Dallas Fort Worth Injury Lawyer Blog
Yasmin and Yaz are birth control pills manufactured by Bayer Healthcare. The generic brand Ocella is marketed and distributed by Barr Laboratories, Inc. Yasmin and Yaz contain the same estrogenic compound, ethinyl estradiol, that has been used in the Pill since the 1970s, but the progestin in Yasmin and Yaz is new.
Yasmin and Yaz both contain drospirenone, a “fourth generation” progestin. No other birth control pills contain drospirenone, except for a recently approved generic version of Yasmin and Yaz, called Ocella.
Drospirenone causes an increase in potassium levels in the blood. The FDA has warned Bayer that “increased serum potassium can be dangerous.” In fact, excess serum potassium can lead to a condition known as hyperkalemia. Hyperkalemia can cause heart rhythm disturbances.
If left untreated, hyperkalemia can be fatal. Hyperkalemia disrupts the normal heart rhythms, then the flow of the blood through the heart can be slowed to the point that it permits blood clots to form. Blood clots in the heart can then lead to heart attacks, or break off and travel to the lungs where they can cause pulmonary embolus, or travel to the brain causing stroke.
In addition, Yasmin and Yaz are marketed to reduce water retention and bloating often associated with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). However, too much loss of fluids can lead to dehydration, which also increases the risk of blood clots. If Yasmin or Yaz lead to excessive loss of fluids resulting in dehydration, women using these products can be at an increased risk of blood clots.
FDA Reports of Deaths among users of Yasmin and Yaz
From the first quarter of 2004 through the third quarter of 2008, well over 50 reports of death among users of Yasmin and Yaz have been filed with FDA. These include numerous deaths with reported cardiac arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, intracardiac thrombus (blood clots in the heart), pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs) and stroke in women in their child bearing years.
Some of the deaths occurred in women as young as 17 years old. Significantly, reports of elevated potassium levels are frequently included among the symptoms of those suffering fatalities while using Yasmin or Yaz.
If you or a family member has been personally injured because of the fault of someone else: by the use of dangerous drugs, bad products, or toxic injury etc then please contact the Dallas Texas Defective Drugs Product Liability Attorney Dr. Shezad Malik. For a no obligation, free case analysis, please call 817-255-4001 or Contact Me Online.
If you or a loved one suffered serious injury or if your loved one suffered death while using Yasmin, Yaz or the generic product Ocella, the experienced drug liability attorneys at Dr. Shezad Malik Law Firm are available for a free consultation.