The Yaz birth control pill could be putting millions of young women at risk of serious side effects to include heart attack, stroke and even death.   Bayer USA, the maker of Yaz, has already come under fire from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for running television commercials that minimize the potential health consequences of Yaz.

In the summer of 2009, several lawsuits were filed by women who claimed Yaz made them ill.   They allege Bayer overstated the benefits of Yaz and failed to warn that it could put women at risk of serious injury.   It is expected that many such Yaz lawsuits will be filed in the future.

Yaz Side Effects

Yaz is one of the best-selling oral contraception pills in the United States, with 2007 sales of $616 million.   Yaz is a combination birth control pill that contains estrogen and progestin.   Yaz is considered a low dose pill, in that it contains .035 milligrams or less of estrogen.

Yaz received FDA approval as an oral contraceptive in March of 2006, and as a treatment for the emotional and physical symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in October of 2006.   In January of 2007, Yaz was approved to treat moderate acne in women who desire an oral contraceptive for birth control.

Evidence is growing that Yaz carries serious health risks.   Yaz contains a synthetic type of progestin called drospirenone.   According to the FDA, drospirenone can lead to hyperkalemia, a condition caused by excessive amounts of potassium in the blood, in high risk patients.   This condition may result in potentially serious heart and health problems.

Because of this risk, women with conditions that predispose them to hyperkalemia (such as renal insufficiency, hepatic dysfunction and adrenal insufficiency) should not take Yaz.  

Women taking Yaz must also be concerned about the drug interactions that could increase potassium, in addition to the drug interactions common to all combination oral contraceptives.

In order for Yaz users to avoid high potassium levels, blood tests should be drawn every few months.   Most women who take Yaz don’t know about taking these blood tests because the instructions to take the tests are given in a small package insert with the birth control—something few people ever read.   Women involved in YAZ lawsuits have claimed that they suffered from a variety of serious ailments.   These include:

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Pulmonary embolism (PE);
Heart Attack
Stroke
Blood Clots
Kidney Failure

Yaz has also allegedly been associated with heart attacks, stroke, and death in young women.

Finally, the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) lists a variety of other side effects reported by Yaz users.  These include severe allergic reactions, rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, chest tightening, fainting, irregular heartbeat, liver problems, unusual or severe vaginal bleeding, unusual tiredness or weakness, vaginal irritation or discharge, and vision changes.

Bayer Yaz Ads downplay risks

Despite the known side effects associated with Yaz, Bayer has downplayed risks when marketing the drug.   In October of 2008, the FDA cited two Yaz commercials for deceptive claims.  In a warning letter, the FDA faulted Bayer for overstating the benefits of Yaz.   The FDA also criticized the ads for containing fast-moving images and background music that might be distracting to viewers.   These elements were aired while information about potential Yaz side effects, including potentially life-threatening blood clots, was described.  The FDA warning letter said the television commercials minimized the risks posted by Yaz.


Bayer quickly agreed to stop running the offending Yaz ads.   As a part of an agreement with the FDA and attorney generals in 27 states, Bayer began running a new ad campaign in February of 2009 to correct information conveyed by the deceptive Yaz commercials.   The settlement also required that Bayer submit all Yaz ads for federal screening before they appear.

While the FDA has required drug makers to pull deceptive advertising before, it is highly unusual to require companies to run corrective spots, such as the one introduced by Bayer for Yaz.   Clearly, the agency believed that the popularity of the Yaz brand and the misleading ads had demanded this extraordinary remedy.

YAZ AND YASMIN ATTORNEYS

Potential claims are being reviewed throughout the country for women who have suffered heart and other health problems from Yaz or Yasmin.   All cases are pursued on a contingency fee basis, which means there will be no fees or expenses until a recovery is obtained

Contact Us
Davis & Crump, P.C. is now handling claims for individuals who have suffered heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrhythmias, kidney disease, gallbladder disease, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or death as a result of taking Yaz/Yasmin.  Davis & Crump, P.C. is experienced in pharmaceutical product liability cases and settlements.   If you or a loved one has suffered heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrhythmias, kidney disease, gallbladder disease, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or death as a result of taking Yaz/Yasmin, contact us at 1-800-277-0300 or send us an email at info@daviscrump.com.