Yasmin DVT Put on Trial

Although trials of Yaz and Yasmin lawsuits are not set to begin until early next year, the drospirenone-based birth control pills are still a hot topic in the medical community. Many experts are arguing that, since many products are available that do the same job at a fraction of the risk, there is no value in keeping the controversial products on the market. Many patients have filed lawsuits against drugmaker Bayer, complaining of side effects they have suffered after taking the once-daily pill. The first bellwether trial involves a pulmonary embolism case. Pulmonary embolism is one of the most severe side effects of Yaz and Yasmin and occurs when a blood clot makes its way into a patient’s lung.

Bellwether trials are meant to test the waters for trials that will follow. During the first months of 2012, many bellwether trials will commence, each regarding an individual side effect complaint. Because there are so many dangerous Yaz side effects and many of them share similarities with one another, it is important that plaintiffs and potential plaintiffs know what they are dealing with so they have a better idea of what the outcome of their trial will be. Blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary thrombosis are not the same condition, although they are similar. All three involve clotting of the blood, but the term “blood clot” is all-encompassing. Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in the leg, thigh, or pelvis. This can be painful and can contribute to another condition called pulmonary thrombosis if a blood clot breaks free from a vein and travels through the bloodstream to block a pulmonary artery in the lung. This condition can be fatal even in young women.

There are several differences between Yaz and Yasmin, although they are both based on the same hormone, drospirenone. Yaz is only approved by the Food and Drug Administration to prevent pregnancy, but Yaz is also approved to treat both moderate acne and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. There is a higher dose of the hormone estrogen in Yaz than in Yasmin.

A British study has shown that women who take drospirenone-based birth control have a much higher risk of developing Yaz blood clots than women who take any other form of hormonal birth control.