Popular Oral Contraceptives, Yaz and Yasmin, Under Fire - A Health ...

The makers of Bayer?s popular oral contraceptives, Yaz and Yasmin, are currently under scrutiny as a group of Canadian women file lawsuits against them for allegedly not being forewarned about their increased risk of stroke and other health complications while using this medication. Many women use this birth control pill without ill-effects; however some have reported experiencing racing hearts, strokes and gallbladder problems that require surgery.

?One of those launching the suit is Christine Lovelace. The Halifax woman says after she began taking Yaz last February (for reasons beyond birth control), she developed strange symptoms. She started getting heart palpitations, she says, waking up in the middle of the night with her heart racing, and unusual menstrual changes, with periods lasting as long as 14 days.

Her doctors thought the 42-year-old was suffering from anxiety or entering menopause. They told her not to worry.

Then, last fall, Lovelace had a TIA stroke (transient ischemic attack, or ?mini-stroke?).

?I went paralyzed all down my left side and I lost my ability to communicate. It was terrifying,? she remembers.

She stopped taking the pill and says her symptoms disappeared. She recovered from the stroke but still has some nerve damage in her hand and foot.?

In another case, 27 year old Jennifer Demunnik developed severe abdominal pain and gallstones roughly a year and a half after she began taking Yaz. After surgery to have her gallbladder removed, she searched the internet for answers only to discover many other complaints and about 1,100 lawsuits that have been filed in the U.S. alone.

Although all oral contraceptives are known to have a certain degree of risk for adverse side effects such as blood clots and stroke, where these risks increase in women that smoke or have high cholesterol, but this particular brand appears to have a much greater risk. Those taking legal action against Yaz and Yasmin assert that these brands carry higher risks because they contain a newer formulation that uses a hormone called drospirenone.

Bayer promotes these contraceptives as an attractive option because drospirenone is said to help prevent acne and relieve symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, such as bloating and breast tenderness caused by water retention. On the other hand, this hormone is said to increase potassium levels, which can lead to heart rhythm problems if levels become too high.

?Yasmin and Yaz were approved by Health Canada in 2004 and 2008 respectively. The pills have become bestsellers among teens and young women. More than 2 million prescriptions were filled in Canada in 2009, reports IMS Health Canada.?

These lawsuits may, in the very least, increase the likelihood that Bayer will develop proper label warnings for their product. In addition, the media coverage of these lawsuits will surely help to educate the many women using oral contraceptives to be more aware of any irregularities in their body?s functioning and consult a health care professional if or when concerns arise.

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Source: http://ahealthblog.net/health-care/popular-oral-contraceptives-yaz-and-yasmin-under-fire.html

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