Ortho Evra in the News:

November 2, 2006 - Ortho-McNeil faces new lawsuits its Ortho Evra birth control patch caused 43 serious medical conditions and one death.

A new round of lawsuits filed against Ortho-McNeil on November 2, 2006, alleges its popular birth control patch was responsible for 43 blood clots and other cardiovascular and health related issues.  A second complaint surrounds the death of a 25-year-old woman from Maryland who died after Ortho Evra allegedly caused blood clots in her lungs and legs.

The lawsuit contends that Ortho-McNeil failed to sufficiently warn patients about the severity of the potential side effects, which could include strokes, pulmonary embolisms, and blood clots.  Almost 400 women are currently in litigation with Ortho-McNeil over similar complaints.

Ortho-McNeil warns of new dangers of Ortho Evra birth control patch

September 20, 2006

Ortho-McNeil and the Food and Drug Administration alerted patients on September 20, 2006, to a new revision of the prescribing information of the popular Ortho Evra transdermal birth control patch. 

According to the results of a new study, the Ortho Evra patch is twice as likely to cause incidents of venous thromboembolism as traditional oral contraceptives.  This study confirms the concerns of the FDA that transdermal birth control can significantly increase the chances of severe cardiovascular-related problems.

Venous thromboembolism, or VTE, can lead to two potentially life-threatening conditions called venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.  Commonly called blood clots, venous thrombosis typically occurs when blood cells build up in a vein in the leg or lower extremities.  Pulmonary embolisms are far more dangerous, as these are clots that travel through the circulatory system until they reach the lungs.  These clots are particularly destructive to the delicate tissue of the lungs, and cause breathing difficulties, severe pain, and even death.  The danger of VTEs is that they often appear without symptoms, and cause significant damage before they can be treated.

The amount of hormones in oral contraceptives have long been associated with increasing the rates of VTEs, but transdermal patches are more likely to cause these problems as they contain elevated levels in order to compensate for the hormones lost during absorption through the skin.  Skin absorption levels differ from person to person, so some women can absorb too much of the drug faster than they should. This can result in a number of serious health consequences including venous thromboembolism.

Ortho-McNeil adjusted their prescription information to reflect the new study, but unfortunately this warning has come too late for the millions of women who trusted their birth control to this potentially dangerous product.

If you or someone you know was injured by the Ortho Evra transdermal birth control patch you need to visit http://resource4orthoevrainfo.com/ immediately.  There you find invaluable answers to any question you may have about your rights and what you can do to take action against those responsible for your condition.

In November of 2005, the makers of Ortho Evra warned the world that their birth control patch may put women at higher risk for blood clots and other health risks than previously disclosed. Ortho McNeil is a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson and manufactures the Ortho Evra patch, which over 4 million women have taken since 2002.

The danger of Ortho Evra is related to the high levels of estrogen that the patch releases. Women who use Ortho Evra instead of typical birth control pills are exposed to 60 percent more estrogen, which can get into the bloodstream and have severe health consequences. Ortho McNeil's warning comes at a time when the Ortho Evra patch has received much scrutiny due to allegations that it is directly responsible for the deaths of several users.

Women deserve to make an informed choice when choosing a birth control method. This involves being fully aware of the potential health risks of Ortho Evra compared to birth control pills. If you or someone you care about has suffered, discuss your case with an experienced attorney today.