Two new lawsuits brought against makers of Ortho Evra patch

By Elizabeth Rhein

Published on May 19, 2006

The first woman, represented by Ashcraft & Gerel, LLP, had a fatal stroke after using Ortho Evra for about four months. She was 17 years old and healthy before the stroke.

In another case, represented by Parker & Waichman, LLP, a 33-year-old woman alleges that the birth control patch caused numerous health ailments. After using Ortho Evra for about two months, she suffered a bilateral pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Her medical providers say that she will likely need to be treated with anticoagulants for the rest of her life.

Both incidents came before the FDA's warning in October 2005 that Ortho Evra had been shown to increase the risk of stroke and blood clots in women using the birth control patch.

The lawsuits allege that Ortho-McNeil, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson and the manufacturer of Ortho Evra, was aware of the dangers of the drug but failed to give adequate warning to physicians and patients.

If you have been prescribed or are currently using Ortho Evra and are concerned about the possible risks, you should talk to your doctor to discuss the best course of action.

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