Yaz, also marketed under the brand names Yasmin and Ocella, is a popular oral contraceptive medication also used in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and acne. Manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Bayer, Yaz was heavily marketed and quickly became one of the most widely used birth control drugs in the United States. Shortly after the birth control pill was introduced, Yaz sales exploded to nearly $2 billion a year, making it Bayer’s top-selling drug.

Bayer’s aggressive marketing campaign soon garnered widespread scrutiny. In 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that Yaz was not nearly as effective for treating PMS symptoms and acne as Bayer claimed, and that the pharmaceutical company’s claims were misleading and overstated. Additionally, Yaz was soon linked to increased risks for serious, and even life-threatening, adverse effects, including blood clots, heart attack, and sudden death. Unfortunately for the millions of women who had already elected to use Yaz for its many claimed benefits, this information may have come too late.

In light of the many studies that attest to the dangerous side effects of Yaz and Bayer’s many misleading claims and failures to warn, women throughout the country have taken a stand and filed lawsuits against Bayer. If you or your loved one has suffered adverse health effects, including blood clots, after taking Yaz, then you may be eligible to recover monetary compensation for your damages. A Pittsburgh personal injury attorney from our firm is prepared to provide you with a case evaluation so that you may learn more about the potential merits of your claim and the ways in which our firm can help.

As an oral contraceptive, Yaz, as well as Yasmin and Ocella, contain a combination of synthetic hormones. Drospirenone, a synthetic progesterone, has been viewed as one of the major factors contributing to increased risks of adverse side effects. Among the many reported cases of adverse reactions, Yaz has been frequently linked to the following:

• Pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs)
• Deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the legs)
• Heart attack and stroke
• Gallbladder disease
• Sudden death

As drospirenone has been linked to elevated potassium levels, women who take Yaz experience increased risks of blood clots, which in some cases can produce serious and fatal results. Although all birth control medications pose some inherent risks, the risks associated with Yaz are as much as two to three times higher.