On April 10, 2012, the FDA announced that new blood clot warnings are required for Yaz, Yasmin, Ocella, and Beyaz. The new warnings report for the first time that studies have shown that these drugs have up to a 3 times higher risk of blood clots than other birth control pills.
Whether or not this is related, Bloomberg reported recently that hundreds of Beyaz blood clot cases have settled, at an average of $220,000 per case. If you suffered Beyaz blood clots then call today for a free case evaluation because you may be running out of time to recover compensation.
What Can I Do if I Have Had a Beyaz Blood Clot?
If you or a loved one suffered a blood clot, pulmonary embolism, or stroke while on Yaz, Yasmin, or Beyaz, you may be running out of time to pursue recovery against the manufacturers of these drugs. Contact Lopez McHugh, LLP to learn more about the Yaz settlement and litigation process, and to receive a free case evaluation.
Increased Beyaz Blood Clot Risk
Yaz and Beyaz are birth control pills manufactured by Bayer Healthcare. The Beyaz group of drugs contain a new form of hormone (drospirenone) that may elevate the levels of potassium in the body. Side effects of drospirenone and/or elevated potassium include heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism, blood clots, and even death. If you experienced any of these side effects while taking Yaz, Yasmin, or Ocella, please fill out the form to the right for a free case evaluation. If you would feel more comfortable speaking to someone you can call us toll free at 877-703-7070 to have an attorney review your information.
Drospirenone acts as a diuretic and can lead to dehydration, which in turn can lead to blood clots and gallbladder damage. Several studies show that Yaz, Yasmin, Ocella, and other drospirenone-containing birth control pills are more likely to cause blood clots, pulmonary embolism, and stroke than other birth control drugs. The European Medicines Agency has already determined that the warnings are inadequate in light of this new information. For more information about these risks, click here.
Women across the country who suffered blood clots, pulmonary embolism, or stroke while on these pills are suing to recover damages because they were not told they were at an increased risk of developing a blood clot. Lopez McHugh represents a number of these women, and will evaluate your potential case for free, and help you attempt to recover. One of our cases was nominated as a potential bellwether case–among a small group of cases that may be selected to be one of the first to go to trial, out of 5,000 to 6,000 cases across the country. The bellwether cases were recently put on hold in favor of mediation.
If you suffered a Beyaz blood clot, pulmonary embolism, or stroke, contact Lopez McHugh for a FREE consultation with a qualified and trusted attorney who can answer your questions and ensure your legal rights are protected. Call today because if you wait too long, you may be barred from recovering for your injuries by your state’s time limits.
FDA Advisory Panel Votes to Require Updated Warnings Reflecting Blood Clots
On December 8, 2011, an FDA advisory panel held 9 hours of hearings about Yaz and Beyaz birth control and the risk of developing blood clots. Testimony included information about several large, independent studies that showed an increased risk. The panel also heard from the family of a young woman who used another birth control for months with no problems. She switched to Yaz, and within two months she tragically passed away from a blood clot, on Christmas day.
The FDA panel concluded, by a vote of 21-5, that the warnings should be changed to explain the increased risk. In other words, a panel of experts for the FDA decided that the warnings currently provided with Yaz and Yasmin are inadequate. Eleven experts also voted for a Beyaz recall. A long list of similar birth control pills with essentially the same ingredients falls under the Yaz/Beyaz name. These include Yaz, Yasmin, Ocella, Gianvi, and Beyaz.
Beyaz Recall Narrowly Missed
As explained above, experts were mixed on whether to recall Beyaz and similar birth control pills. 11 experts wanted to pull it from the market because they believed that the risks outweigh the benefits, given that there are other birth control pills that are at least as effective, but with lower risk. These 11 members were out-voted by the remaining 15, who decided that the benefits outweigh the risks. Not only was it a close vote, but further investigation revealed that several of the 15 who voted against a Beyaz recall had financial ties to the manufacturer.
Federal and State Court Judges Order Mediation
In January, 2012, two judges suspended imminent trial deadlines and ordered the parties to attempt to negotiate a settlement in good faith. To facilitate the process, the court appointed Professor Stephen Saltzburg of George Washington School of Law, Washington D.C. Although there are no guarantees that an agreement can be reached, the Yaz litigation, which began in 2009 may be coming to a close. Every state has its own deadlines for when to bring a lawsuit, so time may be running out.
