Women Voice Concern Over Yaz Side Effects

Bayer held its annual shareholder meeting on April 29 in Cologne, Germany. About 4,000 shareholders participated in the meeting and voted on the future of the company. According to the group Coalition against Bayer Dangers (CBG), based in Germany, several women spoke out at the meeting about the dangers posed by health problems from Yaz and Yasmin, which included countermotions by CBG to rein in what it considers to be irresponsible corporate activity by Bayer. CBG claims that the FDA has logged at least 190 reports of Yaz and Yasmin deaths in the United States that were reportedly linked to the use of the two popular birth control pills. However, that number is likely only a fraction of the actual number of deaths from Yasmin and Yaz, as it is widely acknowledged that only about 1% to 10% of all adverse events associated with the use of medications are ever reported. More and more women are speaking out against the adverse Yaz side effects that are changing their lives.

Allegations in these cases have been that drospirenone, a diuretic, causes an increase in potassium to unsafe levels, which can disrupt heart rhythms and slow the flow of blood, leading to clotting. Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals is the maker of Yaz/Yasmin. Last spring, the FDA required Bayer to update its ads and promotional materials after the company changed its warning label to include new information about the risk of thromboembolism compared to other contraceptives. Despite serious allegations and detrimental side effects, Yaz recall has not been administered.

  Studies, published in the British Medical Journal, found that drospirenone, the new progestin component in the contraceptives, carries a two to three times greater risk of blood clots than previous types of birth control pills containing an older progestin ingredient called levonorgestrel. There are hundreds of Yaz lawsuits pending across the country that allege that contraceptives that include: Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella, cause blood clots, as well as heart attacks, strokes and gallbladder failure.  These findings have stand as a direct contradiction to Bayer’s claims that drospirenone poses no greater risk than other drugs used in contraceptives.