Medical experts, including those on a recent FDA advisory panel have concluded that Yaz and Yasmin may be more likely to cause blood clots than older types of birth control pills. A majority of the panel concluded that the products’ label should be changed to warn of the potentially fatal nature of these blood clots.
Bayer promoted these drugs as offering advantages over standard birth control pills, including fewer side effects, alleviating acne and preventing premenstrual symptoms and headaches. In 2009, the FDA found those claims to be exaggerated and forced Bayer to run corrective television ads.
Yaz and Yasmin contain a synthetic version of the hormone progestin called drospirenone. According to a study by the FDA, which reviewed 800,000 women between 2001 and 2007, drospirenone based birth control pills increased the risk of blood clots by 75% when compared to older birth control pills. The study found that these drugs also doubled the risk of arterial thrombotic events such as heart attacks and strokes in some users. FDA studies also found significantly increased risk of blood clots linked to the Ortho-Evra patch and the NuvaRing contraceptive device.
Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed around the country claiming that Bayer failed to adequately warn users of the increased risk of blood clots, heart attacks, strokes and even death. Click here for more on this story.
