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Warnings have been issued notifying women who use the popular Ortho Evra birth control patch that they are exposed to more hormones and thus may be at a higher risk of suffering potentially deadly blood clots and other serious side effects. On Feb. 17, 2006, the manufacturer of the Ortho Evra patch cited company research in announcing that women who used the patch face twice the risk of developing blood clots as those who take birth control pills. More recently, in January 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced changes to the label of the Ortho Evra patch following results of a new study that showed evidence of a risk for venous thromboembolism. That study found that women 15 to 44 years old who used the patch were at higher risk than were women taking birth control pills. (Read article) The first warning about the contraceptive was sounded in November 2005 in a statement by the FDA and the maker of the Ortho Evra birth control patch, Ortho Women’s Health, a unit of Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.
That warning followed by several months a story by the Associated Press that women who use the patch develop blood clots and die at three times the rate of women taking a standard birth control pill. The AP, citing federal reports, said about a dozen young women died in 2004 from blood clots believed to be related to use of the Ortho Evra birth control patch. If you or someone you know suffered a serious clot-related injury or died as a result of using the birth control patch, you may want to contact an Ortho Evra attorney for a free evaluation of your case. Several lawsuits have reportedly been filed in death cases and others in which patients suffered strokes or other physical problems related to blood clots believed to be brought on by higher estrogen exposure. Most of the women affected were in their late teenage years and early 20s. The company said in a news release that women who use the patch will be exposed to about 60 percent more estrogen than those who use a typical birth control pill containing 35 micrograms of estrogen. It said side effects are rare but that “serious risks, which can be life threatening, include blood clots, stroke and heart attacks.” Ortho McNeil also said some women should not use the patch, including those who have blood clots, certain cancers or a history of heart attack or stroke. While most birth control medicines contain the same amount of estrogen, patients using the patch have higher estrogen levels because the hormone is absorbed directly into the bloodstream while pills are swallowed and digested before they reach the bloodstream. The FDA said new labeling for the Ortho Evra birth control patch would be used to notify women of the higher estrogen levels. A letter was also to be sent to doctors notifying them of the potential risks of using the birth control patch. Kline & Specter, with some 30 attorneys (several of whom are also highly regarded doctors), has broad expertise and experience in pursuing pharmaceutical injury claims. Our law firm, based in Philadelphia and serving the Pennsylvania - New Jersey - Delaware region as well as clients nationwide, has produced superb results in a large number of personal injury cases. Contact an Ortho Evra birth control patch lawyer today. Frequently Asked Questions (click here) *** News Links: Kline & Specter handles cases in the areas:
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