Yaz is an oral contraceptive marketed by Bayer. In the time since the FDA approved it for general use in 2006, Yaz has become the most popular oral contraceptive in the United States. Its short time on the market has been marred by multiple FDA warnings, countless complaints and even Yaz lawsuits. The drug is used effectively for contraception when taken as indicated, but it has as one its key ingredients dropsirenone, which is a chemical form of the natural hormone progesterone. Drospirenone cannot be found in any other oral contraceptives in the U.S. except the similar products Yasmine and Ocella, which have also been criticized for their safety. Drospirenone is noted for its likelihood to cause severe health problems which challenges the overall safety and value of Yaz. Yaz lawyers argue, based on FDA warnings, that the company neglected to adequately warn the public of the drospirenone’s health risks and even went so far as to claim other benefits of the drug that had not yet been proven.
Yaz is effective as a contraceptive because it prevents ovulation and changes conditions within the cervix and uterus in order to make it difficult for sperm to enter or fertilized eggs to impant. Drospirenone was noted for its close similarity to organic progesterone, which is the hormone present when ovulation is not taking place. Drospirenone has also been shown to prevent acne and lessen symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) – which is not the same as PMS.
Unfortunately, drospirenone has been found to cause several dangerous and even potentially fatal side effects. A powerful diuretic, it can lead to dangerously high levels of potassium in the blood (hyperkalemia). Hyperkalemia causes blood clots to form ,potentially leading to stroke, heart attack and deep vein thrombosis. Thrombosis refers to the formation of blood clots within a vein, which typically occur in deep veins in the legs and pelvic area. Another extremely serious risk is that of blood clots forming in the pulmonary artery, causing heart attack. Blood clots may also travel through the blood stream and become stuck int the brain, which causes stroke. Other recorded outcomes of Yaz include gallbladder disease, kidney failure, liver failure, cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death.
To date, dozens of Yaz lawsuits have been filed related to these problems and Yaz lawyers are working to represent thousands of others impacted by the drug. Yaz lawyers cite FDA warnings as early as 2003 for the similar drug Yasmin. In the earliest of these warnings, Bayer is accused of failing to conduct proper testing on drospirenone and neglecting to make the health risks of the drug known to the public. FDA warnings in 2008 and 2009 condemn the company for its misleading advertisements which claim unproven uses for Yaz (such as the treatment of PMS, which has never been substantiated) and which fail to notify consumers of the side effects. Yaz is still available to the public, but the growing number of Yaz lawsuits combined with the frequent FDA warnings will hopefully keep more consumers safe from the negative effects of drospirenone in the future.