YAZ Lawsuits

Yasmin versus Yaz

Yaz (drospirenone) and Yasmin (Ocella) are birth control pills that claim to be 99.9 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. Both medications are manufactured and distributed by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, and both are only available via prescription.

Due to the fact that these medications only have one minor difference in their make-up, they have been mistaken as the same birth control pill. They do have some differences, however. While Yaz has been available in the U.S. (with FDA approval) since 2001, Bayer HealthCare first introduced Yasmin in 2004. The primary difference between these birth control pills is their chemical makeup:

  • Yasmin is comprised of 3mg drospirenone and 30mcg ethinyl estradiol, a bio-active form of estrogen used in most contraceptive pills
  • Yaz is comprised of 3mg drospirenone and 20mcg ethinyl estradiol

Yaz vs. Yasmin: Side Effects

Yaz and Yasmin have been reported to cause similar side effects, which range from being minor and fleeting to being incurable and deadly.

Side Effects of Yaz & Yasmin

Given that they are both drospirenone-based contraceptive pills, Yaz and Yasmin cause similar (if not the same) side effects. As with most forms of birth control, women who take Yaz or Yasmin may experience minor symptoms, such as:

  • Breakthrough bleeding
  • Breast inflammation and/or tenderness
  • Fluctuations in menstruation (including late, early, long or absent periods)
  • Headaches
  • Melasma, a darkening of certain regions of the skin
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Weight changes (either weight loss or weight gain)
  • Yeast infections

Although uncomfortable, none of these symptoms pose danger to a woman's health. Side effects should dissipate as the woman's body gets used to taking drospirenone.

On rare occasion, Yaz and Yasmin have been reported to cause the following potentially fatal side effects:

  • Blood clots and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), blood clots in the body's deep veins that significantly hinder healthy circulation
  • Breast lumps
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Heart attack
  • Hyperkalemia, dangerously high levels of potassium in the blood
  • Liver damage
  • Pulmonary embolism (PE), blood clots in the lungs that dangerously impair breathing
  • Stroke
  • Symptoms of depression, including sleeping problems, mood swings, lethargy

For more information about Yaz or Yasmin, or if you feel that you need legal help, contact our defective drug attorneys for help today.