What is YAZ, Ocella or Yazmin?
Yaz (generically, Ocella), a drug that is nearly identical to Yazmin, is a once-a-day birth control pill that was approved by the FDA in March, 2006. It is a combination birth control pill that contains two hormones - estrogen and progestin.
Yazmin was originally approved by the FDA in 2001. Yaz was originally approved by the FDA in 2006.
In addition to providing birth control, the manufacturer received additional approvals for its usage. In October 2006, the FDA approved Yaz for treatment of PDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder). In January 2007, the FDA approved the drug to treat acne.
Who makes Yaz?
Yaz was originally manufactured by Berlex Laboratories. In 2006, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. acquired Berlex, and it began marketing the drug for birth control, as well as treatment of PMS and acne.
Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceutical, Inc. has its US headquarters in Wayne, New Jersey. Bayer's drug is dominant in the US birth control market, with sales exceeding $600 million in 2008 alone.
What is the problem with Yaz?
Use of these drugs has been known to cause:
- heart attack
- stroke
- deep vein thrombosis
- pulmonary embolism
- kidney damage
- sudden cardiac death
What has the FDA done about the problem?
November 2008: FDA sends strong warning letter to Bayer about overstating benefits and understating risks of Yaz in television commercials.
August 2009: Danish study published in British Journal of Medicine shows markedly higher risks with birth control methods such as Yaz and Yasmin that use drospirenone.
September 2009: FDA sends a warning letter to Bayer critical of its manufacturing practices that track the amount of drospirenone in Yaz tablets.
How do I make a claim or get more information?
If you or someone you know has suffered serious side effects from the use of Yaz®, Ocella®, or Yazmin®, contact an Ohio Yaz attorney at Clark Perdue, or call us toll free at 1-866-603-1668.
