There is good news and bad news for patients who took the oral contraceptive Yaz/Yasmin or ocella (drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol) and who since have suffered from a blood clot and its concomitant life-threatening “thromboembolic disorders and other vascular problems,” as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration categorizes them.
The good news is that the FDA and its European counterpart in November cleared another Bayer drug, Xarelto (rivaroxaban), for expanded use — to treat and to reduce the risks of recurring adverse conditions with which the aforementioned Bayer drug is associated. It was already FDA-approved to reduce the risks of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism for knee or hip replacement recipients and to reduce the risk of stroke in patients who suffer from a particular heart-rhythm abnormality.
The bad news is that Yaz remains associated with serious side effects. Hence, the new use of one Bayer drug to ameliorate the risks and damage associated with another Bayer drug, albeit corrective, falls short of fully compensating injured patients for the monetary, physical and quality-of-life tolls that could have been averted if patients had been made aware of the risks of Yaz in the first place. Those are risks that the manufacturer had a duty to know and to disseminate. Yaz lawsuits have been filed on behalf of Yaz victims who have the right to recover damages.
Xarelto is licensed from Bayer and manufactured for Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc.
In addition to its contraceptive indication, Yaz also has been promoted by Bayer for the treatment of acne in women who desire an oral contraceptive and for the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD.
Introduced in the U.S. in 2006, Yaz by 2009 had become the oral contraceptive of choice for millions of women, indeed one of the nation’s more popular.
The following are adverse reactions associated with taking Yaz:
- Blood clots
- Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Pulmonary embolism (PE)
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Death
If you or someone you know, anywhere in the nation, suffered from any of these conditions after taking Yaz, then one of the experienced Yaz attorneys at Reich & Binstock can be of service, beginning with a free consultation. At Reich & Binstock, a Yaz lawyer, who is accomplished in handling the most intricate pharmaceutical injury litigation, can evaluate your situation and advise you free-of-charge of your legal options, which could include the filing of a Yaz lawsuit. One may contact Reich & Binstock toll-free at 1-866-LAW-2400. Visit the national law firm online at www.reichandbinstock.com.
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