Hormone Drospirenone Used Exclusively in YAZ/Yasmin Pills
By Jim Greene
Published on February 23, 2010
Drospirenone is a synthetic progestin used as an active ingredient in YAZ® and Yasmin® oral contraceptives. No other oral contraceptive uses this progestin, which has helped single out Bayer Health Care Pharmaceuticals, Inc., as the defendant in numerous product liability lawsuits.
Most oral contraceptives contain two hormones as their active ingredients: a progestin, which is a synthetic progesterone, and estrogen. Some progestins used include desogestrel, etonogestrel, levonorgestrel, medroxyprogesterone, norethindrone, norethynodrel, norgestimate, and norgestrel.
Yasmin® Was Predecessor to YAZ®
Yasmin® was developed by Berlex Laboratories as the first oral contraceptive to use drospirenone. After acquiring Berlex, Bayer introduced YAZ® into the U.S. market. YAZ® contains the same amount of drospirenone as Yasmin®, but a third less estrogen, as ethinyl estradiol.
Bayer's original YAZ® advertising promoted the product not only for oral contraception, but as an aid in reducing acne and premenstrual symptoms. Those claims have never been made for Yasmin®.
Product liability/personal injury lawsuits against Bayer claim that YAZ® and Yasmin® are more likely to cause dangerous blood clots than oral contraceptives using other progestins, because drospirenone can cause elevated potassium levels in the blood, leading to abnormal heart rhythm, which can cause the clots. Heart attacks, strokes, and pulmonary embolisms can be caused by this type of blood clot.
Bayer Accused of Misleading Women into Extra Risk
Plaintiffs claim Bayer engaged in false and misleading advertising by greatly exaggerating claims that YAZ®, in addition to its contraceptive application, could reduce acne and premenstrual symptoms, thereby encouraging more women to use a more dangerous product. If you or someone you know has suffered injury or lost a loved one due as a result of blood clots while taking the oral contraceptives YAZ® or Yasmin®, contact an experienced personal injury/wrongful death attorney. The evidence against the progestin drospirenone is strong, and only these Bayer products use it. You may be eligible to receive financial compensation for medical treatment, loss of income, and pain and suffering.
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