Yaz Lawsuits and Yasmin Lawsuits

A growing number of Yasmin lawsuits and Yaz lawsuits have been filed over alleged side effects of the birth control pills, which may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, (DVT), pulmonary embolysm (PE), gallbladder disease, death and other serious injuries. Lawsuits over generic Yasmin, marketed as Ocella and Zarah, as well as lawsuits over generic Yaz, marketed as Gianvi, are also being pursued.

YASMIN AND YAZ LAWSUIT STATUS: All federal lawsuits over Yaz and Yasmin are consolidated in the Southern District of Illinois and Yasmin / Yaz lawyers are continuing to review additional claims for women throughout the country who have experienced problems.

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MANUFACTURERS: Bayer Corporation, formerly known as Berlex Laboratories, Inc. and Berlex, Inc.

OVERVIEW: Yaz and Yasmin are combined oral birth control pills that contain ethinyl estradiol and droperinone. In 2008, Yaz accounted for 17.7% of the birth control market with sales of $616 million and Yasmin had 11% of the market with $382 million in sales. Sales increased sharply over 2007 numbers, largely due to aggressive marketing campaigns that have since been called “deceptive” and “misleading” by the FDA.

The drug makers aggressively marketed the birth control pills despite knowledge that Yasmin and Yaz dangers may expose otherwise healthy young women to a risk of serious and potentially life-threatening injuries. The pills continue to be sold without adequate warnings and some have suggested that a Yasmin and Yaz recall should be issued since the risky drugs carry no benefits over other available birth control pills.

According to lawsuits filed by victims, Yasmin and Yaz side effects could increase the risk of:

• Heart Attacks
• Strokes
• Cardiac Arrhythmias
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
• Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
• Gallbladder Disease
• Sudden Death

YASMIN AND YAZ SIDE EFFECTS: The use of drospirenone is unique to Yaz and Yasmin, as it is not found in other birth control pills available in the United States.

Drospirenone, or drsp, impacts the body’s normal mechanism of regulating a balance between salt and water. This results in elevated potassium levels, known as hyperkalemia, which is known to cause potentially life-threatening heart problems and other health issues.

The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen has listed Yasmin on its list of “DO NOT USE” drugs because it contains drospirenone, which can increase the risk of heart problems and other health concerns, and because there is no evidence that the drug is any better than older contraceptives that are available.

Several studies and reports have highlighted the risk of Yasmin and Yaz problems for several years. An April 2002 report in the British Medical Journal identified 40 cases of venous thrombosis among women using Yasmin, leading to recommendations that older second generation birth control pills be used instead. A February 2003 report in the British Medical Journal discussed another 5 reports of Yasmin problems involving thromboembolism, including at least two deaths.

The drug makers had exclusive access to information concerning the safety of Yaz / Yasmin, and allegedly chose to ignore the risk of serious injuries in their effort to increase use of the birth control pills and generate additional profits even at the expense of consumers’ health.

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