The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that the newest oral contraceptives containing drospirenone, such as Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella, may have a higher risk of causing blood clots than other oral contraceptives. Blood clots can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Federal food and drug regulators have approved for sale two basic types of oral contraceptives—combination pills containing both estrogen and progestin and progestin-only pills. Several of the newer combination contraceptives, including Yaz and Ocella, contain a form of progestin called drospirenone.

The College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee on Gynecologic Practice said one of the potential risks of oral contraceptives containing drospirenone is blood clots. The committee opinion appears in the November issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology and reflects emerging scientific understanding based on recent studies. Two large studies have reported increased risks of deep-vein blood clots among women who use drospirenone-containing oral contraceptives compared with levonorgestrel-containing contraceptives.

Another large study, the International Active Surveillance Study of Women Taking Oral Contraceptives, also is assessing the risk of drospirenone combination contraceptives and blood clots. The study will conclude this year and may shed additional light on the risks.

Drug manufacturers have a legal responsibility to make drugs that are safe and effective when used as directed. The lawyers of the Driscoll Firm, LLC, are committed to helping people who have been harmed by unsafe drugs and by pharmaceutical manufacturers that put profits ahead of patient safety.

As of October 15, 2012, the number of Yaz and Yasmin lawsuits pending against the drug maker Bayer is 12,400, according to Bayer’s 3rd Quarter newsletter to stockholders. The lawsuits allege that women taking the oral contraceptives containing drospirenone, such as Yaz and Yasmin, have suffered serious injuries, including some fatal injuries. The Driscoll Law Firm has represented a number of women harmed by Yaz and Yasmin.

As of Oct 15, Bayer said it had reached agreements to settle the claims of about 3,490 lawsuits for a total of $750 million. Bayer is settling claims in the U.S. for deep-vein thrombosis injuries or pulmonary embolism.

The committee said doctors should consider a woman’s risk factors for blood clots when prescribing combination oral contraceptives. Several conditions put women taking oral contraceptives at higher risk of blood clots. Those who are at high risk include women ages 35 and older who smoke; women who have had major surgery requiring prolonged immobilization; women with a history of pulmonary embolism or inflammatory bowel disease; women with lupus; and women who have recently given birth. A woman’s highest risk of blood clots is during the weeks immediately after giving birth.

The committee said the risk of blood clots for these women outweighs the benefit of using combination oral contraceptives, and for some the health risk is considered unacceptable.

Source: http://www.stockholders-newsletter-q3-2012.bayer.com/en/bayer-stockholders-newsletter-3q-2012.pdfx