FDA Alerts Consumers and Bayer about Yaz/Yasmin Problems – Yaz Injury Attorneys

Yaz Attorneys
Popular birth control drugs Yaz and Yasmin have been plagued with problems. The FDA has actually issued several warnings about these drugs, which both use the hormones drosperinone and ethinyl estradiol. Yaz/Yasmin, and their generic counterpart, are the only birth control pills on the market to use drosperinone (DRSP), and they are growing in popularity, but before you start using either of these drugs, it is important to learn about the risks associated with them.

Has Yaz or Yasmin been recalled?

As of September 2009, the FDA has not officially issued a Yasmin or Yaz recall. However, there are very serious medical conditions related with these drugs. Reports show that DRSP have been connected to deep vein thrombosis, heart attack, strokes, pulmonary embolism, and kidney stones. They can also be extremely dangerous for anyone who has kidney, liver, or adrenal disease, as Yaz and Yasmin can cause a jump in potassium levels in the body. If you’re taking either of these drugs, you need to be aware of these potentially life-threatening risks, along with other, milder side effects like headaches, nausea, decrease in libido, depression, and bleeding between periods.

Has the FDA taken any actions against Yaz/Yasmin manufacturer Bayer?

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, who makes both Yaz and Yasmin, hasn’t been forced to recall either drug yet, but they have been warned about their unclear advertising campaign. In early 2009, the company ran a Yaz commercial called “Balloons,” in which women punched balloons symbolizing symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which can be treated with DRSP. However, many of these same symptoms are associated with PMS, which Yaz cannot treat effectively, leading to confusion among consumers. Bayer was warned to take the commercials off the air, and they ran a new commercial clarifying how Yaz can help women with PMDD, but not PMS.

What other problems have been associated with Yaz and Yasmin?

If those problems weren’t enough, the FDA has also warned Bayer about another concern about Yaz/Yasmin. In August of 2009, they sent the company a letter regarding a March inspection of Bayer’s German Yas/Yasmin manufacturing facilities. According to this letter, the facility’s product testing methods are flawed. Instead of reporting on the testing results of individual batches, they were averaging together all of their test results. That means that some of the individual batches were outside of the required parameters. At least eight batches using this flawed testing method were shipped to the United States.

What rights do I have if I’ve been hurt by Yaz or Yasmin?

If you’ve experienced serious medical problems due to using Yaz or Yasmin, you have rights. Bayer is actually in the midst of a number of lawsuits right now with consumers who have been hurt by their drugs. Talk to a Yaz or Yasmin attorney today to learn more about filing your own Yaz injury lawsuit.