The OrthoEvra birth control patch has been linked to an increased risk of blood clots, heart attacks, strokes and pulmonary embolism - and even death. TheseOrthoEvra dangers can lead to serious complications for women and are potentially fatal.
Despite the increased risk when compared with traditional birth control pills, the manufacturer of Ortho Evera has argued that the ease of use justifies the danger. They claim that since the birth control is delivered through a skin patch which only needs to be changed weekly, the risk of pregnancy caused by missing a daily does of the pill is reduced. However, studies have shown that in real world use, the birth control patch is actually less effective at promoting continued use.
A study was reported by Reuters health in August 2006 indicating that women considered to be at a high risk of pregnancy are more likely to continue with use of the oral birth control pills than with the Ortho Evera birth control patch. The study was conducted by physicians at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. The researchers concluded that “those using the contraceptive patch were more likely to become pregnant and more likely to discontinue usage”. The continued use of birth control measures was significantly higher in pill users compared with patch users.
The study challenges the manufacturer’s claim that the birth control patch is more effective at reducing unwanted pregnancy. This is yet another reason that experts have called for the FDA to remove the birth control patch from the market.
In late September 2006, the manufacturers of the OrthoEvra added a warning regarding the increased risk of blood clots. This label change came years after the manufacturer was aware of the birth control patch dangers. Saiontz, Kirk & Miles represent victims who were injured by the patch side effects, as there were improper warnings of these dangers and users were unable to make an informed risk/benefit analysis before taking the medication.
Showing posts with label Ortho Evra Side Effects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ortho Evra Side Effects. Show all posts
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
How to prevent blood clots - re Ortho Evra
A recent study found that newer third generation birth control pills double your risk of contracting a potentially fatal blood clot compared to older birth control pills. The group that conducted the study called Public Citizens, stated their facts today to the FDA in hopes that newer birth control pills that contain synthetic progestin desogestrel will be removed from the market immediately.
Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group, told HealthDay News, “"While the use of any type of combined oral contraceptive holds an increased risk of venous thrombosis (blood clots), third-generation birth-control pills double that risk without preventing pregnancy any more effectively than older pills do. Worse, the FDA has known since 1995 that these oral contraceptives were more dangerous but has allowed them to stay on the market for 12 years.”
Although the newer birth control that poses the risk does have a more severe warning label, few actually read and take the warnings seriously. Blood clots typically form in the legs, and then travel elsewhere throughout your body, causing a blockage of blood flow that could cause serious harm or death.
According to HealthDay, the Public Citizens petition stated “The FDA must ensure the well-being and safety of women in the U.S. and ban third-generation oral contraceptives containing desogestrel," the Public Citizen petition stated. Women should discuss with their doctors alternative methods of birth control, such as the second-generation oral contraceptives, and how to safely switch contraceptive methods."
The newer pills are more popular because users experience fewer side affects. Along with their petition to the FDA, the Public Citizens also have a informative video on youtube which talks about the many things you need to know about birth control.
Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group, told HealthDay News, “"While the use of any type of combined oral contraceptive holds an increased risk of venous thrombosis (blood clots), third-generation birth-control pills double that risk without preventing pregnancy any more effectively than older pills do. Worse, the FDA has known since 1995 that these oral contraceptives were more dangerous but has allowed them to stay on the market for 12 years.”
Although the newer birth control that poses the risk does have a more severe warning label, few actually read and take the warnings seriously. Blood clots typically form in the legs, and then travel elsewhere throughout your body, causing a blockage of blood flow that could cause serious harm or death.
According to HealthDay, the Public Citizens petition stated “The FDA must ensure the well-being and safety of women in the U.S. and ban third-generation oral contraceptives containing desogestrel," the Public Citizen petition stated. Women should discuss with their doctors alternative methods of birth control, such as the second-generation oral contraceptives, and how to safely switch contraceptive methods."
The newer pills are more popular because users experience fewer side affects. Along with their petition to the FDA, the Public Citizens also have a informative video on youtube which talks about the many things you need to know about birth control.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Ortho Evra Side Effects
Since the Ortho Evra patch was approved in 2001, there has been some concern over serious Ortho Evra side effects. The Ortho Evra birth control patch was prescribed to over two million women in 2004 alone, according to its manufacturer Ortho-McNeil. The most serious Ortho Evra side effects to raise concern in medical communities across the nation is news that the patch increases a woman''s risk of developing a blood clot.
In 2005, a media source publicized the conclusions from an Ortho Evra side effects study they conducted independent of medical experts. This news group analyzed FDA data about Ortho Evra side effects reports to conclude that the birth control patch triples a woman''s risk of developing a fatal blood clot. This group calculated that the risk of death from a birth control patch side effect blood clot was three per 200,000 women. The risk of fatal blood clot from the oral birth control pill comparatively is one death in 200,000 women.
Concern about this potentially deadly Ortho Evra side effects continues to be fueled by recent reports of deaths linked to use of this medication. The birth control patch has been blamed for the deaths of 23 women, including 17 women who died as result of blood clot complications. Many of these alleged victims of fatal Ortho Evra side effects complications were young and healthy women with no history of blood clots or other cardiovascular conditions.
In these young healthy women who died as a result of Ortho Evra side effects, many developed a rapid onset of symptoms before falling deathly ill. These Ortho Evra side effects symptoms included:
* severe headache
* vision problems
* vomiting
* and nausea.
The patient package insert from Ortho-McNeil states that a number of birth control patch side effects can occur with use of this medication. Many of these potential side effects are shared by all hormonal birth control methods. The possible Ortho Evra side effects risks include: breast changes, headaches, nausea, menstrual changes, vaginal discharge, and abdominal cramps and bloating.
Ortho-McNeil and other medical experts have claimed that the Ortho Evra side effects study distorts the facts and misleads the public into believing unproven statements. Of the 13,000 clinical trial participants in 103 studies, not a single woman has suffered a birth control patch side effect that resulted in blood clot or fatality. These pundits refute the argument that Ortho Evra side effects risks can lead to life-threatening blood clots and other cardiovascular injury.
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