Yasmin FDA Warnings

Yasmin (Yaz) is an oral contraceptive (birth control pill) containing the progesterone drospirenone and the estrogen ethinyl estradiol. Yasmin was put on the market in 2001 and the initial TV ads for it were dangerously misleading because they implied that Yasmin (generic name: Ocella) was safer than other oral contraceptives. In 2003, the FDA issued a warning to Berlex Laboratories to withdraw the misleading ads. A defective drug attorney can help people who have been mislead by deceptive advertising into taking medication that was not safe for them and who were harmed by the drug.

The Reason behind the FDA Warnings on Yasmin

Yasmin is different from other oral contraceptives on the market because it contains the progesterone drospirenone—something no other contraceptive contains. Berlex stressed this difference in its ads, which stated “see the difference a little chemistry can make,” thus implying that Yasmin was both safer and more effective than other oral contraceptives on the market; this claim is simply false.

The fact is that drospirenone can cause a dangerous condition in women with certain medical conditions. Drospirenone interferes with the body’s fluid regulating mechanism and can cause increased potassium levels in the blood—a condition called hyperkalemia.

Hyperkalemia can lead to abnormal heart rhythms which interfere with circulation and can cause embolisms (blood clots), strokes, and heart attacks. The TV ad for Yasmin lightly touch on this risk, but not sufficiently. As the FDA warning letter to Berlex noted, the statement about increased potassium levels from taking the drug, almost made it seem as though this was good thing.

Berlex withdrew this deceptive ad, only to issue other misleading ads. The FDA once more warned the company about the misleading ads. The dangers of Yasmin became more apparent between 2004 and 2008, when the FDA received reports of fifty deaths linked to the drug; most deaths were due to hyperkalemia.

If you believe that you or someone you love has been harmed by taking Yasmin, Newsome can help. Fill out our case evaluation form to the right of the screen and one of our experienced “Yasmin” defective drug attorneys will advise you of your legal rights and help you get financial compensation for your suffering. Also cases involving Yaz Side Effects.

People with the following conditions should not take Yasmin:

· A history of stroke or blood clots.

· Circulation problems, especially those caused by diabetes.

· A heart valve disorder.

· Uterine or breast cancer.

· Abnormal vaginal bleeding.

· Kidney or liver disease.

· Severe high blood pressure.

· An adrenal gland disorder.

· Migraine headaches.

· A history of jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) caused by birth control pills.

· Hyperlipidemia (elevated blood cholesterol and other lipids)

Other Risk Factors and Yasmin

Women with any type of heart disease or who are overweight are especially prone to serious side effects from Yasmin, as are women who had had high blood pressure or are diabetic. People who have previously experienced clinical depression may develop depression while on Yasmin. Yasmin has also been linked with gallbladder disease, liver cancer, breast cancer, and uterine cancer; inform your doctor if you had had any of these conditions, if he or she is considering prescribing Yasmin for you. Yasmin also presents an extra risk for people with epilepsy or who have ever had seizures.

Do not smoke while taking Yasmin as smoking can increase your risk of blood clots. Women over 35 are especially subject to an increased risk of blood clots, heart attack, or strokes from smoking while taking any form of oral contraceptive.

If you believe that you or someone you love has been harmed by taking Yasmin, Newsome can help. Fill out our case evaluation form to the right of the screen and one of our experienced “Yasmin” defective drug attorneys will advise you of your legal rights and help you get financial compensation for your suffering.