Both Yaz and Yasmin are oral contraceptives produced by the German drug manufacturer Bayer and Ocella is the generic brand of Yasmin and is marketed and distributed by Barr Laboratories, located in Pomona, NY. Oral contraceptives (or birth control pills) like Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella work to prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation, thickening the cervical mucus, and hardening the lining of the uterus. The basic difference between Yaz and Yasmin is the level of dosage. With 24 active pills and only 4 inactive pills per month, Yaz has a lower dosage per pill. Meanwhile, Yasmin comes in the more traditional distribution of 21 active pills and 7 inactive pills, thus a higher dosage per active pill.
In contrast to more traditional birth control pills, Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella use the progesterone called drospirenone, which is closely associated with other medicines typically used as diuretics. Yaz and Yasmin use drospirenone in conjunction with ethinyl estradiol, a combination which has been found to increase potassium levels in the blood and lead to hyperkalemia. Persons with hyperkalemia, if left untreated, face a much higher risk of cardiac arrhythmia and other serious heart problems. Adding to this potentially dangerous picture is the fact that hyperkalemia is often difficult to detect and may only be found during blood testing or after serious heart complications have already occurred, as there are few if any discernable symptoms.
Suffered harm from Yaz/Yasmin? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights. [Sponsored link]
The FDA has not taken Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella off the market in the United States. However, the FDA has issued two warning letters to Bayer over Yaz and Yasmin. The first came in October 2008, which indicated Bayer overstated the benefits of the drugs in two television commercials. As a result of negotiations, Bayer ended up pulling the ads and running a new ad campaign to correct the misinformation. Then, in a possible precursor to a recall, the FDA issued a warning letter to Bayer in August 2009 detailing manufacturing violations that may have led to unsafe batches of the drugs entering the U.S. market.
The combination of this recent news, and the well-documented health problems surrounding use of Yaz and Yasmin, has generated a spate of new lawsuits by users of the drugs, as well as investors, claiming that Bayer misled the public, and concealed the health risks associated with the pills.
If you or a loved one has suffered harm as a result of the use of Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella, seek legal help immediately to protect your rights. There is no fee and no other obligation, however, if you delay, you may lose your right to seek compensation for injuries caused by Yaz or Yasmin due to state-imposed time limits for filing a lawsuit.
Check out the following articles for more information about Yaz, Yasmin & Ocella, filing a Yaz or Yasmin lawsuit, and finding a Yaz, Yasmin & Ocella attorney.
Suffered harm from Yaz/Yasmin? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights. [Sponsored link]