YAZ PULMONARY EMBOLISM
For what concern have you or your loved one been taking Yaz? Is that issue severe enough to risk pulmonary embolism? In some cases the answer may be yes. If you are taking Yaz only for acne treatment, then you may be at risk of or have already been a victim of pulmonary embolism. Every day, women are making choices with doctors and are risking their own lives, or the lives of their daughters. Many doctors are advising young women and teenage girls to begin taking Yaz birth control pills for a variety of female ailments ranging from acne to PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder). This has led to Yaz/Yazmin being widely prescribed to a large number of women in many different age groups.
The Onder Law Firm is investigating the incidence of Yaz related pulmonary embolism and wants to hold Bayer responsible for their reckless medical practices. If you or someone you know has been affected by Yaz related blood clotting or pulmonary embolism, call the Onder Law Firm at 877-Drug101.
What is pulmonary embolism? Succinctly, pulmonary embolism is a blood clot that forms anywhere in the body and moves to the lungs. It then blocks one or more branches of the pulmonary (or lung) arteries. Common signs and symptoms of pulmonary embolism include the following:
- Shortness of breath or needing to breathe rapidly
- Sharp, knife-like chest pain while taking a deep breath
- Coughing or coughing up blood
- A rapid heart rate
- Rapid breathing
- Crackling or wheezing when listening to the lungs
- Decreased breath sounds when listening to the lungs
- Accentuated pulmonic component of the second heart sound and jugular venous distension
Why is Yaz being investigated in relation to pulmonary embolism? Yaz contains a new 4th generation of synthetic progestin (a hormone) called Drospirenone. Drospirenone is a known diuretic that leaches sodium from the blood and tissues including the heart. It also increases potassium levels in the body. The body then has a severe imbalance of electrolytes and the heart goes into arrhythmia or an irregular heartbeat. This causes blood to pool in the arteries due to lack of blood flow from an unproductive heart. A blood clot forms and when that blood clot gets dislodged, it often moves around the body, getting caught in the smaller arteries of the lungs.
The synthetic hormone Drospirenone is not currently being used in any other oral contraceptive on the market in the United States except Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella (the generic form). Yaz and Yasmin are both products of Bayer Pharmaceuticals. The addition of Ethinyl Estradiol, also found in Yaz, has been shown to magnify this effect in the body.
The extreme side effects that Drospirenone induces have caused both the FDA and medical agencies around the world to investigate the safety of Yaz. According to a recent Yaz/Yasmin lawsuit in Ohio, over 50 deaths of Yaz and Yasmin users have been reported to the FDA. Underreporting of adverse drug reactions may mean that the actual percentage of severe side effects, including pulmonary embolism is underestimated. The FDA has also cited and fined Bayer for misleading advertising practices stating, “In summary, the TV ad not only misleads consumers about the efficacy of Yasmin, the ad also minimizes important context about the health risks of the drug.”
Due to the FDA investigation and lawsuits, Bayer reached an agreement with the Food and Drug Administration in 2008 to run a $20 million corrective ad campaign for overstating the benefits of Yaz and downplaying its risks. The FDA had issued Bayer a warning letter about the ads, noting that Yaz actually has additional risks compared to other birth control pills because it contains the progestin Drospirenone, which can increase potassium levels. (The National Law Journal, July 14, 2009)
At times, the positive effects of a drug will offset the severity of the side effect of that medication. In the case of Yaz, the side effects such as pulmonary embolism far outweigh the results. There are a myriad of other medications for contraception, acne treatment, and treatment of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) that do not present an increased risk of death. You should not be a victim of a severe disease like pulmonary embolism because Bayer and the FDA have not pulled Yaz off of the market.
It is not too late! If you or someone you know has been prescribed Yaz, you need to be concerned about the possibility of pulmonary embolism. Maybe you know someone who has died unexpectedly and afterword found out they were taking Yaz. Call the The Onder Law Firm at 877-Drug101 to discuss your legal options. Yaz related stroke may be the answer to your unexplained situation. You now have the opportunity to hold Bayer accountable. Find more information at www.yazhealthrisk.com.
