In late 2011, the federal Food and Drug Administration approved a generic version of the birth control pill Yaz, the trade name for the drug drospirenone. The generic version will be sold under the name Vestura.
Following a significant advertizing campaign, Yaz, and its sister drug Yasmin, have become pharmaceutical manufacturer Bayer's two most lucrative brands. Unfortunately, this profit has come at a steep price - Yaz and Yasmin have been shown to put users at risk of blood clots, strokes and other serious side effects.
A recent Israeli study found that women who take Yaz or Yasmin are between 43 and 65 percent more likely to develop a dangerous blot clot condition known as venous thromboembolism than women who take non-drospirenone-containing birth control pills. Venous thromboembolisms normally develop in the legs, but the blood clots can break loose and damage other parts of the body. For example, if the clot travels to the lung, it can cause a pulmonary embolism.
The risks of Yaz side effects are higher in women who smoke, are over age 25, are obese or have high blood pressure.
U.S. Supreme Court Banned Some Generic Drug Lawsuits
Insurance companies often push patients to generic drugs because they are significantly less expensive than name-brand pills.
However, women who are injured by generic birth control pills may not have the same rights as women who are injured by name-brand medications.
The Supreme Court of the United States recently ruled that generic drug manufacturers cannot be held liable in state court as a result of the manufacturers' failure to inform the FDA of newly-discovered health risks that are not included on the prescription's current warning label. The Court reasoned that state law claims should be barred because they conflict with federal law.
Although this rule may make recovery more difficult, it by no means bans lawsuits resulting from injuries caused by dangerous prescription drugs. People who are injured by Yaz, Yasmin or any other medication should contact a drug injury attorney who can help them understand their rights.
