Birth control is a necessity for many women and deciding which form to use can be a difficult personal decision. Especially because of the delicacy of the reproductive system you deserve to have all the information on a product or drug before you choose it. Women who used Yaz (also marketed as Yasmin), a drospirenone-containing birth control pill, were not given this chance. Many of them developed blood clots, gallbladder stones, and other serious complications they had no idea might happen. In some cases, they were fatal.
It’s unacceptable for a multi-billion-dollar pharmaceutical company to sell any medications that have not been fully tested and found to be safe. Additionally, it’s their responsibility to warn of any side effects—no matter how rare—so patients can make informed decisions about their health. Bayer should know better, but since they don’t seem to, we’re here to help women harmed by Yaz take them to court. Our team has decades of combined experience and big national victories under our belts. We’re not afraid to take on huge corporations when it’s necessary.
The Dangers of Yaz Birth Control
The long-term effects of hormonal birth control are a continual topic of worry, with studies showing the estrogen may make certain cancers more likely. When Yaz and Yasmin were released, Bayer leaned hard on the drug’s unique formulation—which used drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol—in the marketing campaign. What the company didn’t mention was that drospirenone came with its own risks other hormonal birth control products did not.
Increased Risk of Blood Clots
Though all hormonal birth control treatments increase the risk of blood clots, drospirenone-containing drugs like Yaz may triple a patient’s risk. Blood clots can travel through the body and disrupt blood flow, causing serious medical conditions.
Pulmonary Embolism
Blood clots may form in the legs unnoticed by a patient. Though they typically do not cause any harm right away, they might travel through the body and end up blocking important arteries, like those that lead to the lungs. This condition, called a pulmonary embolism, may cause symptoms including:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Cough which may contain blood
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Feeling lightheaded or dizzy
- Excessive sweating
- Fever
- Leg pain or swelling
- Clammy or discolored skin
Without emergency care, pulmonary embolism may be life-threatening.
Stroke
When a blood clot makes it to the brain, it is likely to cause a stroke. The clot can block the flow of oxygen to one part of the brain, causing immediate and irreversible damage. Strokes are not typically fatal, but they can cause lasting disabilities. The more time that lapses between the stroke and treatment, the more severe the outcome is likely to be.
A woman experiencing a stroke may notice:
- Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg. It may be contained to one side of the body.
- Confusion
- Difficulty speaking and/or understanding speech
- Dizziness
- Loss of balance, difficulty walking, and/or loss of coordination
- Sudden, severe headache
Though the risk is low, some women have had their lives changed forever after a stroke while on Yaz. They should have been given the chance to choose a different medication based on safety evidence. Because they were not, our team is here to help.
Increased Risk of Gallbladder Disease
Another unexpected side effect of Yaz was an increased risk of gallbladder disease. The exact mechanisms through which the medication endangers patients is not known, but taking drospirenone-containing birth control pills could increase a woman’s risk of developing the condition by 36%. Symptoms often include:
- Jaundice
- Dark urine and/or lighter stools
- Rapid heartbeat
- Abrupt drop in blood pressure
- Fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting
- Severe pain in the upper right abdomen
If not treated, gallbladder disease can cause a host of complications up to and including cancer. This is a serious risk to inherit with a birth control pill, and one women should have been warned about.
How We Can Help Women Injured by Yaz
If Bayer’s history of settling Yaz lawsuits is any indication, the company knows it made a mistake. So far, more than 10,000 women have filed claims after suffering unexpected side effects from Yaz. If this happened to you, we can help you start a claim of your own.
Shrader & Associates, L.L.P. isn’t afraid to take on big pharma. We are dedicated to justice, and that means we’ll do whatever we can to help our clients. We might be able to help you recover compensation including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Decreased earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
Unexpected illness can uproot your life and cause a chain of painful events. Anyone who has suffered because of a dangerous drug deserves recourse for everything they have been through. Call our team today if you experienced serious, life-changing side effects while taking Yaz. Our attorneys are here to let you know your legal options.