More Yasmin Lawsuits Filed

Galveston, TXAnother Yasmin side effects lawsuit has been filed, alleging Yasmin birth control use led to severe health problems. In this lawsuit, the plaintiff alleges that use of the Yasmin pill and Yaz birth control pills led to gall bladder problems that ultimately required surgery.

The plaintiff in this case, Lana Speck, filed a lawsuit against Bayer Corp., alleging it and other defendants failed to warn women about the risks associated with Yaz birth control and Yasmin birth control. The lawsuit further alleges that the companies involved in the manufacturing and marketing of Yaz and Yasmin were aware of the risks associated with the birth control pills but did not provide adequate warnings about those risks.

According to the lawsuit, as reported by The Southeast Texas Record (02/09/11), Speck took the birth control to regulate her menstrual cycle and followed instructions for using the birth control. In 2006, the plaintiff claims, she experienced severe stomach pain and ultimately had her gallbladder removed. Despite removal of the gallbladder, the plaintiff alleges she has continued problems with her digestive system, including upper abdominal pain and extreme diarrhea.

There are reportedly more than 6,000 pending complaints against the companies that manufacture Yaz, Yasmin and their generic counterparts, Gianvi and Ocella. The complaints allege that the drug manufacturers failed to adequately research possible side effects of their birth control medications and failed to warn about the risk of gallbladder problems, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and blood clots.

Three bellwether trials have been ordered in the federal consolidated multidistrict litigation concerning Yasmin and Yaz. Those have been set for later in 2011 and early 2012. The results of those bellwether trials could help determine if settlements are reached in the pending Yasmin and Yaz lawsuits.

Meanwhile, lawsuits have also been filed in Canada alleging serious side effects linked to the use of Yasmin and Yaz. The lawsuits, which currently seek class-action status, allege that Bayer did not give adequate warning about potential side effects. Bayer has said that there is no evidence that Yaz has higher risks than other birth control methods.