Five Plaintiffs Highlight Yaz Blood Clot Risk in New Lawsuit

Five plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit against Yaz manufacturer Bayer, claiming they were unaware of the Yaz blood clot risk when they began taking the oral contraceptive. As an alleged result of their use of the drug, the women all suffered pulmonary embolism, as well as other serious injuries. The women have joined thousands of other plaintiffs seeking compensation after suffering severe side effects from Yaz and Yasmin.

Case joins MDL in Illinois District Court

The plaintiffs filed their lawsuit in United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois on March 26, 2013. Two of the plaintiffs reside in California, one in Wisconsin, one in Texas, and one in Florida. All of the women took Yaz or Yasmin as prescribed by their doctors as a method of contraception.

The plaintiffs in this Yaz side effects lawsuit all claim to have taken the oral contraceptives for a period of approximately one year. At that time, the women allege they experienced severe pain that led to the development of a pulmonary embolism. All of the women state they have undergone surgery and other invasive medical procedures to treat their medical conditions. They have been taking blood thinning medication since the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism and will continue to do so for an unspecified time in the future.

About Yaz and pulmonary embolism

A pulmonary embolism is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when a blood clot forms in the bloodstream and travels to the lung. The clot blocks blood flow to the lung, resulting in sudden pain and shortness of breath. If the condition is not treated as an emergency situation, the results can be fatal.

In most cases, pulmonary embolism is a complication of deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. This condition is characterized by the formation of blood clots in the deep veins of the leg. When a blood clot breaks loose from its original position and travels to the lung, pulmonary embolism can result. These clots can also travel to the heart, causing a heart attack, or the brain where it can result in a stroke.

Yaz blood clot risk

Yaz and Yasmin have been associated with the formation of blood clots and DVT for some time. After they were approved by the FDA in 2001 and 2006, a higher Yaz blood clot risk began to be noted by physicians and researchers alike. These oral contraceptives were particularly concerning, because they contained a new generation of progestin, known as drospirenone. This progestin had never been used in birth control pills before, so side effects and potential dangers were relatively unknown.

During the years that Yaz and Yasmin have been sold in the United States, hundreds of reports of blood clot related injuries such as Yaz pulmonary embolism and stroke have been reported in users. In April, 2012, the FDA warned about Yaz blood clot risks. At that time, the FDA also ordered a label change for the drug’s packaging, to notify medical providers and the general public about that risk.

Unfortunately, that warning came too late for these five plaintiffs, who were diagnosed with pulmonary embolism between 2005 and 2011. Like others who have alleged injuries stemming from the oral contraceptives, these women took legal action against Bayer, claiming the company did not provide sufficient warning about the risks associated with their product. Their recent lawsuit has been added to thousands of other cases currently pending in Yaz and Yasmin multidistrict litigation.

Multidistrict litigation (MDL) is used to coordinate multiple cases with similar complaints and injuries. The federal MDL for Yaz and Yasmin was established in 2009 to streamline the growing number of complaints against Bayer. To date, there are more than 13,500 cases pending against Bayer in the Illinois court.

The plaintiffs in this complaint are seeking compensatory, punitive, statutory and exemplary damages against Bayer. They have included a number of counts against the defendant, including products liability, negligence, fraud, and breach of warranty.