YAZ / Yasmin / Ocella

Blood Clots • Pulmonary Embolism (PE) • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) • Stroke • Heart Attack • Gallbladder Removal • Kidney Failure • Pancreatitis

YAZ and Yasmin are birth control pills currently manufactured by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Yasmin was originally made by Berlex Laboratories, which was acquired by Bayer in 2006.

Ocella is the generic equivalent of Yasmin. The Ocella pill is currently manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals. Ocella was originally made by Barr Laboratories, which was acquired by Teva in 2008.

These birth control pills contain ethinyl estradiol and the new "fourth generation" progestin drospirenone (DRSP). YAZ, Yasmin, and Ocella are the only birth control pills to contain drospirenone, which is well-known for increasing the risk for hyperkalemia. Furthermore, these DRSP oral contraceptives have also been associated with potentially fatal blood-clot side effects such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), strokes, and heart attacks. Other serious side effects associated with YAZ, Yasmin, and Ocella are serious gallbladder problems requiring organ removal (cholecystectomy), kidney failure or renal failure, and pancreatitis.

Read more on our YAZ, Yasmin, Ocella Information Page>>

Levaquin

Tendon Rupture • Tendon Tear • Severe Tendonitis / Tendinitis

Levaquin (levofloxacin) is part of the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics. This medication has been linked to tendon injuries, such as tendon ruptures, tendon tears, and severe tendinitis / tendonitis.

Avelox (moxifloxacin) and Cipro (ciprofloxacin), two other popular fluoroquinolone antibiotics, have also been associated with these tendon-related side effects.

Read more on our Levaquin Information Page >>

NuvaRing

Heart Attack • Stroke • Blood Clots • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) • Pulmonary Embolism (PE)

NuvaRing is a birth control product in the form of a vaginal ring containing hormones similar to those in oral contraceptives. NuvaRing has been associated with increased risk of blood clots, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), as well as heart attacks and strokes.

Read more on our NuvaRing Information Page >>

Fosamax

Osteonecrosis of Jaw (ONJ) • Osteomyelitis • Leg Fractures: Femur / Thigh

Fosamax (alendronate) is used to treat osteoporosis but has been associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw, or jaw bone death. Merck resisted the FDA's request to include a warning label concerning the link for almost a year. Fosamax has also been associated with low-stress leg fractures of the femur, or thigh.

Read more on our Fosamax Information Page >>

Byetta

Pancreatitis:  Acute / Hemorrhagic / Necrotizing • Kidney Failure • Renal Insuffiency

Byetta (exenatide) is an injection drug used by adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This diabetes medication has been associated with damage to the pancreas -- acute, hemorrhagic, or necrotizing pancreatitis -- as well as severe kidney problems, including kidney failure and renal insufficiency.

Read more on our Byetta Information Page >>

Drug Injury Watch: Latest Headlines

Read Tom Lamb's blog, at DrugInjuryWatch.com

--> Up-to-date articles regarding prescription drug side effects, drug safety alerts, FDA recall notices, and legal case updates.

Drug Injury Law: Recent Case Evaluations

Ocella - Gallbladder Removal - 31 yr old woman (5767)

Yasmin - Gallbladder Removal - 21 yr old woman - "I had a diseased gallbladder, full of sludge and stones, and had to have it surgically removed while on the medication." (5764)

Fosamax - Right femur fracture 20 months ago; then left femur fracture one month ago - 58 yr old woman - now has rods in both of her legs (5760)

Yasmin - Pulmonary Embolism (PE) and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) - 36 yr old woman (5727)

NuvaRing - Pulmonary Embolism (PE) - 22 yr old woman - six blood clots in lungs (5720)

Ocella - Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) - 30 yr old woman (5718)

Bactrim - Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) / Toxic Epidermal Necrosis (TENS) - 41 yr old woman - possible failure to timely diagnose and treat; medical malpractice / negligence (5711)

Yasmin - Pulmonary Embolism (PE) - 33 yr old woman - One year treatment on blood thinners; now daily injection of Lovenox while pregnant due to a "history" of blood clots (5708)

Byetta - Kidney Failure - 68 yr old man - Currently having dialysis three times weekly (5709)

Visit DrugInjuryWatch.com and see why some of Tom Lamb's articles have been featured on these sites:

    
    

Meridia

Stroke • Heart Attack • Sudden Cardiac Death

The diet drug Meridia (sibutramine) from Abbott Laboratories, Inc. has been linked to an increased risk of serious cardiovascular side effects such as heart attack, stroke, and sudden cardiac death. In January 2010, at the request of European drug regulators, Abbott stopped selling its sibutramine product, Reductil, in the UK.

Read more on our Meridia Information Page >>

Avandia

Heart Attacks • Strokes • Liver Failure • Hepatitis

Avandia (rosiglitazone) is a medication in the thiazolidinedione class of drug and is used to treat Type 2 diabetes patients with insulin resistance. In May 2007 it was found that taking Avandia puts patients at a 43% higher risk of heart attacks.

Read more on our Avandia Information Page >>

Zetia and Vytorin

Hepatitis • Liver Injury • Liver Failure • Pancreatitis

Zetia (ezetimibe) and Vytorin (ezetimibe / simvastatin) are cholesterol-lowering
drugs that selectively inhibit the intestinal absorption of cholesterol. A 2005 Dear Doctor Letter warning of adverse side
effects associated with ezetimibe such as liver failure, drug-induced hepatitis, and acute pancreatitis was issued in Canada but not in the US.

Read more on Zetia / Vytorin Information Page >>

Ketek

Liver Damage • Liver Failure • Liver Transplant

Ketek (telithromycin) is an antibiotic that
has been associated with serious liver
problems such as drug-induced hepatitis and
liver failure, which can result in the need for a liver transplant.

Read more on our Ketek Information Page >>

Zelnorm

Heart Attack • Stroke

Zelnorm (tegaserod maleate) is a serotonin agonist used for short term treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with constipation. It was withdrawn from the market in April 2007 at the FDA's request because clinical trial data showed a link to heart attacks and strokes.

Read more on our Zelnorm Information Page >>

Ortho Evra Patch

Stroke • Pulmonary Embolism (PE) • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) • Blood Clots • Heart Attack

Ortho Evra is a skin adhesive patch used for birth control that can expose women to higher levels of estrogen than regular birth control pills; this can cause serious side effects including heart attacks, strokes, pulmonary embolism (PE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and blood clots.

Read more on our Ortho Evra Information Page >>

Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Heart Defibrillator Lead Wire

Unit Failed To Shock • Unneccesary Electrical Shock

Sprint Fidelis leads are thin wires used in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) units or cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D). Medtronic Sprint Fidelis leads were recalled in October 2007 because these lead wires are prone to fracture in some patients, causing malfunctions that include painful unneeded shocks and possibly fatal failures to send shocks when needed.

Read more on Sprint Fidelis Information Page >>