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The health of the human body is not like it once was. Nowadays, the use of medicine has become a lifestyle for humans. Medicines originated as a cure for illness in humans. But have you ever wondered what happens when medicine doesn’t work as planned?
Yaz is a birth control pill that has garnered significant attention in the legal realm. It stands as a prime illustration of a pharmaceutical product embroiled in a multitude of legal cases.
In this blog, we have a detailed explanation of birth control Yaz side effects, their associated legal issues, and their impact on people’s daily lives. Let’s start this journey to understand more about medicine and law through Yaz lawsuits.
An Overview of Yaz
Yaz is a popular brand of birth control pills manufactured by the multinational pharmaceutical company Bayer AG. Introduced in 2006, Yaz contains drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, which work together to prevent ovulation, thereby preventing pregnancy.
Yaz has received approval for its contraceptive properties and for treating moderate acne in women who have started menstruating at least 14 years of age. Furthermore, it has been approved for treating premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe manifestation of premenstrual syndrome that affects women.
Yaz combines 24 tablets, each with 3 mg of drospirenone and 0.02 mg of Ethinyl estradiol, and four tablets. On the other hand, Yasmin comprises 21 tablets, each possessing 3.0 mg of drospirenone and 0.03 mg of Ethinyl estradiol, plus an additional seven sugar tablets.
Risks Associated with Yaz
Side Effects of Yaz: Long Term Use
Is Yaz safe? Like all medications, it can cause side effects. Yaz birth control side effects has been linked to a diverse array of undesirable consequences, spanning from minor discomforts like nausea and migraines to more serious complexities, including the formation of blood clots, occurrences of strokes, breast cancer, and heart attacks.
Furthermore, the use of Yasmin and Yaz birth control pills has been linked to an elevation in potassium levels within the bloodstream, potentially resulting in severe conditions like hyperkalemia. These side effects Yaz underscore ongoing legal scrutiny and attention surrounding Yaz birth control and its potential risks.
Those who have a history of blood clotting, stroke, or myocardial infarction are impacted by birth control pills Yaz. It is also advised for those suffering from unrestrained hypertension and those enduring migraine headaches accompanied by an aura to forego the use of Yaz.
Concerning Studies on Yaz
Multiple research studies indicate that the utilization of contraceptive Yaz, Yasmin, and other drospirenone-containing birth control pills may be linked to a notably elevated likelihood of inducing blood clot formation compared to alternative contraceptives. The odds of forming blood clots in women using these medications are double or even triple.
Blood clots occur when the blood transforms from its usual liquid form into a more solid state, forming a cluster within the veins or arteries. Although nearly all contraceptive pills carry a small but significant risk of inducing these clots, those containing drospirenone are often viewed as potentially more detrimental to women’s health.
This is due to their role in increasing potassium levels in the bloodstream, a condition that can potentially trigger hyperkalemia, a medical state that carries the risk of provoking severe health issues such as cardiac arrest and renal failure.
It’s crucial to stress that not all blood clots are concerning. However, if they form or move to specific body parts, they can present a significant health threat requiring immediate medical attention.
Furthermore, the utilization of contraceptive pills containing drospirenone has also been associated with a heightened probability of experiencing grave medical occurrences such as strokes and heart attacks, instigating apprehension within the medical community and among individuals seeking healthcare.
The Yaz Birth Control Drug Recall
In September 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seemed poised to implement a potential partial recall for certain batches of the pharmaceutical products Yaz and Yasmin. This regulatory body sent a cautionary letter to Bayer due to emerging issues with these contraceptive pills originating from their production facility based in Germany.
The FDA accused Bayer of obscuring test results that fell outside the acceptable range for vital components in these oral contraceptives. At this juncture, the agency expressed its worry that inferior batches of Yaz and Yasmin might have been transported to the United States.
It subsequently demanded that the pharmaceutical manufacturer provide an exhaustive inventory of the batches that had been dispatched to the U.S.
Despite the lack of extensive media coverage, it should be noted that close to 33,000 packages of Yaz were subjected to a recall in November 2009 as a consequence of substandard manufacturing protocols.
FDA Warning on Yaz
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has independently carried out comprehensive studies on Yaz side effects. In October 2011, the FDA publicized a profound research study encompassing over 800,000 women.
The research, aptly titled “Combined Hormonal Contraceptives and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Endpoints,” concluded that pharmaceutical substances such as Yaz and Yasmin have the potential to elevate the incidence of blood clots, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism by a staggering 74 percent.
Subsequently, in April 2012, the FDA disseminated a “Drug Information Update: Drug Safety Communication.” This report alerted women who were consumers of Yaz or Yasmin oral contraceptives, along with similar birth control products, about the peril of developing blood clots.
The FDA underscored several alarming signs of a potential blood clot. These may manifest as persistent discomfort in the leg; sudden breathlessness; abrupt loss of vision; severe pain in the chest; weakening or numbness in a limb; sudden and severe headaches; difficulties in articulation; and an unusual yellowing of the skin or eyes. The FDA recommends that if these symptoms occur, seek immediate medical attention without delay.
Is Yaz still dangerous 2024? As of 2024, concerns regarding the potential dangers of Yaz birth control continue to persist. Numerous Yaz and Yasmin lawsuits related to birth control have been filed, highlighting ongoing legal issues surrounding the medication.
Bayer lawsuits address allegations of harm caused by birth control pills and seek compensation for individuals who have experienced adverse effects while using the Yaz contraceptive pill.
Yaz birth control pills lawsuit 2024 reflects ongoing interest in holding manufacturer, Bayer, accountable for any alleged negligence or failure to warn about potential risks associated with the medication adequately.
Reasons behind the Yaz Lawsuits
As innovative pharmaceutical solutions are introduced to the market, they frequently carry a higher price tag and benefit from expensive advertising, often leading to the misconception that they are superior in quality or efficacy.
Unfortunately, the innovative nature of a medication does not automatically assure a higher degree of effectiveness or improved safety. This primarily originates from the protocols of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which do not necessitate that new medicinal products prove their superiority over existing alternatives. Moreover, the FDA does not even demand that these pioneering pharmaceuticals establish equality in terms of safety or efficacy.
Given that FDA approval typically rests on short-term usage of a medication, usually a year or less, potential risks may not immediately be apparent. These realities underscore the need for careful scrutiny and judicious use of newly launched drugs.
Originally, Bayer enthusiastically promoted Yaz and Yasmin as superior alternatives to the earlier versions of contraceptives. The company painted an alluring picture of these medications as innovative birth control solutions capable of minimizing the odds of pregnancy while managing conditions such as acne, weight fluctuations, and premenstrual syndrome.
But was this all true? It seems, to our disappointment, that the answer is no.
Thousands of women have filed Yaz for birth control lawsuits against Bayer AG, claiming that they were not adequately warned about the risks associated with it. These Yaz medication lawsuits also allege that Bayer overstated the benefits of the drug and understated its dangers.
In June 2023, the FDA issued new warnings for all combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs), such as Yaz, highlighting a slight elevation in the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Updated advisories also emphasize that the likelihood of VTE grows with the length of time the contraceptives are used.
As of January 2024, there have been no significant developments in this lawsuit.
Bayer Yaz Lawsuit Settlements
Back in 2013, Bayer reached Yaz birth control lawsuit settlements to the tune of $24 million. This substantial amount was paid to settle a multitude of lawsuits in the U.S., where it was suggested that Bayer had minimized the potential dangers associated with blood clotting from their contraceptive pills.
The claimants believed that the Yaz manufacturer, Bayer, had not given enough prominence to these risks when promoting their product.
In March 2014, Bayer had successfully negotiated resolutions for in excess of 8,000 Yaz birth control lawsuits, at an estimated cumulative cost of nearly $1.7 billion.
In 2016, the aggregate settlements extended by Bayer had risen to a significant $2.04 billion, representing reparation for over 10,000 cases linked to Yaz and associated blood clot allegations.
Many Yaz lawsuit payouts have resulted in significant compensation for victims, covering medical expenses, lost wages, and damages for pain and suffering caused by the side effect of Yaz. The exact amount of Yaz lawsuit compensation varies depending on the specifics of each case, including the severity of harm suffered and economic losses incurred.
Multidistrict litigation (MDL), which concluded in 2019, resulted in the settlement of over 12,000 federal cases involving Yaz and Yasmin. There were hundreds of heart, gallbladder, and blood clotting injuries in the closed litigation group, along with over 100 deaths that were ultimately settled. In different state cases in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California, several women also filed lawsuits.
Is Yaz discontinued 2024? As of 2024, Yaz is no longer available as a brand-name drug. Is Yaz still on the market? The generic versions of Yaz, called drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, are still available.
Yaz Risks and Lawsuits
There have been 23 reported deaths of Canadian women, linked to two popular birth control pills, Yaz and Yasmin. Records from Health Canada reveal that these pills were implicated in the untimely deaths, with the majority of the women succumbing to sudden blood clots.
One such case involves 18-year-old Miranda Scott. Miranda was exercising in her university gym when she collapsed and died. According to her mother, Chip McClaughry, Miranda collapsed onto a fellow gym-goer, gasped that she was unable to breathe, and was tragically gone moments later. McClaughry has since engaged in a lawsuit against Bayer, the company that produces the birth control pills.
At the time of Miranda’s death, McClaughry didn’t understand why her healthy, vibrant daughter had died so suddenly. Upon learning that Miranda had been taking Yasmin, she decided to research the drug, only to discover its fatal side effects. The autopsy report confirmed McClaughry’s worst fears – her daughter had died due to the widespread formation of blood clots in her body.
In another unfortunate instance, Lynsey Lee, who started taking Yaz at 16, hoped it would alleviate her severe menstrual and pelvic pain. However, rather than relief, she experienced exacerbated symptoms, including extreme mood swings, increased pain, and nausea. Later that year, doctors diagnosed a blood clot in her left lung, leading them to question her about her use of Yaz.
Lee alleges that the birth control pill, promoted as having fewer side effects, has ruined her life. She has been told that removing the clot is too risky, so she has to rely on blood thinners and hope the clot will dissolve eventually. Today, she contends with constant pain and fatigue, which have left her too weak to work.
In another incident, Michelle Pfleger, a teenager from Hackettstown, chose to use the birth control pill Yaz before heading to college, believing it could help with mild acne and premenstrual irritability. However, her trust in the pill ended tragically when a blood clot lodged in her lung, causing a fatal cardiac arrest.
Her mother, Joan Cummins, subsequently filed a lawsuit against Bayer Healthcare, the company selling Yaz, alleging that the pill had caused Michelle’s untimely death. Cummins is not alone in her legal battle, as thousands of consumers have accused Bayer of inadequate warnings about Yaz’s associated health risks, including blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, and even sudden deaths.
How to File Yaz Birth Control Lawsuit?
Those who believe Yaz has harmed them can file lawsuits against Bayer. It is advisable to seek counsel from a proficient attorney specialized in pharmaceutical litigation to gain insights into the legal proceedings and the potential compensation that could be secured.
A Yaz lawsuit lawyer will help you build a lawsuit based on the side effects of Yaz birth control. This could involve alleging that Bayer failed to warn about potential health risks associated with Yaz, produced a defective product, or designed an inherently dangerous product.
The process of filing a lawsuit against Yaz birth control drug, generally starts with gathering all relevant medical documentation that shows your use of the drug and the side effects of birth control Yaz, that are believed to be caused by it. This could include medical records, prescriptions, hospital bills, and documentation of any related financial losses, such as lost wages due to time off work for medical treatment or recovery.
Remember, pursuing legal action is a significant decision that requires thoughtful consideration and expert advice. Hence, it’s crucial to engage with an experienced product liability attorney to help navigate through this complex process.
Conclusion
The Yaz cancer lawsuits have served as a wake-up call, emphasizing the need for transparency and safety in drug production. As consumers, we must demand this from pharmaceutical companies. These Bayer Yaz lawsuits also highlight the need to address medical breakthroughs and potential fallout from them.
As we conclude our study of the contraceptive pill cases, it’s clear there is a shared responsibility among healthcare, the law, and society. Let these lessons inspire us to act cautiously and responsibly in medical research, ensuring health and justice always prioritize human well-being.
Stay tuned for more updates on Yaz lawsuits 2024.
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