Yaz and Yasmin Have Few Differences Despite Differences

Both Yasmin and Yaz are produced by Bayer healthcare and are currently known as fourth generation birth control pills. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of discussion on the side effects produced by both the medications. While Yasmin has been found to produce side effects like Yaz gallbladder disease, blood clots in the legs etc, the side effects from Yaz have been reported to be more severe in nature. Yaz lawsuits, Yasmin lawsuits and Ocella lawsuits are being reviewed throughout the United States for women who have suffered serious and potentially life-threatening blood clots, including a deep vein thrombosis (Yaz DVT), which forms in the deep veins of the legs, pelvis or arms.

A DVT or deep vein thrombosis is a type of blood clot that usually occurs in the legs or deep veins of the pelvis.  While it is possible to have a DVT with minimal symptoms, they usually cause extreme pain and swelling in the affected limb.  If the Yaz Deep Vein Thrombosis dislodges, it could travel to other parts of the body and cause a pulmonary emolism, heart attack or stroke.According to an August 2009 study published in the British Medical Journal,

Women Seek Yaz Damages from Bayer for Misleading Advertisements

Every Yaz birth control suits involve allegations that Bayer failed to properly research their birth control pills or adequately warn about the increased risk of serious and potentially life-threatening injuries from the birth control pills containing drospirenone, such as a Yaz Stroke, heart attack, Yaz pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis or gallbladder disease.Yaz and Yasmin were both brought to market by Berlex Labs. Yaz came on the market in 2001, and Yasmin followed five years later. In 2006, Berlex was acquired by Bayer. Backed by big marketing campaigns, it wasn’t long before both drugs were racking up big sales for Bayer. Annual sales of Yaz reached $361 last year. Annual sales of Yasmin peaked in 2008 at $329 million, but have declined somewhat since then.

According to lawsuits filed against Bayer, the makers of Yaz and Yasmin knew or should have known about the risk of Yaz gallbladder disease complications associated with their birth control pill, yet failed to adequately warn about the problems.

Yasmin Gallbladder Disease Has Florida Women Suing For Damages

Alethia M. Lopez and Jessica A. Endick of Tampa, Florida added their lawsuits to the growing case against Bayer’s birthcontrol pills, Yaz and Yasmin. On October 3rd, both women filed suits seeking compensatory damages of $75,000 to pay for gallbladder removal surgery as well as punitive damages. In addition to Yaz gallbladder disease, in August of 2009, The British Medical Journal published the results of two independent studies conducted on women in Denmark and The Netherlands. Both of these studies reached the conclusion that women taking the progestin drospirenone found in Yaz and Yasmin were at a higher risk for venous Yaz blood clots.

Over 50 deaths have been reported to the FDA in women taking oral contraceptives containing drosprienone such as Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella from heart problems, heart attacks, blood clots in the heart and lungs, and Yaz Stroke.  In addition, the Agency has received hundreds of reports of non-fatal side effects from these conditions.

Plaintiffs Questioning Potential Settlement Amounts in Yaz Lawsuits

As of February 2011, Bayer faced nearly 7,000 lawsuits against their Yaz and Yasmin birth control pills and the number of new claims is continuing to grow. It is anticipated that to resolve the litigation, the pharmaceutical company will ultimately need to reach Yaz settlements and Yasmin settlements with up to 25,000 women.Currently the Yasmin and Yaz lawsuit have been centralized for pretrial proceedings in the federal court system as well as several states. In federal court, all cases filed throughout the country are being handled out of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois for coordinated management during discovery, the early bellwether trials and any preliminary attempts to negotiate settlement offers. Similar centralized management for the cases has been put in place for state court cases filed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

All of the cases involve similar allegations that Bayer failed to adequately warn about the risk of serious and potentially life-threatening side effects of Yaz and Yasmin birth control, such as a stroke pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis or Yaz gallbladder disease. Plaintiffs’ attorneys recently asked Judge Herndon to consolidate several cases for the second and third trials,

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 Pulmonary Embolism Lawsuits on the Rise

Yaz birth control, despite the many controversies surrounding it, continues to be one of the most popular forms of hormonal birth control used across the country. Women continue to experience severe cardiovascular Yaz side effects from the drospirenone-based fourth generation birth control pill, but more and more people – especially teenagers and young women – continue to use the potentially dangerous medication on a regular basis, despite the growing number of Yaz lawsuit directed towards its drugmaker, Bayer Pharmaceuticals.

Pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, and cor pulmonale are all conditions that can develop from blood clots, depending where they are located in the body. Yaz Deep Vein Thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein deep in the body, usually in the leg. Blood clots here can travel through the body to block an artery to the lung and potentially cause pulmonary embolism.

Yaz Pulmonary Embolism Among First on Trial

Bellwether trials in the ongoing Yaz and Yasmin litigation cases are slowly making their way towards their first day, and among the first cases on trial will involve the deadly Yaz pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism takes place when a Yaz blood clots makes its way to one of the arteries in the lung. One in three people who experience pulmonary embolism do not survive it, and as such it is one of the deadliest killers in the country. The Food and Drug Administration is expected to issue a report on Yaz pulmonary embolism as associated with Yaz and Yasmin by the end of the year.

Even young women are at risk for severe Yaz side effects, and the birth control remains a popular one for teenage girls and young adults. Although there is some risk of blood clots with any hormonal birth control medication,

Yaz Pulmonary Embolism Accusers Filing

Bayer, the manufacturer of popular fourth-generation birth control pill Yaz, are facing a slew of lawsuits that have been plaguing them for years already. Yaz lawsuit allege that Yaz has caused a number of patients serious pain, emotional trauma, and other complications that could last for the rest of their lives. Yaz has been linked to a number of serious medical conditions, some of them fatal, many of which relate in some way to blood clots forming and possibly breaking off from the vein in which they were formed. 

Yaz pulmonary embolism is one of the most serious conditions represented by Yaz lawsuits—and one of the most common. Other side effects alleged in lawsuits include heart arrhythmia, Yaz Stroke, blood clots like deep vein thrombosis, and Yaz gallbladder disease. It occurs when a blood clot forms in an extremity such as the leg, then breaks off and travels through the bloodstream to block one of the main arteries in the lung.

Yaz Stroke Hurts the Healthy

Even otherwise healthy women can find themselves experiencing blood clots, stroke, heart arrhythmia, gallbladder disease, and pulmonary embolism—especially if they take the popular fourth-generation birth control marketed as Yaz or Yasmin. Both of these medications are based around a synthetic hormone called drospirenone, which science thinks could be the culprit behind the raised risk of Yaz blood clots problems and other issues with the birth control pill. And there are some issues—Yaz users are up to six times more likely to experience problems with blood clots and other Yaz side effects than women who take other forms of hormonal birth control. This is while taking into account the fact that all hormonal birth control, whether it be in pill, patch, or ring form, comes with some heightened risk of blood clots.

Almost 6,000 cases have been filed across the country regarding serious side effects such as Yaz Stroke and pulmonary embolism. These side effects can be fatal—and have proven to be in a number of cases.

FDA Advisory Committee to Make Ruling on Yaz Safety Concerns

An upcoming FDA hearing on the health risks associated with Yaz birth control could aid in lawsuits filed by women who have suffered from Yaz and Yasmin side effects. Currently, Yaz contraception is still on the market, despite the FDA warnings. Any hearing that leads to a ban on the drug or increases the severity of the warnings would greatly impact the effectiveness of one’s case. Interestingly, in October 2008, Bayer Healthcare announced that it was facing 129 lawsuits regarding the side effects of Yaz and Yasmin. Since then, as more and more women have become aware of and been diagnosed with Yaz side effects, the number of Yaz lawsuits filed have risen significantly.

British and US Reports Show Increased Fatal Risks With Yaz

U.S. health regulators are still worried about the potential for Yaz and Yasmin blood clots posed by the drospirenone-containing birth control pills. In a Drug Safety Communication posted on its website yesterday, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) said preliminary results of an agency-funded study suggest women who use Yaz, Yasmin and other oral contraceptives made with drospirenone could face a 1.5-fold increase in the risk of blood clots compared to those who take other pills. More recently, two articles published in 2011 in the British Medical Journal reported a 2- to 3-fold greater risk of blood clots in women using oral contraceptives containing drospirenone rather than levonorgestrel.  Yasmin and Yaz have also been linked to Yaz heart attack, DVT, and stroke.

Yaz Settlement Promised to be Requested After Bellwether Trials

More than 6,300 lawsuits are currently pending in the Yaz and Yasmin lawsuits have combined to form a multidistrict litigation before Judge Herndon. In October 2010, a Case Management Order was established in the federal MDL, scheduling three Yaz and Yasmin bellwether trials, which are representative cases that will be used to gauge how juries will respond to testimony and evidence that is likely to be introduced throughout other cases in the litigation. The first trial was scheduled to begin in September 2011, involving a Yaz pulmonary embolism lawsuit, followed by a second

Chemicals in Yaz Shown to Cause Hyperkalemia by FDA

Yaz (drosperinone & ethinyl estradiol) is a once-a-day birth control pill that was first approved by the FDA in March 2006 to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Drospirenone can increase blood potassium levels, known as hyperkalemia, which can result in the Yaz heart problems and other Yaz side effects. Individuals who have pre-existing kidney, liver and adrenal disease could be particularly susceptible. The judge presiding over every federal Yaz lawsuit and Yasmin lawsuit has declined to consolidate multiple cases during the early bellwether trials,

Judge In Yaz MDL Announces Hopes For Settlements to Occur

In October 2010, Judge Herndon implemented a process that calls for a handful of cases to be prepared for a series of three early trials, known as bellwether cases. The first trial will involve a Yaz pulmonary embolism. The second trial will involve a gallbladder injury from Yaz and the third trial will involve a venous thromboembolism (VTE), such as a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Currently the Yasmin and Yaz lawsuits have been centralized for pretrial proceedings in the federal court system as well as several states. In federal court, all cases filed throughout the country are being handled out of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District

British and US Reports Show Increased Fatal Risks With Yaz

U.S. health regulators are still worried about the potential for Yasmin and Yaz blood clots posed by the drospirenone-containing birth control pills. In a Drug Safety Communication posted on its website yesterday, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) said preliminary results of an agency-funded study suggest women who use Yaz, Yasmin and other oral contraceptives made with drospirenone could face a 1.5-fold increase in the risk of blood clots compared to those who take other pills. More recently, two articles published in 2011 in the British Medical Journal reported a 2- to 3-fold greater risk of blood clots in women using oral contraceptives containing drospirenone rather than levonorgestrel.

Complaints have been filed on behalf of women who have suffered heart attacks, strokes, Yaz pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis and other

Yaz Pulmonary Embolism: Grounds for a Lawsuit

Around 190 women may have died of an apprent result of side effects of Yaz and Yasmin, the Brand name drospirenone-based birth control pills as well as the generic form marketed as Ocella. These three types are the only birth control pills that contain the synthetic hormone drospirenone. They also contain an amount of estrogen, commonly found in other forms of hormonal birth control.

            Scientists have long known that there is a risk of blood clots associated with any form of hormonal birth control due to the amount of estrogen in the drugs. However, scientific studies have shown that users of pills with drospirenone in them have their risk for  Yaz blood clots increased by 6.3 percent. Yaz has been linked to many conditions, and pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis,  also known as DVT, are some of the most serious. Both conditions are related to blood clots and can be fatal if not treated properly and quickly.

          Yaz DVT occurs when

Lawsuits Progress as Yaz Lawyers Seek MDL

Yaz, Yasmin, and the generic form Ocella is a type of birth control originally developed by Berlex Laboratories that was first approved for use in 2001. In 2006, the drug company, Bayer, acquired Berlex and marketed a more recent version of Yasmin, called YAZ. Ocella is a generic version. Yasmin, Yaz, and Ocella all contain drospirenone, a "fourth generation" progestin. No other birth control pills contain drospirenone. As is common in complex pharmaceutical claims, plaintiffs are seeking to consolidate all Yasmin and Yaz birth control lawsuits in an MDL, or Multidistrict Litigation, where the individual cases would be assigned to one judge and handled in a manner similar to how a Yasmin / Yaz class action lawsuit would be managed during pretrial litigation.

Young Woman Dies From Birth Control Side Effects

In one of the latest court battles pitting consumers against a giant drug maker, thousands are alleging Bayer did not provide adequate warnings associated with Yaz, a birth control pills containing drospirenone, and they are blaming the drug for causing Yaz blood clots, heart attacks, strokes and, in some cases, sudden deaths. Drospirenone impacts the body’s normal mechanism of regulating a balance between salt and water, which could result in elevated potassium levels. This can cause a condition known as hyperkalemia, which is linked to potentially life-threatening heart problems and other health issues. Last month, two studies in the British Medical Journal found that Yaz and Yasmin side effects, as well as drugs like it, include an increased risk of serious blood clots three-fold or two-fold compared to earlier-generation oral

Yaz Blood Clots Mean Settlements for Some Patients

One of the most serious Yaz side effects of the popular fourth-generation brand of birth control marketed  is the potential for patients to experience Yaz blood clots, which can sometimes manifest in the lungs as pulmonary embolisms. Because these Yaz birth control side effects are so serious and potentially life-threatening, many patients who have experienced them are filing a Yaz lawsuit against the drugmaker, Bayer, in order to gain some compensation for the medical costs and other drains on finances and quality of life associated with the condition.

            It may leave a Yaz lawyer wondering about the possibility that Bayer might choose to settle with some plaintiffs out of court. This would be beneficial to both parties as details of the settlement and the case could be

Cases Against Yaz Filed By Women Who Were Harmed By New Birth Control

Last year, annual sales of Yaz reached $361 million, according to Pennsylvania-based SDI Health, which tracks sales of prescription drugs. Annual sales of Yasmin had declined since 2008 when the drug generated $329 million. A year after Yasmin went on the market; the nonprofit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen placed the drug on its list of “Do not use pills.” In June, FDA regulators acknowledged new evidence that raised more questions about the safety of Yaz and birth control pills like it, including the top-selling generic Ocella. The agency posted a notice on its website saying it was aware of studies recently published in the British Medical Journal that showed oral contraceptives containing drospirenone were two to three times more likely to cause blood clots than other birth control pills.

In an order filed on Monday, Judge David R. Herndon expanded the scope of discovery beyond the 24 cases selected last year to serve as a pool of bellwether lawsuits, which are being prepared for early trial dates. Case-specific discovery, including depositions of individual plaintiffs, will also now be permitted in the oldest 100 non-bellwether cases that have been filed. About 6,350 lawsuits are now consolidated as part of the Yasmin and Yaz litigation before Judge Herndon in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. When Judge Herndon implemented the original bellwether program in October 2010, there were about 3,700 filed cases and the number of cases is expected to continue to grow as Yaz and Yasmin lawyers review and file additional cases.

When they were approved by regulators, the pills were considered an advance over older forms of oral contraceptives because they were taken for 24 days rather than the usual 21, which was believed to benefit women because it created less hormonal fluctuation. But, all of the suits involve allegations that Bayer failed to properly research their birth control pills or adequately warn about the increased risk of serious and potentially life-threatening injuries from the birth control pills containing drospirenone, such as a stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis and gallbladder disease.

Consolidation of Thousands of Yaz Cases Will Test Bayer’s Resolve to Fight

As of August 15, 2010, there were about 6,350 Yaz lawsuits pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois served upon Bayer on behalf of persons alleged to have suffered personal injuries, some of them fatal, from the use of Bayer’s oral contraceptive products Yasmin, Yaz or Ocella, a generic version of Yaz distributed by Bayer Laboratories, Inc. in the U.S. market. Plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages, claiming, in particular, that Bayer knew or should have known the alleged risks and should be held liable for having failed to disclose them or adequately warn users of Yasmin and YAZ. Even with this high number, additional lawsuits are anticipated. Bayer believes that it has meritorious defenses and intends to defend itself vigorously. State and federal courts are seeking the most effective way to manage these cases, which are increasing daily.

Last year, in mid-February 2010, the New Jersey Supreme Court consolidated all state court lawsuits against Bayer Phamaceuticals for injuries and damages allegedly arising from the use of the oral contraceptives Yaz, Yasmin, and Ocella.  Those cases are now part of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella Litigation, Case No. 287 (Bergen County), and have been assigned to the New Jersey state court Judge Brian R. Martinotti, who has already issued his Initial Case Management Order for this litigation. All of the suits involve allegations that Bayer failed to properly research their birth control pills or adequately warn about the increased risk of serious and potentially life-threatening side effects from the birth control pills containing drospirenone, such as a stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis or gallbladder disease.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois has indicated that at least fifty “bellwether” trials will occur in the federal MDL, which will likely begin in early 2012. If the litigation does not settle before the bellwether Yaz trials and Yasmin trials begin, the results of those cases may lead to a settlement for other cases based on how the juries respond to the evidence and value the plaintiffs’ damages in the Yasmin and Yaz injury claims.

For a Yaz lawyer, there has been a tremendous effort made in preserving the rights of injured women across the country.

Lawyers Review Case Management in Yaz Litigation

Currently there are 891 Yaz birth control cases that have been filed in federal courts around the country and consolidated in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.  These cases are consolidated for coordinated pretrial discovery in what is known as an MDL (multidistrict litigation.  Any case filed in a federal court anywhere in the country is sent to the Southern District of Illinois. At the March 4, 2010 status conference Judge Herndon confirmed that Bayer, the defendant, has produced over 10 million pages of documents in response to discovery requests.  The court continues to work with the parties on protocols for managing the cases. The outcome of these bellwether trials are often useful in allowing the parties to gauge the strengths and weaknesses of their cases, potentially leading to Yaz settlement amounts. 

Yaz Lawsuits Allege Misrepresentation of Side Effects

Bayer and its subsidiary Berlex, currently face about 7,000 Yaz lawsuits and Yasmin lawsuits over the birth control pills Yaz and Yasmin, still, many other pharmaceutical companies have entered into the market with generic versions of Yaz. Bayer is currently indicating that they intend to fight the cases and do not have any plans to settle Yaz or Yasmin lawsuits. Yaz and Yasmin both contain a combination of the hormones ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone. Drospirenone impacts the body’s normal mechanism of regulating a balance between salt and water, which could result in elevated potassium levels. Currently the Yasmin and Yaz injury suits have been centralized for pretrial proceedings in the federal court system as well as several states. In federal court, all cases filed throughout the country are being handled out of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois for coordinated management during discovery.

Thus far, approximately 10% of the cases filed against Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella, involve women who allege that they suffered a heart attack or stroke from Yaz. Approximately 40% of the cases involve venus thromboembolisms, which include deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms from Yaz. The remaining claims involve Yasmin or Yaz gallbladder removals and injuries, with many of the cases resulting in women having their gallbladder removed. In the blood clot study, published last week in the British Medical Journal, researchers from Boston indicated that Beyaz, Yaz and Yasmin should not be the first choice of birth control pill for women, due to the double risk when compared to women taking older pills containing levonorgestrel.

Bayer and Berlex have been warned several times about false and misleading statements made in advertisements for Yasmin and Yaz, which failed to adequately warn about the serious Yaz side effects. In 2003, Berlex was warned by the FDA that Yasmin advertisements downplayed risks associated with the drug and implied it was superior to other birth control pills, which is not true. The FDA indicated that the ads raised significant public health and safety concerns. In 2009, Bayer HealthCare began running a $20 million advertising campaign to correct misrepresentations made about Yaz safety in ads.

Yaz Gallbladder Disease Highest Risk Among Birth Controls

In addition to the potential risk of serious and potentially life-threatening Yaz blood clots, many otherwise healthy young women who have used the birth control pill Yaz or Yasmin have experienced painful gallbladder problems that could ultimately require surgery for gallbladder removal. The FDA has warned the manufacturers of Yaz (sometimes spelled as Yas) and Yasmin (sometimes spelled as Yazmin) at least four times for improper marketing and manufacturing techniques, starting as far back as July 2003, and continuing through 2009.
Yasmin and Yaz are birth control pills manufactured by Bayer Healthcare. The generic form of these drugs, Ocella, is a brand marketed and distributed by Teva Pharmaceuticals. Yasmin was approved by the FDA in 2001, Yaz in 2006, and Ocella in 2008. The Yaz group of drugs contains a compound created by Bayer called drospirenone, which is a “fourth generation” progestin. Drospirenone is believed to elevate the levels of potassium in the blood stream. Elevated levels of potassium in the blood can lead to a condition known as hyperkalemia, which can cause heart rhythm disturbances. Before the introduction of Yasmin, no other birth control pill was marketed in the United States with drospirenone, which is unlike other progestins available. It is a diuretic, which creates unique risks with Yaz and Yasmin and could lead to serious gall bladder problems like gallbladder disease.
In 2009, Bayer was forced to run a $20 million corrective advertising campaign to address problems with Yaz advertisements that stressed the potential benefits in treating acne and symptoms of PMS, while minimizing the potential risk of blood clots. The ads were found to be in violation of a 2007 agreement Bayer made with the FDA after earlier deceptive advertising campaigns. For the next several years, Bayer is now required to submit any future Yaz advertisements in the United States to the FDA for approval before they are aired. Bayer currently faces about 7,500 Yaz lawsuits and Yasmin lawsuits, which allege that Bayer has failed to adequately warn about the increased risk of health problems associated with the birth control pills.

Yasmin Blood Clots – Same as Yaz

Yaz and Yasmin are both drospirenone-based oral contraceptives that are manufactured by Bayer Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceuticals giant that is one of the largest in the nation. Many patients wonder what the difference is between the two medications, or whether the extremely publicized Yaz side effects associated with the birth control are also linked to Yasmin. Consumers want to be able to make an educated decision when it comes to their medical treatments and the drugs they take, and it is natural for patients to wonder whether they are safe.

Yaz Side Effects Are Even More Terrifying Due To Young Deaths

As of February 2011, Bayer faced nearly 7,000 Yaz lawsuits against their birth control pills and the number of new claims is continuing to grow. It is anticipated that to resolve the litigation, the pharmaceutical company will ultimately need to reach Yaz settlements and Yasmin settlements with up to 25,000 women. The injury lawsuits for Yaz and Yasmin involve claims that Bayer failed to adequately research their popular birth control pills and warn about the increased risk of serious and potentially life threatening side effects of Yasmin and Yaz. Settlement compensation is being pursued by women who have suffered injuries such as: heart attack or stroke, pulmonary embolism from, deep vein thrombosis and gallbladder problems. Bayer is currently indicating that they intend to fight the cases and do not have any plans to settle Yaz or Yasmin lawsuits.

Yaz Side Effects Now Include Pancreatitis, According to FDA

The Food and Drug Administration has issued an order to all manufacturers of certain birth control pills to include pancreatitis on warning labels of birth control pills that contain the hormones drospirenone and estrogen. Such oral contraceptives, including the controversial Yaz and Yasmin brands, have been linked to pancreatitis in the past, but it is now clear that there is a definitive link as the disease is now an “official” side effect. The Food and Drug Administration’s order could cause legal trouble for many drugmakers. Individuals are contacting Yaz lawyers to discuss how to pursue legal action.

Yaz Lawyers Inform Clients of Differences in Side Effects

Many patients who have experienced Yaz side effects, including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, are aware of the complications they have experienced but are unaware of either what exactly those side effects indicate and what the difference is between the two popular birth control medications.
Both once-daily birth control pills are based on the hormone drospirenone, but Yaz has a higher dose of estrogen than Yasmin does. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration has approved Yaz for purposes other than preventing pregnancy, including treatment of mild to moderate acne and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a more severe form of PMS. Yasmin is approved only for preventing pregnancy. Both come with the same set of side effects, however.

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.

Despite Safety Concerns, Generic Forms of Yaz Birth Control Go Forward

Although Bayer has continued to maintain that there is no increased risk of blood clots fromYasmin and Yaz side effects, the FDA and European drug regulators forced the drug maker to update the blood clot warnings on Yaz and Yasmin labels last year. The FDA finally announced this week that they are evaluating the risk of blood clots from Yaz, Yasmin and Beyaz birth control, which some studies have shown to be 2 to 3 times greater than the risk associated with other birth control pills. The safety review was initiated based on two published studies that reported there is a greater risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) among women taking Yaz, Yasmin or other drospirenone birth control pills.

Blood Clots and Hyperkalemia Linked to Yaz Birth Control

Growing concerns over the risk of Yaz blood clots from side effects of drospirenone, the active ingredient in Yaz and Yasmin birth control, has led Canadian health officials to launch an investigation, just one week after U.S. regulators launched a similar safety review of the popular pills. Notice of the safety review into a possible risk of blood clots with birth control pills containing drospirenone was released in the United States by the FDA on May 31, providing additional information for women taking the medications. The safety review was initiated based on two published studies that reported there is a greater risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) among women taking Yaz, Yasmin or other drospirenone birth control pills. The risk has been reported to be up to 2 to 3 times greater than the risk associated with levonorgestrel birth control pills.

Yasmin DVT Put on Trial

Although trials of Yasmin and Yaz 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.

Yasmin Pulmonary Embolism Known to be Fatal

Yasmin pulmonary embolism has been linked to the death of at least one young woman who began taking the drospirenone-based fourth-generation birth control when she was just thirteen. Although she was not sexually active at the time, her dermatologist advised that she begin taking Yasmin or the generic form of the birth control pill, Ocella, as a treatment for acne. A number of other acne treatments had proven ineffective for Brittany Prewitt. Yasmin and Ocella are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration as an acne treatment, although the similar drug Yaz has been approved for use against acne.

Yaz Link to Blood Clots is 2 to 3 Times As Common

The FDA finally announced this week that they are evaluating the risk of blood clots from Yaz, Yasmin and Beyaz birth control, which some studies have shown to be 2 to 3 times greater than the risk associated with other birth control pills. Notice of the safety review into a possible risk of Yaz blood clots with birth control pills containing drospirenone was released by the FDA on May 31, providing additional information for women taking the medications. Included in the warning are all drospirenone birth control pills, which may be sold as: Yasmin, Yaz and Beyaz. The safety review was initiated based on two published studies that reported there is a greater risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) among women taking Yaz, Yasmin or other drospirenone birth control pills. The risk has been reported to be up to 2 to 3 times greater than the risk associated with levonorgestrel birth control pills.

Yaz Litigation Heats Up in Pennsylvania, New Jersey

Litigation surrounding popular birth control pills containing the synthetic hormone drospirenone and sold under the brand names Yaz and Yasmin has been consolidated in some states, including Pennsylvania, Illinois, and now New Jersey. One of the Yaz lawsuits filed by plaintiff Jean Cummins regarding the death of her daughter Michelle Pfleger was introduced in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas and was subsequently combined with other cases filed in the same state over drospirenone-based birth control pills.

Pfleger’s case was extraordinary but unfortunately not unheard-of. The 18-year-old college freshman was walking to class when she collapsed and died of a pulmonary thromboembolism that has been linked to Yaz, which she was taking to treat acne. The pulmonary thromboembolism was caused when a blood clot lodged in her lungs and created a blockage, leading to fatal cardiac arrest. Although death related to Yaz and similar products is not common, it is significant to note the very real risk of fatal complications with Yaz blood clots.

Although there is a chance of experiencing blood clots when taking any oral contraceptive or other form of hormonal birth control, a patient’s risk of developing a blood clot when taking Yaz is about six times more than if the patient is taking birth control with another hormone as the active ingredient. For this reason, many plaintiffs are saying that Yaz should be pulled from the market entirely – women have many other oral contraceptive options that simply do not come with the same kinds of risk associated with Yaz.

The seriousness of many Yaz side effects has led to a multitude of cases filed against Bayer Pharmaceuticals and other drospirenone birth control manufacturers. In some states, these cases have been consolidated in mass tort litigation. This will help to organize and expedite the legal process. Pennsylvania’s cases, including the wrongful death lawsuit related to Michelle Pfleger, are being handled by the Complex Litigation Center, part of the Court of Common Pleas. Judge Sandra M. Moss will oversee these lawsuits. A similar consolidation is taking place in New Jersey under Judge Brian R. Martinotti.

Blood Clots and Yaz Present High Correlation

Yaz brand birth control has many benefits to women, including prevention of pregnancy and reduction of acne. However, the benefits come with an extreme risk to women taking them – the serious side effects of Yaz potentially fatal blood clot and pulmonary embolism.

Over a thousand Yaz lawsuits have been filed by women who are taking the medication due to the fact that Bayer Corporation, the producers of the drug, have neglected to warn the public about the serious and life-threatening side effects of Yaz birth control, defending themselves with the claim that the benefits of the product far outweigh the risks involved in taking it.

Fourth Gen Birth Control More Dangerous Than Previous Three Combined.

There has been an ever-growing concern over the risk of blood clots related to Yaz and Yasmin birth control pills, due to their active ingredient drospirenone, known as the 4th generation progestin. The concern has grown to the point where the FDA has launched an investigation into claims that drospirenone can lead to an excessive risk of Yaz blood clots in women taking the pill. The drug drospirenone is a newer version of levonorgestrel, which was found in the typical birth control contraceptive until about eight years ago. The FDA found that the risk of blood clots and venous thromboembolism was excessively high when compared to older levonorgestrel-containing pills and recommended that the labels be updated. Both the FDA and its European counterparts note that the overall risk of a blood clot is still small.

Popular Birth Control Found to Have Dangerous Side Effects

Over the last three years, Yaz has turned into not just the most popular birth control method in the U.S. but the most profitable as well. Bayer has done a major marketing campaign in order to accomplish this, even making it a favorite of doctors around the country. But these rigorous marketing campaigns have been criticized because they are misleading and sometimes not even true. Every day more women are reporting Yaz side effects they have experienced as a result of their prescription of Yaz. Yaz uses drospireonone, a synthetically made from of progestin, as do several other contraceptive drugs. Drospireonone is effective in preventing pregnancy.

Bayer Facing Thousands of Individual Lawsuits over Contraceptive

Bayer currently faces about 7,000 Yaz lawsuits. Although the cases have been consolidated and centralized for pretrial proceedings as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation, each claim remains and individual lawsuit and each plaintiff must meet the burden of proof in establishing that their injuries were caused by the use of the birth control pill. If a Yaz settlement agreement is not reached in the litigation, each of the plaintiffs will have the opportunity to present their claim to a jury. Bayer agreed to stop that particular ad campaign and they agreed to conduct a new, $20 million "corrective" marketing campaign with new commercials and print advertisements that clarified that Yaz birth control pill does not treat mild acne or help keep your skin clear or cure the symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome.

Yaz Blood Clots Can be Fatal

Yaz brand birth control has many benefits to women, including prevention of pregnancy and reduction of acne. However, the benefits come with an extreme risk to women taking them – the serious side effects to the popular drug include potentially fatal blood clot and pulmonary embolism.
Over a thousand Yaz lawsuits have been filed by women who are taking the medication due to the fact that Bayer Corporation, the producers of the drug, have neglected to warn the public about the serious and life-threatening side effects of Yaz birth control, defending themselves with the claim that the benefits of the product far outweigh the risks involved in taking it.
The active ingredient in Yaz is the synthetic hormone drospirenone, which suppresses ovulation but also causes an excess of potassium in the blood, also called hyperkalemia. This can lead to changes in the electrical pulses that the body sends, causing irregular heartbeat, which in turn can cause a Yaz blood clot.

Yaz linked to Gallbladder Disease

The serious and life-altering Yaz side effects have contributed to the growing number of Yaz lawsuits including: Blood clots, Cardiac Arrhythmias, Stroke, Heart attack, Gallbladder Disease, Pulmonary embolism, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Sudden death. The most common serious Yaz birth control side effects is Yaz gallbladder disease. For many otherwise healthy young women who take Yaz and Yasmin, a diagnosis of gallbladder disease comes as a complete shock.


Side effects of Yaz, Yasmin and other birth control pills that use the progestin drospirenone could increase the risk of Yaz gallbladder disease by as much as 20% when compared to older oral contraceptives, according to a new study by Canadian researchers. Many of these otherwise completely healthy individuals have had to undergo emergency Yaz gallbladder removal. 

Yaz Blood Clot Risk Heightens

According to two new studies recently published in the online edition of the British Medical Journal, Yaz contains a new progestin drospirenone (DSRP) and carries up to triple the risk of blood clots (known as venous thromboembolism) over traditional pills containing the progestin levonorgestrel (LNG). Bayer was warned by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in the fall of 2008, that Bayer’s television advertisements were misleading and did not disclose the additional side effects of Yaz.

Bayer Reeks Benefits While Women Suffer

Thousands of women throughout the United States have filed a Yaz lawsuit or Yasmin lawsuit against Bayer, alleging that the drug maker failed to adequately research the risks associated with the medication or warn women that they may be exposed to an increased risk of serious and potentially fatal side effects when using the birth control pills. Lawsuits also allege that Bayer engaged in deceptive and misleading advertisements that were directed to consumers and the medical community. Still, the researchers described the overall risk as low, with rates for blood-clotting cases in U.S. study of 30.8 per 100,000 women years on drospirenone versus 12.5 in the control group.
Bayer said in a statement that the methodology used showed "significant flaws."

Yaz Lawsuits are Being Filed Across the Country

Some 6,000 Yaz lawsuits have been filed against Bayer HealthCare claiming health risks from its Yasmin and Yaz brand birth control pills, according to the L.A. Times. Yaz, on the market since 2006, has become the top-selling oral contraceptive in the U.S., the paper says, citing IMS Health data. As one of the “fourth generation” birth control pills, it’s supposed to have fewer side effects than earlier drugs and it was FDA-approved to treat very severe PMS, officially called premenstrual dysphonic disorder (PMDD), but not the more mild forms. Last year Bayer entered into a settlement with the FDA and changed its advertising to emphasize that fact. Earlier ads mentioned symptoms that may occur in any form of PMS, such irritability, bloating, headaches and acne.

Yaz lawsuits were filed in Ohio and Wisconsin recently that echo the sentiments of tens of thousands of Yaz users. The four women who filed suit allege that they suffered severe Yaz side effects including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and stroke while taking Yaz or Yasmin pills. The suits allege that Bayer failed to warn of these potential complications.

In the 8-page FDA Warning Letter regarding Yaz dated October 3, 2008 two TV ads were cited as overstating the efficacy of the drug and minimizing the risks and side effects associated with using Yaz. Yaz related lawsuits allege that the warnings were inadequate in fully describing the potential side effects including heart attacks, strokes, gallbladder disease, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. The FDA cited the reasoning behind the recall as, “Out of Specification analytical value for chemical assays of drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol was averaged with another analytical value to provide a reported result that was within specification.” In other words, Bayer deliberately skewed lab results in order to hide the fact that the amount of drospirenone was inconsistent.

Those suffering from the adverse effects of Yaz are advised to consult with an experienced Yaz lawyer as soon as possible.

Lawsuits Mount Against Yaz Birth Control

Thousands of women throughout the United States have filed a Yaz lawsuit or Yasmin lawsuit against Bayer, alleging that the drug maker failed to adequately research the risks associated with the medication or warn women that they may be exposed to an increased risk of serious and potentially fatal side effects when using the birth control pills. Lawsuits also allege that Bayer engaged in deceptive and misleading advertisements that were directed to consumers and the medical community. Still, the researchers described the overall risk as low, with rates for blood-clotting cases in U.S. study of 30.8 per 100,000 women years on drospirenone versus 12.5 in the control group. Bayer said in a statement that the methodology used showed "significant flaws."

In 2010 Bayer took in $1.6 billion of sales from drospirenone-based pills such as Yasmin, down 13 percent from a year earlier, still making it Bayer's second-best-selling pharmaceutical product after multiple sclerosis drug Betaseron. Yasmin revenue is slipping because of cheap generic copies on sale in the United States but also in part because of concern about a heightened risk of thrombosis. Thromboembolism is the medical term for a blood clot in the veins, often in the legs, that gets dislodged and can cause fatal clogging in the lungs' arteries. Countless women are experiencing Yaz blood clots, which are hugely detrimental to one's health.

The mother of 18-year-old, Michelle Pfleger has openly blamed the birth control for a blood clot that killed her daughter. Michelle was on her way to Elon University on September 14, 2010 to attend her morning classes when she collapsed. She died shortly after arriving at the hospital. According to the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the official cause of death was recorded as a pulmonary thromboembolism. Alberto Estrada from Phillipsburg's Warren Hospital vascular lab, stated that it is rare for an 18-year-old girl to die as a result of a pulmonary thromboembolism, but there is no certainty that the birth control pill is related to the cause of death. However, the birth control pill could be a contributing factor if the conditions were right at the time of her death. Victims suffering from Yaz side effects should contact a Yaz lawyer as soon as possible.

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.

Yaz Lawsuits Over Generic Forms

            Many of the thousands of Yaz lawsuits that have been filed in state an federal courts are related to generic forms of the medication that are produced by drugmakers other than Yaz’s manufacturer Bayer Pharmaceuticals. The popular fourth-generation drospirenone birth control pill has been reproduced by many companies wanting to capitalize on the popularity and profitability of the oral contraceptive. Gianvi is a drug similar to Yaz that was introduced by Teva Pharmaceuticals in June of last year. Yasmin, Yaz’s “sister” drug that is also produced by Bayer Pharmaceuticals, has two generic forms – Ocella and Zarah, both involved in Yaz litigation.

            Also linked to the cases are Safyral and Beyaz. These are similar to Yaz and Yazmin but include metafolin that can reduce the risk of birth defects in women who get pregnant shortly after discontinuing the birth control treatment.

            Most recently, a new Yaz-like drug has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Sandoz has introduced a birth control called Loryna, which contains drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, like Yaz. Because it is incredibly similar in composition to Yaz it is likely that patients of this new birth control will experience similar Yaz side effects, which include gallbladder disease, stroke, blood clots, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis.

            A British study published in the British Medical Journal in April of this year showed that women taking birth control containing drospirenone – including Yaz and all of its generic forms – are more than twice as likely to develop Yaz blood clots than women who are taking other forms of birth control, although almost all oral contraceptives come with some risk of blood clotting.

            Although Yaz and similar products are netting Bayer millions of dollars, ther is a significant drop in the profitability of the products, especially due to increased use of generic forms of the drug.

Yaz Blood Clots Cause Multitude of Problems

Women who take Yaz, Yasmin, and other drospirenone birth control pills experience blood clots at a rate six times higher than that of women who take other forms of oral contraceptive without the synthetic hormone. Yaz blood clots are linked to several problems, including deep vein thrombosis, thromboembolism, and pulmonary embolism.

Although all methods of birth control that contain estrogen increase the risk of blood clots, drospirenone-based birth control pills like Yaz, Yasmin, Zarah, Gianvi, Safyral, Beyaz, and Ocella may contribute to hyperkalemia, which is an elevated level of potassium in the bloodstream. This in turn could cause the blood to pool and clot in the bloodstream, increasing the risk of blood clots significantly.

Some blood clots dissolve on their own and don’t put a patient’s life at risk or require medical attention. However, there are some forms of blood clot that are extremely serious – and even, in some cases, can be fatal. Deep vein thrombosis is a painful condition in which a blood clot forms in a major vein. This usually occurs in the leg and may require medical treatment in the form of a blood thinner or anticoagulant.

Any Yaz blood clot has the potential to travel to the lungs, causing perhaps the most serious Yaz blood clot related side effect – pulmonary embolism. 60,000 Americans die of pulmonary embolism a year. While it is unclear how many of these deaths are related to Yaz or other forms of birth control, there is significant risk to a patient taking Yaz of developing the potentially fatal condition.

There are currently more than 7,000 plaintiffs who have filed suit against Bayer Pharmaceuticals, the company responsible for the manufacture and distribution of Yaz and Yasmin. These plaintiffs have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation case that deals with many different Yaz side effects – blood clotting problems, heart attack, stroke, and gallbladder disease. Despite the legal and public backlash against side effects associated with the product, Yaz continues to be an extremely popular birth control product.

Yaz Lawsuits: Status Update

As the lawsuits surrounding popular birth control medication Yaz are continuing to make their way through the legal system, the status of the cases are likely to change at any given moment. Over seven thousand plaintiffs have already filed suit against the German-based pharmaceutical brand that manufacturers the drospirenone-based fourth generation birth control pill due to side effects that have been experienced by an unprecedented number of women. These side effects include pulmonary embolism, gallbladder disease, stroke, deep vein thrombosis, blood clots, and heart attack.

Judge David Herndon was named as the overseeing judge in the Yaz multidistrict litigation case during the U.S. Judicial Panel’s move to consolidate the Yaz lawsuits in 2009. Multidistrict litigation, a process similar to class action, is intended to streamline and speed up the litigation process for cases that are similar to one another – but in this case, depositions have not been as efficient as expected due to disputes among representatives of each side.

Yaz lawyers on both sides of the debate argued whether or not to require foreign documents to be produced earlier this year. This, and other conflicts, led to Judge Herndon to appoint a special master to help deal with some of the issues at hand in the Yaz cases.
Bellwether trials in Yaz multidistrict litigation are set to begin next year, and will help both plaintiffs and defendants know what to expect when their Yaz trial reaches court. These trials will test the legal waters in regards to possible settlements and other issues within the trial, and the earliest bellwether trial could begin as early as the beginning of 2012.

Plaintiffs are looking for settlements from the pharmaceutical giant Bayer in order to help pay past and future medical bills and other expenses related to their Yaz side effects. Although it may take a while for each plaintiff’s case to see its day in court, it is likely that many eligible patients will receive compensation.

Yaz Lawsuits On the Rise Despite Continued Use

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.