Updated Yaz Warning Label Reveals Risks

Responding to pressure from the general public as well as from the FDA, Bayer HealthCare has provided new information for their Yaz warning labels. The newly produced warning informs women and their doctors of some serious dangers such as blood clots which are known to be associated with Yaz (Yasmin) oral contraceptives.
This latest development surfaced after thousands of Yaz lawsuits and reports detailed the injuries and deaths suffered by women taking this new form of birth control. Yaz contains a hormone called ‘drospirenone,’ which has been touted as a successful remedy for adult acne.
The disclaimer as given on the Yaz website:
‘In Addition, Who Shouldn’t Take YAZ? YAZ contains drospirenone, a different kind of hormone that for some may increase potassium too much. Therefore, you should not take YAZ if you have kidney, liver, or adrenal disease because this could cause serious heart and health problems. Tell your doctor if you are on daily long-term treatment for a chronic condition such as cardiovascular disease or chronic inflammatory disease. Women who take certain drugs (see below) should have their potassium level checked in the first month of taking YAZ.’

New Yaz label excludes certain risks

The improved disclaimer is a positive development made by Bayer HealthCare, however it is evident that drospirenone continues to represent a grave risk to many women. Further testing and investigation is needed in order to minimize future injuries and deaths among consumers of the drug.
The information on the website fails to inform readers that elevated levels of potassium in the blood can be a direct cause of heart attack. High potassium levels can also require numerous hospital visits for invasive treatments such as dialysis and/or administration of intravenous medications.

Yaz can cause gallbladder complications

Yaz safety information includes no mention of the fact that some women who take Yaz birth control pills develop gallbladder disease issues as a result. Inflammation of the gallbladder and the formation of gallstones have been known to occur in Yaz users, and this oftentimes requires a surgical procedure to take out the entire gallbladder.
Removal of the gallbladder calls for permanent changes in diet, and also exposes the victim to additional health problems. This is doubtless an unwarranted risk to women at a time when the marketplace teems with safer oral contraceptive options.
Those following the issue remain largely unsurprised by the failure of Bayer to fully disclose the health risks associated with Yaz. In 2009, the Yaz family of contraceptives garnered profits of $1.74 billion, and saw an increase of 4.7% compared to 2008.