Yaz: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
August 26th, 2009. By LucyC
First the bad news…
Another young woman has suffered a blood clot while using Yaz/Yasmin.
Now the good news…
She is alive. Thankfully.
And apparently once she put two and two together, she got pissed off enough that she’s now suing Bayer.
Kerry Sims was prescribed Yasmin for birth control. She alleges she suffered a blood clot in her lung and an infection surrounding the clot while on the pill. The complaint reportedly alleges that between 2004 and 2008 Yaz caused in excess of 50 deaths in women taking the pill, some as young as 17. Sims maintains that had she known the risks associated with Yaz/Yasmin she would not have taken it. Those “risks” refer to the likelihood of deep vein thrombosis (DVT); pulmonary embolism (PE); gallbladder complications and gallbladder disease; stroke; heart attack and death.
And now the ugly…
Make that disturbingly ugly—according to a recent report on Bloomberg.com Yasmin, Yaz and Yasminelle raked in “$1.86 billion in sales for Bayer in the first quarter,” and Yasmin and Yaz top out as the two biggest-selling contraceptives worldwide, according to IMS Health, a market research company based in Connecticut.
So it would seem that the safety message is not getting out, or not being heard by the women who need to hear it. But it’s there. Oh—did I mention the sting?
A recent study evaluating the risk of blood clots associated with various oral contraceptive pills published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) determined that “the safest option with regards to the risk of venous thrombosis is an oral contraceptive containing levonorgestrel combined with a low dose of estrogen,” the researchers wrote. One such pill that fits the safety bill is Bayer AG’s Microgynon 30, according to the researchers—it was associated with the “lowest risk of blood clots in the leg or lungs.”
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I just found out about it. I have been taking yaz since i was probably 16, i'm not turning 18 in march. I only began taking yaz because all the other side effects of the other birth control pills. But, knowing i could risk my life continuing to take this drug. I'd honestly rather be pregnant or have acne.
I have been to the dr. many time in the past 2 months. and they couldn't explain to me why i have been having stomach pains, or back pain. and well i think i just put two and two together.
I just wanted to say thanks to the company that cared so much about the lives of all the women on this drug.. i hope you all feel wonderful about yourselves.
I'm posting it on myspace, facebook, twitter, everythign becuase i wouldn't want anyone i know (or any one at all for that fact) to lose their lives for a pitty "Safe" drug.
Hi Kayla,
Thank you for sharing your Yaz story. It is important that others hear what you have to say–so I'm glad you're posting the information. I've also sent you a personal email (check your spam folder, too!). Not everyone realizes that the symptoms they are feeling may be related to the birth control pills they are taking–in your instance, Yaz. Nor do they make the connection until perhaps it is too late. Thanks again for sharing this.