Yaz/yasmin

The very popular birth control pills Yaz and Yasmin are coming under fire lately with an increased number of pharmaceutical error claims of health problems related to the drugs. Both Yaz/Yasmin are both combined oral contraceptives, which contain the same active ingredients drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol. The primary difference is that Yaz has only four inactive pills per pack and 24 active pills. Yasmin, like other oral contraceptives has 7 inactive pills and 21 active.

Popularity

The popularity of Yaz/Yasmin stems from the additional conditions that the manufacturer claims the products treat, specifically acne and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMDD is a group of symptoms related to your premenstrual cycle, which may impact your physical and emotional state. PMDD symptoms include:

Anger and irritability
Depression
Anxiety
Bloating
Changes in appetite
Headaches
Body aches

The progestin ingredient in Yaz/Yasmin has been shown to block or reduce the levels of testosterone in the system (women have small amounts of testosterone), which helps reduce acne. While some of the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are similar to PMDD, Yaz/Yasmin is not used to treat PMS according to the manufacturer.

Risks

Ethinyl estradiol is a hormone ingredient that is active in most other birth control pills and has been safely used since its approval by the FDA in 1943. Drospirenone however is a relatively new synthetic progestin that is not found in other contraceptives. The amount of drospirenone, 3 mg, can potentially cause a serious condition called hyperkalemia, which in turn can lead to arrhythmias and blood clots.

Yaz/Yasmin has been linked with several severe medical conditions that could be life threatening, including:

High blood pressure
Stroke
Deep vein thrombosis
Cardiac arrhythmias
Gallbladder disease
Sudden death
Potential Recall

The FDA recently sent a warning letter to Bayer, the maker of Yaz/Yasmin warning about unacceptable reporting of the product in a lab in Germany. Several batches of the contraceptives that fell outside of testing norms were released inappropriately and distributed in the United States.

The warning letter and the pending product liability lawsuits against Yaz/Yasmin lead many to speculate that the product may be recalled if it is indeed found to be dangerous. In July of 2009, a motion was made to consolidate the lawsuits into a multi-district litigation (MDL). A ruling is expected sometime in September of 2009.

If you are taking Yaz/Yasmin oral contraceptives for birth control, treatment of PMDD, or serve acne, and have experienced any of the above problems, you should seek the services of an experienced product liability attorney.