Although the controversial birth control brand Yaz is still on the market and remains a popular contraceptive choice for women, especially teenagers, the lawsuits mounting against it related to some of the serious side effects women have experienced continue to grow in number. There are currently 6,151 Yaz lawsuits in the federal multidistrict litigation – with a total of 7,488 plaintiffs.
The massive number of Yaz plaintiffs is leading people to wonder how much the drugmaker Bayer will have to pay out in legal fees, jury verdicts, and out-of-court settlements. The popular oral contraceptive netted the company almost 800 million dollars in revenue in 2006 alone, and this substantial sum could translate into a healthy payoff for plaintiffs. Plaintiffs are seeking restitution to help cover medical costs and costs of suffering, wages lost, diminished quality of life, and other expenses related to Yaz side effects.
Side effects of the birth control pill, which is a fourth-generation medication containing the synthetic hormone drospirenone, include deep vein thrombosis, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, stroke, and gallbladder disease, along with blood clot problems. Although the product was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2006, later tests have shown that women who take Yaz are six times as likely to develop problems related to blood clots than women who rely on other kinds of oral contraceptives.
Bayer was warned by the Food and Drug Administration in 2008 that commercials they had been running to promote Yaz were inaccurate and misleading. According to the FDA, the commercials overstated the effectiveness of the drug and glossed over serious side effects and risks associated with the pill. These commercials, aimed at consumers, misled many girls and women about the birth control by advertising it as not only an effective birth control but also as a treatment for acne and severe PMS. It was approved for neither of these uses by the FDA.
Although it is not yet known how many Yaz lawsuits will be filed in all, the number is growing rapidly and does not show any signs of slowing down.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Teenage Girls At Risk For Yaz Side Effects
The risk of Yaz and Yasmin side effects have been well-publicized in recent times, due to the high risk of serious complications from the birth control pills including heart attack, stroke, and blood clots. A recent study has uncovered another worrying fact – Yaz is the most popular oral contraceptive for teenaged girls. The study, made my Thomson Reuters, was released at the end of March and proves that the controversial fourth-generation pill is more popular than it has ever been.
The study was based on statistics collected between 2002 and 2009 and surveyed over 3 million American women. It also proves that, despite the fact that Yaz was made to run ads with corrections that outlined serious side effects associated with the product, their previous ads – which glossed over complications and touted benefits such as mild acne treatment and reduction of severe PMS – perhaps remain stuck in the minds of consumers.
The millions of teenage girls are at risk for side effects such as blood clots, pulmonary embolism, and Yaz gallbladder problems associated with the medication, just as older women are at risk for the same side effects. The drospirenone-based birth control products have been shown to cause more than six times as many blood clot related side effects than other oral contraceptives.
There are already more than seven thousand Yaz-related lawsuits in courts throughout the United States at present, and it is unclear how many plaintiffs are teenaged. Furthermore, a number of these lawsuits are wrongful death lawsuits filed by family members – Yaz has claimed the lives of several young women with serious side effects like pulmonary embolism, which kills 60,000 Americans per year. It is not clear how many of these deaths are caused by Yaz.
The increase in Yaz use by young women may result in an increase of Yaz lawsuits after they experience some of the side effects of the product.
The study was based on statistics collected between 2002 and 2009 and surveyed over 3 million American women. It also proves that, despite the fact that Yaz was made to run ads with corrections that outlined serious side effects associated with the product, their previous ads – which glossed over complications and touted benefits such as mild acne treatment and reduction of severe PMS – perhaps remain stuck in the minds of consumers.
The millions of teenage girls are at risk for side effects such as blood clots, pulmonary embolism, and Yaz gallbladder problems associated with the medication, just as older women are at risk for the same side effects. The drospirenone-based birth control products have been shown to cause more than six times as many blood clot related side effects than other oral contraceptives.
There are already more than seven thousand Yaz-related lawsuits in courts throughout the United States at present, and it is unclear how many plaintiffs are teenaged. Furthermore, a number of these lawsuits are wrongful death lawsuits filed by family members – Yaz has claimed the lives of several young women with serious side effects like pulmonary embolism, which kills 60,000 Americans per year. It is not clear how many of these deaths are caused by Yaz.
The increase in Yaz use by young women may result in an increase of Yaz lawsuits after they experience some of the side effects of the product.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Yaz Lawsuits Over Misleading Warnings
Yaz has been controversial for several years since more and more women have been reporting serious side effects and complications as a result of taking the popular fourth-generation birth control. Yaz, manufactured by the Bayer Corporation, was advertised as a safe, effective, and new birth control method for modern women. The serious side effects that have been linked to the drospirenone-based birth control were downplayed to the point that the Food and Drug Administration had to give Bayer a warning for misleading advertising.
One of the most common side effects of Yaz birth control is the development of blood clots, which can contribute to other serious medical conditions – stroke, heart attack, deep vein thrombosis, and Yaz pulmonary embolism, to name a few. Lawsuits against Bayer in relation to Yaz could be effective if a woman has suffered a blood clot, due to the severity of the condition and how common it is with those who have taken Yaz birth control.
The Food and Drug Administration found issues with early Yaz marketing, which promised the pill was safe, effective, and was useful for more than just birth control – it also reduced the symptoms of severe PMS and moderate acne. Bayer was cited for overstating the effectiveness of the drug – it was not FDA-approved to treat either severe PMS or acne – and minimizing the potential for serious side effects. These advertisements were pulled, but unfortunately women had already been led to believe these things about Yaz.
Yaz and its sister drug Yasmin are very similar, but Yasmin contains a higher dosage of estrogen. Both of them contain the synthetic progestin drospirenone. Studies surrounding drospirenone have produced multiple results – but many medical professionals do believe that Yaz comes with a higher than normal risk of serious side effects brought on by the synthetic hormone. Women are around six times more likely to experience blood clots while taking Yaz than while taking any other form of hormonal birth control, and for those that do experience such side effects it is highly recommended to consult a Yaz lawyer.
One of the most common side effects of Yaz birth control is the development of blood clots, which can contribute to other serious medical conditions – stroke, heart attack, deep vein thrombosis, and Yaz pulmonary embolism, to name a few. Lawsuits against Bayer in relation to Yaz could be effective if a woman has suffered a blood clot, due to the severity of the condition and how common it is with those who have taken Yaz birth control.
The Food and Drug Administration found issues with early Yaz marketing, which promised the pill was safe, effective, and was useful for more than just birth control – it also reduced the symptoms of severe PMS and moderate acne. Bayer was cited for overstating the effectiveness of the drug – it was not FDA-approved to treat either severe PMS or acne – and minimizing the potential for serious side effects. These advertisements were pulled, but unfortunately women had already been led to believe these things about Yaz.
Yaz and its sister drug Yasmin are very similar, but Yasmin contains a higher dosage of estrogen. Both of them contain the synthetic progestin drospirenone. Studies surrounding drospirenone have produced multiple results – but many medical professionals do believe that Yaz comes with a higher than normal risk of serious side effects brought on by the synthetic hormone. Women are around six times more likely to experience blood clots while taking Yaz than while taking any other form of hormonal birth control, and for those that do experience such side effects it is highly recommended to consult a Yaz lawyer.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Yaz Lawsuit Stems from Potentially Deadly Side Effects
Side effects of popular fourth-generation Yaz and Yasmin birth control pills, which are manufactured by the Bayer Corporation, have been serious enough to be deadly in some cases, prompting many women to file suit against the manufacturers of the medication. Women who have experienced side effects related to Yaz, such as gallbladder disease, pulmonary thrombosis, blood clotting, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or stroke, should contact a lawyer as soon as possible to discuss their eligibility to file suit against Bayer. Many women are taking this course of action because the possible settlement could help alleviate financial and emotional strains caused by the side effects of Yaz – lost wages, medical and legal costs, and pain and suffering, along with other costs.
An important part of many lawsuits is the belief that the manufacturers of Yaz were negligent in the marketing and testing of their product. Initial marketing of the product touted the birth control pills as safe and effective, while warning labels did not outline potential side effects with enough care. Bayer apparently did not perform appropriate studies after the release of the product that could have detected problems and safety issues and therefore prevented injury to hundreds – maybe thousands – of women.
Yaz and Yasmin users experience unique sets of problems based on their different side effects, which is where multidistrict litigation comes into play. Instead of being consolidated into a class action lawsuit, Yaz and Yasmin cases are going through multidistrict litigation, which is similar to class action in that pretrial processes take place together and help move the cases forward through the legal system.
However, unlike class action, each case retains its individuality and is returned to the court from which it originated after the pretrial process for the rest of the legal proceedings. This ensures a result that takes into account all of the patient’s concerns and side effects.
An important part of many lawsuits is the belief that the manufacturers of Yaz were negligent in the marketing and testing of their product. Initial marketing of the product touted the birth control pills as safe and effective, while warning labels did not outline potential side effects with enough care. Bayer apparently did not perform appropriate studies after the release of the product that could have detected problems and safety issues and therefore prevented injury to hundreds – maybe thousands – of women.
Yaz and Yasmin users experience unique sets of problems based on their different side effects, which is where multidistrict litigation comes into play. Instead of being consolidated into a class action lawsuit, Yaz and Yasmin cases are going through multidistrict litigation, which is similar to class action in that pretrial processes take place together and help move the cases forward through the legal system.
However, unlike class action, each case retains its individuality and is returned to the court from which it originated after the pretrial process for the rest of the legal proceedings. This ensures a result that takes into account all of the patient’s concerns and side effects.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Who Are Yaz's Victims of Gallbladder Disease?
Thousands of women have filed a lawsuit complaining that Yaz gallbladder disease developed as a result of taking the birth control pills. There have been claims that the hormones in these birth control pills increase cholesterol levels in the bile and decrease gallbladder movement resulting in gallstone formation. Individuals with Yaz or Yasmin related gallbladder disease are interested in each new Yasmin lawsuit update. Even those who have not personally been effected are still interested because they may find they have questions left unanswered.
The gallbladder is an organ near the liver. It is pear shaped and serves as a storage center for extra bile so that the body is able to better absorb fats. The most common treatment for individuals diagnosed with Yaz or Yasmin gallbladder disease is surgery to remove the gallbladder called a cholecystectomy. This procedure is most commonly done as a laparoscopic surgery which is minimally invasive, and most patients are allowed to return home the same day. Certain individuals are at higher risk for complications arising from surgery. These risk factors include: smoking, obesity, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary diseases, pregnancy, and the use of certain drugs. Surgical risks should be thoroughly discussed with your physician prior to surgery. In rare cases perforation of the bowel or liver may occur during the surgery. Some patients experience pain in the shoulder and chest following the surgery.
Yaz and Yasmin both contain the hormones drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, and they are manufactured and marketed by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. Drospirenone is a synthetic progestin and ethinyl estradiol a synthetic estrogen which when used in combination is intended to prevent pregnancy. The FDA has approved these drugs for the prevention of pregnancy, treatment of moderate acne, and for the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
The gallbladder is an organ near the liver. It is pear shaped and serves as a storage center for extra bile so that the body is able to better absorb fats. The most common treatment for individuals diagnosed with Yaz or Yasmin gallbladder disease is surgery to remove the gallbladder called a cholecystectomy. This procedure is most commonly done as a laparoscopic surgery which is minimally invasive, and most patients are allowed to return home the same day. Certain individuals are at higher risk for complications arising from surgery. These risk factors include: smoking, obesity, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary diseases, pregnancy, and the use of certain drugs. Surgical risks should be thoroughly discussed with your physician prior to surgery. In rare cases perforation of the bowel or liver may occur during the surgery. Some patients experience pain in the shoulder and chest following the surgery.
Yaz and Yasmin both contain the hormones drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, and they are manufactured and marketed by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. Drospirenone is a synthetic progestin and ethinyl estradiol a synthetic estrogen which when used in combination is intended to prevent pregnancy. The FDA has approved these drugs for the prevention of pregnancy, treatment of moderate acne, and for the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
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