Yaz/Yasmin
US, Canada and Puerto Rico
Yaz/Yasmin are birth control pills (they differ only in dosage) approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2006. Several years after Yasmin was introduced into the marketplace, this oral contraceptive became associated with cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, blood clots in the lungs and heart, and stroke. If you or a loved one has taken Yasmin and has experienced these or other potentially life-threatening side effects, please contact the dangerous drug lawyers at Balkin & Eisbrouch,LLC.
About Yaz/Yasmin
Yasmin/Yaz (generic: Ocella) are two types of birth control pills manufactured by Bayer Healthcare. These oral contraceptives are made with the same estrogenic compound (ethinyl estradiol) that has been used in oral contraceptives since the 1970s, plus a new “fourth generation” progestin called drospirenone. Yasmin has been widely used to prevent pregnancy and treat the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Yaz and Yasmin differ only in their dosing.
Side Effects in Clinical Testing
Many oral contraceptives including Yasmin carry an increase of blood clots, heart attack and stroke. Birth control pills may also increase the risk of breast and cervical cancer, as well as the likelihood of developing benign tumors.
During clinical trial testing the following side effects were reported:
- Headaches
- Menstrual changes and/or problems
- Breast tenderness and pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Abdominal pain
Serious Side Effects of Yaz and Yasmin
Once the drug hit the market the FDA received a number of complaints associated with taking Yasmin. Some of these include:
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT): This is characterized by a blood clot within a deep vein, most common in your arms, legs and pelvis. This painful condition can lead to a pulmonary embolism (PE) and ultimately, death.
- Pulmonary Embolism (PE): Most often the result of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), this is a blockage in your pulmonary artery. Symptoms include heart palpitations, chest pain and difficulty breathing.
- Stroke: When a blood clot forms, it can interrupt the blood flow to your brain, creating a critical loss in brain function. This can cause a stroke due to deep vein thrombosis.
- Heart attack: A blood clot that blocks the flow of blood through a coronary artery can result in a heart attack, which can destroy part of your heart muscle and result in death.
More serious side effects have been associated with Yasmin (more commonly among women with pre-existing medical conditions), include:
- High blood pressure and/or cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Liver cancer
- Heart disease
- Gallbladder problems
- Adrenal gland disorder
No patient should suffer an adverse health condition from taking an oral contraceptive. If you live in the United States, Canada or Puerto Rico and suffered an injury from Yasmin/Yaz, please contact the dangerous drug attorneys at Balkin & Eisbrouch, LLC. We can answer your questions and help you proceed with a claim to win the damages you deserve.
