Generic Yaz Birth Control by Watson Approved

Yet another generic birth control pill based off of Bayer’s Yaz has been approved by the FDA, despite mounting concerns that the pill may increase the risk of blood clots when compared with older birth control. 

Vestura, manufactured by Watson Pharmaceuticals, will be the latest generic Yaz birth control pill to hit the market, containing a combination of ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone, a newer “fourth” generation progestin that is only found in the Yaz-family of contraceptives.

Yaz, and an older version known as Yasmin, are two of the most popular birth control pills on the market. A generic Yaz version sold under the name Gianvi is already available, and a generic Yasmin version is sold under the Ocella name. Bayer also introduced a newer version, which is not available as a generic, under the name Beyaz, which includes a folate supplement.

In recent years, a number of studies, including some conducted by the FDA, have suggested that side effects of Yaz, Yasmin and other drospirenone-based pills may cause women to face a greater risk of blood clots than other, older birth control pills.

An FDA advisory panel meeting is scheduled for later this month to evaluate the safety of drospirenone and determine what regulatory actions may be necessary to protect women from a possible risk of stroke, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis and other blood clot-related injuries.

In October, the FDA released a report that determined drospirenone-based birth control pills may increase the risk of blood clots by 75% over some older birth control pills. They also doubled the risk of heart attacks and strokes in users who were new to birth control, with some health problems appearing less than three months after women started to take the pills.

Hundreds of women throughout the United States are currently pursuing a Yaz lawsuit, Yasmin lawsuit or Beyaz lawsuit against Bayer after experiencing health problems allegedly caused by the birth control pills. Many of the complaints argue that a Yaz recall should have been issued after it became clear that women may face an increased risk of potentially life-threatening health problems.