Bayer—one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world—started manufacturing popular birth control pill Yaz in 2006. Despite its popularity, Yaz is also under fire for causing severe health complications We’ll explain which Yaz side effects are driving new lawsuit claims across the U.S.
What Is Drospirenone?
Yaz’s active ingredient is the hormone drospirenone. This hormone also effectively treats moderate acne and mind premenstrual dyphoric disorder (PMDD) symptoms. Drospirenone is a steroidal progestin—a synthetic progesterone—that stops sperm from fertilizing eggs, thus preventing pregnancy.
Beyond contraception, Yaz also serves as hormone replacement therapy for women going through menopause. Some women use it to control moderate acne. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Yaz for use women as young as 14 who currently menstruate. Drospirenone is also the active ingredient in Yasmin, which Bayer first developed and distributed in 2001. Teva Pharmaceuticals’ generic brand version, Ocella, which Barr Laboratories purchased in 2002, also contain this dangerous active ingredient.
Overall, side effects from taking Yaz, Yasmin, or Ocella are directly connected to synthetic progesterone, drospirenone, found in each pill.
Which Yaz Side Effects Are Driving Product Liability Claims?
In July 2015, Bayer admitted it paid $1.97 billion to approximately 9,900 women, averaging $200k per claim. In August 2015, Bayer agreed to pay another $56.9 million to 3,400 claimants with blood clot complications (mostly heart attack and stroke). Many of these claims list “arterial thromboembolic injuries”—also known as blood clots.
The FDA states drospirenone may triple a woman’s blood clot risks. These Yaz side effects are driving thousands of lawsuits against Bayer. Plaintiffs report Yaz side effects such as blood clots, arterial blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, heart attack, and stroke.
One major Yaz complaint is that its marketing misled consumers about the drug’s potential risks. When first introduced, many consumers believed Yaz could treat every kind of acne—from mild to severe. However, doctors should only prescribe Yaz to treat moderate acne symptoms. In addition, many consumers thought Yaz could be prescribed to relieve PMS symptoms. More accurately, diminishes more severe PMDD symptoms.
How to File Your Own Claim
If you or a loved one experienced Yaz side effects, you may qualify for financial compensation. See if you may qualify when you get your free Yaz evaluation today.
Lori Polemenakos is Director of Consumer Content and SEO strategist for LeadingResponse, a legal marketing company. An award-winning journalist, writer and editor based in Dallas, Texas, she's produced articles for major brands such as Match.com, Yahoo!, MSN, AOL, Xfinity, Mail.com, and edited several published books. Since 2016, she's published hundreds of articles about Social Security disability, workers' compensation, veterans' benefits, personal injury, mass tort, auto accident claims, bankruptcy, employment law and other related legal issues.