LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION

Yasmin, Beyaz and Yaz Birth Control Side Effects FAQ

What are Yasmin and Yaz?

Yasmin and Yaz, made and marketed by Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, are combination oral contraceptives (COC) to prevent pregnancy. They contain both ethinyl estradiol, an estrogen component, and drospirenone, a progestin. Drospirenone is a fourth-generation progestin.

Yasmin was introduced to the market in 2001 while Yaz was introduced in 2006. To date, thousands of lawsuits have been filed by women who allege they experienced harmful Yaz or Yasmin side effects. Some of those lawsuits have since been settled.

What is drospirenone?

Drospirenone is a synthetic version of a female hormone called progestin. It has been linked in some studies to an increased risk of blood clots, which can be potentially fatal.

In 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that several studies suggested an increased risk of blood clots in women who used birth control pills that contained drospirenone. Although all birth control pills have an increased risk of blood clots, the FDA noted that the risk associated with drospirenone appears to be higher than that with other hormones.

Despite concerns about the risks associated with the use of drospirenone in birth control products, the FDA has elected to keep such birth control on the market.

What other birth control pills contain drospirenone?

So far, Ocella, Beyaz and Safyral all contain drospirenone. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Gianvi, Loryna, Syeda and Zarah also contain drospirenone. Beyaz and Sayral also contain folate.

What are the reported Yasmin and Yaz side effects?

The more serious adverse health effects linked to Yaz and Yasmin include heart attacks, cardiac arrhythmias, blood clots, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), strokes, gallbladder disease, hepatic adenomas or benign liver tumors, and sudden death.

I am currently taking Yasmin. Should I stop?

You should ask your doctor if the risk factors associated with Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella outweigh the benefits. Some doctors aren't aware of the adverse health effects associated with these fourth-generation birth control pills.

What do lawsuits filed against the maker of these birth control pills allege?

Lawsuits filed against Bayer allege that the drug company sold its fourth-generation birth control without adequate warnings about the increased risk of serious injuries, and failed to warn doctors and patients that Yaz and Yasmin are more dangerous than other oral birth control pills on the market.

As well, Bayer has been charged with improperly advertising and over-promoting the use of Yasmin/YAZ/Ocella in circumstances other than those in which the drug has been approved and over-stated its benefits. The FDA has repeatedly reprimanded Bayer/Berlex for its questionable advertising campaigns, particularly marketing its birth control pills in a way that minimizes the serious side effects, thereby misleading millions of women and their prescribing physicians about the safety of this birth control pill.

Have many lawsuits are pending against Bayer?

According to Bayer’s 2013 Annual Report (found online at annualreport2013.bayer.com), as of February 2014, there were around 4,600 pending lawsuits. That number does not include lawsuits that have already been settled.

What is currently happening with Yasmin and Yaz litigation?

According to Bayer’s 2013 Annual Report (found online at annual report 2013.bayer.com), as of February 10, 2014, Bayer had settled the claims of approximately 8,250 claimants for a total of around $1.69 billion. Those lawsuits included claims of venous clot injuries (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism).

Furthermore, according to the same annual report, Bayer agreed to settle gallbladder-related lawsuits with around 8,800 plaintiffs for approximately $24 million total.

There are still around 4,600 lawsuits concerning Yasmin and Yaz pending in the court system.

A few years ago I developed a blood clot while taking Yasmin. Is it too late to file a claim against Bayer?

Each state has a statute of limitations for filing lawsuits and some states have a deadline of one year from the date of the accident. There might also be other deadlines imposed by state law that may require action sooner than one year. It is advisable that you contact a personal injury attorney sooner than later.

How long will a Yaz lawsuit take?

It's hard to say. First, an attorney will need to thoroughly investigate the facts of your case. In some instances, a case will settle shortly after it is filed or perhaps even before. In other cases, a final resolution can take many years.

How much compensation can I expect to receive from a Yaz lawsuit?

In most jurisdictions, if you suffered a personal injury and the defendant is found liable, the defendant is responsible for paying for your medical care, both past and expected, your past and future lost earnings, and an amount to compensate you for pain and suffering. Your spouse also might be entitled to compensation.