Ortho Evra
The Dangers of the Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch
Due to its convenience, more than 4 million women have used Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho Evra birth control patch since it debuted in 2002. However, women who use the patch are three times as likely to suffer blood clots or other Ortho Evra side effects than users of oral contraceptive. Many young women have died as a result of blood clots, heart attack, strokes or other side effects of Ortho Evra.
The problem with increased hormone exposure
Women who use the Ortho Evra patch receive a dose of estrogen that is 60% higher than that of birth control pills. When too much estrogen enters a woman's body, it can lead to serious birth control patch side effects. These Ortho Evra side effects include weight gain, blood clots, strokes, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolisms and even death.
In July 2005, the Associated Press released a study by the Food and Drug Administration. It showed that users of the Ortho Evra birth control patch were three times more likely than users of the pill to develop blood clots, which can lead to more serious Ortho Evra side effects and can be fatal.
The FDA warns women about potential Ortho Evra injuries
In November 2005, the FDA alerted consumers and health care providers about the problems associated with the Ortho Evra birth control patch and forced Ortho-McNeil (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson) to strengthen the drug’s warning label.
However, the warning to women regarding birth control patch side effects came too late for 23 women whose deaths were linked to Ortho Evra by the time the FDA published the caution. Many doctors have since recommended that women stop using the Ortho Evra patch in order to avoid serious birth control patch side effects, but there has not yet been an Ortho Evra recall.Ortho Evra lawyers get involved
Birth control patch attorneys have filed Ortho Evra lawsuits as a result of the adverse side effects and deaths. In many cases, birth control patch users were not adequately notified of the problems and may be eligible to file Ortho Evra lawsuits.
Recent studies have shown that Ortho-McNeil knew of the risks of the Ortho Evra patch but failed to publish the findings. This put women in jeopardy of suffering harmful birth control patch side effects without knowing of the potential dangers linked to the Ortho Evra patch.
Who is most at risk?
Due to the high level of hormone exposure, women of all ages are at risk of experiencing harmful birth control patch side effects, but women between the ages of 14 and 35 have the greatest chance of suffering from strokes and other serious conditions from use of the Ortho Evra patch.
More information on Ortho Evra lawsuits.
