Birth control pills such as oral contraceptives alter a woman’s hormone levels to prevent pregnancy. Most of these pills and drugs use the hormones estrogen and progestin to stop a woman’s body from ovulating and may cause irregular bleeding, breast tenderness, bloating, headaches and nausea.
However, oral contraceptives including Yasmin, Yaz and OrthoEvra may potentially be linked to an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and blood clots, among other life-threatening complications. Studies have also suggested that older birth control pills that contain estrogen may also increase a patient’s risk of stroke and blood clots. Those who have a family history of blood clots or who smoke or are overweight may also be more likely to suffer from strokes, blockages in the blood vessels and heart attacks.
Have you or a loved one taken Yaz, Yasmin, OrthoEvra or other oral contraceptive and you suffered from DVT or blood clots? You may be entitled to seek compensation with assistance from experienced Florida blood clot lawsuit attorneys and recover damages for your injuries.
Birth Control Medications Allegedly Linked to Blood Clots and DVT
Known as thrombosis, blood clots occur when cells bond together inside the vessels or veins and prevent blood flow. If blood clots are not treated quickly, they can lead to life-threatening complications. When blood clots form in superficial veins located closer to the skin or in the deep veins, a patient may suffer from DVT. Unfortunately, if the blood clots free themselves, they can travel in the blood stream to the lungs, heart, brain or other organs and cause pulmonary embolisms, strokes or heart attacks.
Vein trauma, long periods of sitting, decreased blood flow or surgeries can all cause blood clots. Additionally, several birth control medications list blood clots as a potential side effect. If you or a loved one have taken one of the following medications and you suffered from a stroke or heart attack due to a blood clot, experienced Florida blood clot lawsuit attorneys can help you to determine if you have a claim:
- Yaz
- Yasmin
- OrthoEvra
- NuvaRing
Several critics have expressed concern about these medications and have asked the FDA to recall medications containing the hormone drospirenone. Those against the newer generation of birth control pills allege that there are other safer, more effective choices available on the market and that there is no need to promote these potentially dangerous drugs. If you feel you have a valid claim against Bayer, contact Florida blood clot lawsuit attorneys to learn more about filing your case.
The FDA altered prescription information for these medications in 2012, and current labels address the potential to increase a woman’s risk of suffering from blood clots. Several clinical trials have concluded that women were three times more likely to suffer from blood clots if they took Yaz as those who opted for other oral contraceptives.
Additionally, Public Citizen and other consumer advocacy groups have requested that the FDA place a black-box warning label on birth control pills that contained drospirenone to inform patients of the seriousness of the medications. If you have been injured due to an oral contraceptive, Florida blood clot lawsuit attorneys can inform you of your legal rights.
Plaintiffs File Lawsuits Alleging Serious Complications
Plaintiffs assert that they noticed that they were coughing up blood and had chest pain, pain in their calves and shortness of breath before their healthcare providers diagnosed them with either blood clots or DVT. If you have noticed one or more of these symptoms, consider contacting Florida blood clot lawsuit attorneys to learn more about your rights and how you may begin the process to file for compensation.
The FDA has reported that newer generation birth control pills such as Yaz may increase a patient’s risks of developing blood clots in the legs and lungs than other types of oral contraceptives. While the increased risk is not great and many physicians feel that oral birth control medications are generally safe, Yaz and other drugs that contain the hormone drospirenone have resulted in lawsuits from plaintiffs who have allegedly suffered from cerebrovascular accidents, gallbladder disease, strokes, pulmonary embolisms and elevated potassium levels, among other complications.
By February 1, 2012, Bayer was faced with nearly 12,000 claims from plaintiffs alleging injuries such as heart attacks and stroke while taking yaz or Yasmin. However, by July 2012, the manufacturer had successfully settled 1,900 lawsuits in a settlement of $402.6 million, with each plaintiff receiving an average of $212,000. The manufacturer also acknowledged that it had set aside $610.5 million to settle other pending lawsuits surrounding Yasmin and Yaz and, as of July 2013, Bayer had reached a settlement of $1.4 million to close cases from 6,760 plaintiffs.
Contact Our Florida Blood Clot Lawsuit Attorneys for More Information
Have you or someone you love taken Yasmin, Yaz, OrthoEvra or other birth control pill and you suffered from blood clots or DVT? Consider seeking legal counsel from the affiliated Florida blood clot lawsuit attorneys at Attorney Group for Florida. We can provide you with a free, no-obligation case evaluation to help you to determine whether you have a valid claim. Our affiliated Florida blood clot lawsuit attorneys will work to help you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled. You may be eligible to file for pain and suffer, medical expenses and lost wages as the result of your condition.
