Yaz Birth Control Remains Best Seller Despite Lawsuits, FDA Action
By Jim Greene
Published on May 23, 2010
Despite being the subject of more than 1,000 defective drug lawsuits, conflicting safety evaluations, and strong U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criticism, Bayer's YAZ® birth control pills are the top selling contraceptives in the United States. The stage was set for controversy when Bayer introduced a new synthetic progestin ingredient in the earlier Yasmin® and continued its use in YAZ®.
An advertising campaign that drew FDA criticism of its factual accuracy, as well as an order to Bayer to spend millions on corrective messages, may nonetheless have boosted YAZ® sales to the top. The contraceptive grossed more than $309 million in the first half of 2009, an increase of 44 percent from the same period in 2008, according to a pharmaceutical industry promotional consulting firm.
FDA Orders Correction of Bayer's YAZ Claims
The ads to which the FDA objected said that YAZ®, because it contains the synthetic progestin drospirenone, helped combat acne and certain premenstrual symptoms, while not presenting any greater health risk than other birth control pills. The FDA called the claims exaggerated and ordered Bayer to produce corrective ads.
Studies in Denmark and the Netherlands found a higher risk of blood clots, heart attack, stroke, and other medical problems for women using contraceptives that contain drospirenone than for women using contraceptives using older progestin ingredients. Studies in Germany and the United States support the opposite conclusion, that drospirenone is no more dangerous than other progestin, such as levonorgestrel and desogestrel
Birth Control Pills Have History of Health Concerns
Since birth control pills were introduced in the 1960s, studies have shown numerous adverse side effects. To make the decision whether to use them or not more difficult, it has also been shown that pregnancy carries a greater risk of some medical issues than taking the pill.
If you or someone you know has suffered medical issues after taking YAZ® or Yasmin®, you should first consult your doctor, then talk to an experienced product liability attorney. The legal issues surrounding YAZ® and Yasmin® and their possible side effects are complex. You may be eligible for financial compensation; your attorney can guide you in your decision about how to proceed.
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