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Yaz

Yaz- also known and sold by Yasmin or Ocella, is an oral contraceptive used to control pregnancies. This drug has been linked to blood clots, strokes, and gallbladder problems.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a warning letter to Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in October 2008, informing the company that its advertising of YAZ birth control was misleading because it exaggerated claims about the drug’s effectiveness and minimized the risk of serious side effects from taking the drug.

The FDA determined that Bayer’s advertisements over-promised the benefit of taking YAZ. The FDA warned Bayer that YAZ was approved only for treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and moderate acne vulgaris, but Bayer’s advertisements at that time promoted use of YAZ for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and all forms of acnes.

The FDA was also concerned that Bayer’s advertising would lead women to underestimate the risks of taking YAZ. In fact, some women who have taken YAZ, Yasmin or Ocella birth control drugs have experienced serious side effects, such as blood clots, stroke, heart attack and gallbladder complications.

All three drugs — YAZ, Yasmin and Ocella - contain ethinyl estradiol (a form of estrogen) and drospirenone (a form of progestin). YAZ, Yasmin and Ocella are the only birth control pills sold today that contain drospirenone, a drug that can increase the level of potassium in the blood to dangerously high levels.

And because YAZ, Yasmin and Ocella birth control uses a different active ingredient (drospirenone) than many other oral contraceptives, you could be at risk for developing health problems as a result of taking these drugs even if you have taken other oral contraceptives without problems in the past.

Yasmin was introduced by Berlex Laboratories in 2001. Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals acquired Berlex in 2006. Bayer then introduced YAZ, an update of Yasmin. In 2008, Ocella was introduced, manufactured by Barr Laboratories using the same active ingredients as YAZ and Yasmin—ingredients supplied to the company by Bayer.

If you or a loved one has been injured and have used Yaz, Yasmin, or Ocella in the past, please contact Matthews & Associates today. Attorneys are available by phone, email, or Click the link below to have someone contact you: