Already, quite a number of women and their families have filed Yaz injury lawsuits against Bayer Pharmaceuticals claiming that they suffered a stroke because they were taking the popular contraception. If you, too, think that your stroke may have been because you were taking Yaz birth control pills, please contact our drug injury law firm right away.
Stroke
A stroke usually involves the brain cells experiencing a sudden death due to insufficient oxygen. This can occur because the blood flow has been obstructed or the artery that feeds the brain may have become ruptured. Depending on the seriousness of the stroke, a stroke victim may experience difficulty speaking, memory problems, paralysis, bladder problems, and even death. There are two main kinds of stroke:
Ischemic stroke: Can occur because a blood clot or thrombus has blocked blood flow to the brain.
Hemorrhagic stroke: Typically involves either a ruptured blood vessel on the surface of the brain filling the area between the skull and the brain with blood or an artery bursting in the brain to create a cerebral hemorrhage.
In a recent study published earlier this year in the New England Journal of Medicine, the link between Yaz and a greater risk of stroke was once again confirmed. Danish researchers, whose study looked at non-pregnant women ranging in age from 15 to 49 over 15 years, found that women taking birth control pills with low-dose estrogen mixed with different progestins experienced strokes and heart attacks about 1.5 – 2 times more than women not taking hormonal contraceptions. The risks were even greater-2.5 – 3 times more-among women using transdermal patches and vaginal rings compared to women who weren’t using these devices.
Age was a considering factor in terms of what a greater risk of stroke might mean. For example a greater risk of thrombotic stroke shouldn’t pose too much cause for concern for a 20-year-old but may have more serious ramifications for someone who is 35 or older. The researchers, however, did also say that the general odds of debilitating effects from taking Yaz were low.
That said, a stroke is a serious side effect to have from taking contraception or any other type of medication. Our Yaz stroke injury lawyers at Altman & Altman, LLP would be happy to provide you with a free case evaluation. Our dangerous drug lawyers have over 40 years of personal injury experience and we work hard to obtain compensation for our clients.
Blood Clots
Also, unfortunately, a greater risk of stroke is not the only serious side effect linked to Yaz. According to Bayer’s latest financial report, the company has put aside another $262.5 million to settle products liability cases involving Yaz and its other popular birth control brand Yasmin over blood clot injuries. (Bloomberg News had reported in July that the drug manufacturer had already put aside $610 million.) Pulmonary embolism and DVT are also serious side effects that have been linked to Yaz.
Bayer is currently facing thousands of Yasmin and Yaz lawsuits.
Birth control pills raise risk of heart attacks and strokes, but only slightly, Boston.com, June 13, 2012
New England Journal of Medicine
More Blog Posts:
Use of Ocella Birth Control Pill May Cause Higher Stroke Risk, Drug Injury Lawyers Blog, October 3, 2012
Number of Yasmin and Yaz Lawsuits Against Bayer Exceeding 10,000, Drug Injury Lawyers Blog, July 26, 2012
Boston Dangerous Drug Lawsuits: YAZ, Ocella, and Yasmin Birth Control Pills Linked to Deep Vein Thrombosis, Pulmonary Embolism, Stroke, Heart Attack, and Myocardial Infarction Side Effects, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, June 19, 2012