Woman Files Northern California Yaz Lawsuit

A growing number of Yasmin lawsuits and Yaz class action lawsuit have been filed over alleged side effects of the birth control pills, which may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, (DVT), pulmonary embolysm (PE), Yaz gallbladder disease, death and other serious injuries. Another lawsuit has been filed against Bayer Pharmaceuticals over Yasmin injuries. Louise Thanos says she took Yasmin, which is manufactured by Bayer Pharmaceuticals, from November 20007 to November 2009, and alleges she suffered from organ failure as a result of the pills. Thanos also alleges that, in March 2008, she suffered from gallbladder failure, according to the lawsuit filed in San Mateo County Superior Court.

Yaz and Yasmin are both made with a type of progestin called drospirenone, making them different from many other oral contraceptives. Drospirenone can elevate the body’s potassium levels, which can lead to a condition called hyperkalemia in certain patients. Hyperkalemia may result in potentially serious heart and health problems. Adverse Events reported to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) involving Yaz and Yasmin include heart arrhythmias, electrolyte imbalance, hyperkalemia, atrial fibrillation, tachycardia, myocardial infarction, stroke, blood clots, Yaz pulmonary embolism, and sudden death.The drug makers had sole access to facts concerning the potential Yaz problems, and ignored the correlation between their drug and potentially life-threatening side effects. 
Yaz safety concerns were concealed and misrepresentations were made to convince potential users and the medical community to use the birth control pill instead of other available products.  This increased the drug makers’ profits at the expense of women throughout the United States.

Yaz and Yasmin are combined oral birth control pills that contain ethinyl estradiol and droperinone. In 2008, Yaz accounted for 17.7% of the birth control market with sales of $616 million and Yasmin had 11% of the market with $382 million in sales. Sales increased sharply over 2007 numbers, largely due to aggressive marketing campaigns that have since been called “deceptive” and “misleading” by the FDA. The consumer advocacy group Public Citizen has listed Yasmin on its list of “DO NOT USE” drugs because it contains drospirenone, which can increase the risk of heart problems and other health concerns, and because there is no evidence that the drug is any better than older contraceptives that are available.