I started taking yasmin in 2002 and shortly after that I became sick. Over the past years I have been to the emergency room more 20 times, just be sent home and say it was all in my head. I have seen 7 different gi doctors and have been scoped from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet and nobody could explain why I have a these stomach problems. They said it was in my head and that I need to live with it, even though my blood tests shows inflamation and an elevated lipase level consistently for over a year. I finally demanded that a HIDA exam be done and found out that my gallbladder was functioning only at 11% and had to have it removed. I am still sick even after this surgery and I am afraid of what else the doctors are missing. I have nuasea almost all the time and have no energy to do anything. I sometimes feel like I don’t want to go on, because I just don’t enjoy life like I use to.
Comment by gab91494 on 20 November 2009:
I was placed on Yaz back in 2007, after a hysterectomy. Less than 6 months after having starting Yaz, I started having problems with my gallbladder, had all kinds of test performed but it never showed any gallstones, however, the problem was that my gallbladder had stopped functioning, it was only at 8%, I was in surgery within days of that finding. All of this happened after starting Yaz.
Comment by H on 28 November 2009:
Can anybody provide any statistics regarding how many women have actually been affected?
Comment by elle on 21 January 2010:
I took Yasmin for years. Just last year i developed horrible side pain along with painful back shoulder pain. Alot of stomach upset. After several trips to the doctor and tests they figured out that my gallbladder was the trouble. They said surgery is the only way to rid the pain. I had the surgery April 2009 and it was very painful postop. Since then i have lower intestinal pain following diarrhea 2-3 times a week. I have to be very close to a bathroom after i eat just in case…I actually no longer look forward to going out to lunch or dinner because of this. I have to use baby wipes and A/D ointment because of the bile acid. I am constantly having to re-examine my food intake so it does not happen again. it is exhausting!
Comment by Suzanne on 22 January 2010:
My 18 yr. old daughter has been on Yaz for over a year, then switched to Ocella due to cost. She had to have her gall bladder removed on New Year’s Eve because of ’sludge’ in her gall bladder. I am have been told that it is highly unusual for a girl this young to have gall bladder problems – coincidence?
What steps should I take? I can’t afford an attorney.
Comment by Jess on 10 February 2010:
Suzanne- I would definitely contact one of the attorneys who are doing this mass law suit! I am 24 and had my gall bladder removed last year after taking Yaz for about a year and a half–like you said, highly unusual. I gave my information to one of the lawyers and am now involved in the suit.
Comment by Suzanna on 13 February 2010:
i took yaz at the end of 2006 and beginning of 2007, for a total of 6 months. Before i started Yaz my periods were normal, and while i was on Yaz, i didnt have a period what so ever, i got off. Well, ever since getting off of birth control in Nov of 2007, i never had a period and havent had one since. I now probably have PCOS which Yaz was probably the main cause. And now my body is EXTREMELY messed up and my husband and i wanted to start trying for a baby, but we cant due to me not having a menstrual cycle. i also have experienced other complications and depression is one of them. I am 22 years old and am involved in the suit.
Comment by Jena on 15 February 2010:
I started taking YAZ in late 2007, early 2008. I have been on BC since I was about 15, as it treats my PSOD. My doctor recommended YAZ to me. I didn’t think that I had any medical problems while on the pill. However, I often complained of exteme cramping and dizziness, so I was put on another pill in February 2009. However, in December 2008, after months of stomach problem, I had to have emergency surgery for my appendix. This seemed to fix the problem, or so I thought. I started having problems again in early spring of 2009. I had thought it was from the stress of finding a new job and planning a wedding. It turns out that my gull bladder was functioning at 13%. That had to be removed in November 2009. I hope this is the end of the side effects.
Comment by Michele on 22 February 2010:
I was on Yasmin for years and then Yaz for like a year. I would always have pain on my right side and the drs could never figure it out. While being on that pill I had to stop taking it because the mood swings were horrible!!! I have tried other pilss since then but nothing ever works for me. Well recently I was in alot of pain and come to find out I just had my gallbladder removed. The galllbladder was diseased!! Could this have been from the pill???
Comment by ashley on 28 February 2010:
I took yasmin for 3months before the 3month completion, I started to feel alot of pain in my stomach one night at work. I have never had that much pain before. I had to leave work early and drive the 20+miles home, so that my husband could take me to the hospital. While waiting to been seen in the emergency room, I was still in excruciating pain and still had no idea what was going on. When I was finally seen about 2 hours later and after all their testing, it was concluded that my gall bladder was infected and needed to be removed or it was going to burst. I missed 3 full days of work and had to sleep sitting up for the next few days because there was alot of pain when I would lay flat. I started to take yaz after that, but I would feel very sick after I would take them and decided I wouldnt finish the pack I had and just use another method for birth control. I found out later that my mother had the same thing happen to her after taking the same pills and had to have her gall bladder removed as well… I couldnt believe that it was just a coincidence and to see all these people writing the same thing makes me very suspicious.