Controversy Continues Over Safety of Yaz Birth-Control Pills
Controversy Continues Over Safety of Yaz Birth-Control Pills
• Deep vein thrombosis: The formation of a blood clot in a deep vein that blocks the blood flow, most likely in a leg, causing possible swelling, pain, warmth in the area and unnatural skin color, even a few years after the initial clot; blood clots can cause strokes or heart attacks if blood flow to the brain or heart is blocked
• Pulmonary embolism: The potentially lethal blockage of blood flow in the lungs because a blood clot from a deep vein broke off and traveled there, causing possible difficulty breathing, anxiety, chest pain, dizziness, racing heartbeat, coughing blood and perspiration
The Israeli study was significant enough to prompt the FDA in December 2012 to convene two panels of outside experts (Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee and Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee). The FDA panels after reviewing 10 studies voted 15 to 11 that the benefits of birth control with drospirenone outweigh accompanying risks.
Watchdog groups, particularly California Watch and the Project on Government Oversight, question the closeness of this vote, citing potential conflicts of interest. In particular, four of the panelists had historically close professional ties to the manufacturer, Bayer, or to a generic manufacturer, Barr Laboratories (part of Teva Pharmaceuticals). The four in question all voted in support of Yaz and similar medications and they deny any improper influence.
The combined panel did recommend stricter safety labeling for drospirenone-containing products, however. Already, women in San Francisco who have been injured by Yaz have begun to initiate lawsuits against its manufacturer, Bayer, for defective product injuries.
Until the controversy is settled, experts recommend that women using any oral contraceptive with drospirenone talk to their doctors about the risks and proceed with particular caution if other risk factors are present like smoking, obesity, older age or high blood pressure. Evidence suggests that it is a good sign if a patient has been on Yaz or an equivalent for a significant time without developing blood clots.
If you have suffered a blood clot while taking an oral contraceptive with drospirenone, discuss your situation with a personal injury attorney with experience in defective medications to learn about your rights and potential legal remedies.