California Lawsuit Alleges Risks of Yasmin Outweigh Benefits
A May 10, 2012 complaint filed in California state court alleges that Bayer, the manufacturer of the popular contraceptives Yaz and Yasmin, failed to warn patients of the drug’s dangerous side effects. Tonia Brumley, of Watsonville, California, filed her ten-count complaint after developing deep vein thrombosis as a consequence of using the drug. Deep vein thrombosis (sometimes referred to as Yaz DVT) is a potentially life-threatening condition involving blood clots that lodge in an individual’s legs.
Woman suffered Yaz DVT after using contraceptive
Brumley’s case is likely to be consolidated with thousands of others brought by women who have been injured by Yaz. These cases have been centralized in a Judicial Council Coordinated Proceeding (JCCP) under the Honorable Elihu Berle, Judge Presiding of the Superior Court of the State of California (Los Angeles County).
Many other plaintiffs are seeking damages from Bayer for side effects— such as Yaz stroke, deep vein thrombosis, or other blood clot-related injuries, all of which can be fatal— through the federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) currently underway in Illinois.
Yaz pulmonary embolism among risks
Yaz’s unique combination of estrogen and a synthetic progestin known as drospirenone has been shown to be problematic for women’s health. Drospirenone can cause a spike in potassium levels, leading to the creation of dangerous blood clots.These blood clots are responsible for Yaz DVT (deep vein thrombosis), but they can also lead to other side effects like strokes and Yaz pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs).
Blood clots also cause severe swelling, skin ulcers, and infections. Hundreds of women have died or been gravely injured by Yaz stroke since the drug was approved by the FDA in 2006. Other known side effects of the contraceptive include heart attack, pancreatitis, and gall bladder disease.
In light of the growing concern over side effects such as Yaz stroke and Yaz pulmonary embolism, the FDA has undertaken a study of the risks posed by drospirenone-generated blood clots. The FDA is expected to complete its review sometime in 2012.
