Side Effects of Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella)

Dangerous Side Effects of Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella)

Since being introduced to the U.S. market in 2006, Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella) has become one of the most widely prescribed birth control pills. It has also become a national health concern. Medical studies have linked Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella to adverse side effects. Risks associated with Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella are serious and potentially fatal, including:

  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
  • Pulmonary embolisms
  • Heart attacks
  • Strokes

Nationwide, thousands of people who have taken Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella) and suffered blood clots or other injuries have filed Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella lawsuits. Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals has already paid hundreds of millions of dollars to settle some of these claims.

The Driscoll Firm, LLC, and its Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella) lawyers are investigating cases of injuries related to the side effects from Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella. If you or a loved one has suffered from blood clots, a pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, stroke, heart attack, or another adverse condition as a result of taking Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella, you may have a legal right to compensation.

Call The Driscoll Firm, LLC, at 314-932-3232 today to speak to an experienced Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella) injury attorney about your case. The call is free and the consultation is confidential.

Blood Clots Linked To Use of Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella) Birth Control

The risk of blood clots is present with any oral contraceptive or hormone therapy drug. But studies show taking Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella) increases the ordinary risk dramatically.

Blood clots are serious health events. When a clot prevents the normal flow of blood and oxygen from reaching the tissue in a portion of the body, it can result in damage to that tissue. When organ tissue is damaged, the organ’s function is compromised. This can cause stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolisms and even death.

The risk of blood clots is present whether Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella) is used as a contraceptive or to treat other conditions such as acne or premenstrual pain.

In addition to blood clots, the labeling of Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella) warns of other side effects, including:

  • Menstrual irregularities
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Breast tenderness
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Decreased libido
  • Weight gain
  • Affect lability (rapid shifts in outward emotional expressions).

Additionally, the warnings that accompany Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella) list the following side effects that have been reported by patients:

  • Vascular disorders: Venous and arterial thromboembolic events (including pulmonary emboli, deep vein thrombosis, cerebral thrombosis, retinal thrombosis, myocardial infarction and stroke), hypertension (including hypertensive crisis)
  • Hepatobiliary disorders: Gall bladder disease, liver function disturbances, liver tumors
  • Immune system disorders: Hypersensitivity (including anaphylactic reaction)
  • Metabolism and nutrition disorders: Hyperkalemia, hypertriglyceridemia, changes in glucose tolerance or effect on peripheral insulin resistance (including diabetes mellitus)
  • Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Chloasma, angioedema, erythema nodosum, erythema multiforme
  • Gastrointestinal disorders: Inflammatory bowel disease
  • Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: Systemic lupus erythematosus.

Drospirenone in Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella) Increases the Risk of Blood Clots

Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella), which is sold in generic form as Gianvi and Loryna, is one of several birth control pills containing drospirenone, which has come under scrutiny and criticism by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Drospirenone is a synthetic version of the female hormone progesterone.

In April 2012, the FDA reported that drospirenone-containing birth control pills “may be associated with a higher risk for blood clots than other progestin-containing pills.” It ordered that packages of Yaz warn that some epidemiologic studies reported as high as a three-fold increase in the risk of blood clots for drospirenone-containing products when compared to products containing levonorgestrel or some other progestins.

Bayer HealthCare, the manufacturer of Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella), has warned that users who experience the following side effects should consult their physician immediately:

  • Sudden numbness or confusion, pain behind the eyes, weakness, problems with vision, speech, or balance
  • Chest pain or heavy feeling, pain which spreads to the arm or shoulder
  • Nausea, sweating, or a general ill feeling
  • A change in the severity or pattern of migraines
  • Loss of appetite, stomach pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
  • A lump in the breast(s)
  • Symptoms of depression, such as problems sleeping, weakness, and/or mood changes.

Bayer also warns on its Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella) website: “YAZ increases the risk of serious conditions including blood clots, stroke, and heart attack. These can be life-threatening or lead to permanent disability. The risk of blood clots is highest during the first year of use.”

Contact a Yaz Litigation Lawyer Today

The Driscoll Firm, LLC, has resolved thousands of injury claims against companies that make and sell dangerous drugs. The firm has served as co-lead plaintiffs’ class counsel in class action lawsuits seeking compensation for victims of dangerous drugs and defective products, recovering millions of dollars for its clients.

People who have taken Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella) and suffered blood clots, a pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, stroke, heart attack, or other problems are urged to call The Driscoll Firm, LLC, at 314-932-3232 and talk to an experienced Yaz (Yasmin and Ocella) injury lawsuit attorney about their legal rights and options today.

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Information about Drospirenone:

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