Dangerous Drug and Recall News

Yaz is a birth control drug that’s manufactured by Bayer AG, and it is designed to prevent unwanted pregnancies in a new and unique way.  The medication works by prompting slight changes in the woman’s uterine wall and cervix such that if an egg is fertilized, it will not be able to attach to the uterus and to begin to grow and multiply into a fetus.  Additionally, the chances that an egg would be fertilized are extremely remote given that Yaz generally prevents women from ovulating in the first place.

Yaz enjoyed a large share of the market after it was introduced to consumers in the United States in 2001 after being approved by the FDA.  It was made available via prescription, and it was also used for certain off-label uses that included treatment of the symptoms of acne and the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD.  These symptoms included anxiety, lack of sleep, irritability and dizziness.

Unfortunately, Yaz eventually began to be linked to the development of serious side effects in many women who were using it, and some of these Yaz side effects included:

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

Of those side effects listed above, DVT generated a high level of concern given the difficulty in diagnosing the problem.  DVT is basically a blood clot that forms deep inside the leg, and in some rare cases the arm, but they do not always present outward symptoms that are easy for a doctor to spot.  However, when symptoms do present themselves, they can include:

• Swelling of the leg
• Pain in the affected leg
• Redness in the affected area
• Hot spots on the skin

If DVT is not treated, it can become extremely dangerous and even be fatal in some cases.  Enough of these reports were generated that the FDA ultimately required the manufacturer to place a “Black Box Warning” on all packages of Yaz that clearly warned users of the dangers involved with using it.

Many of those harmed as a result of using this medication also moved forward with Yaz lawsuits against the manufacturer.  If you have suffered as a result of using this medication, you too may have legal rights and options that need to be explored.  You’ll need to contact a defective drugs attorney to schedule an initial consultation, and during that consultation your attorney will look at the information you have regarding the situation and provide you with a recommendation.  Contact an attorney today.