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Ortho Evra Patch
Users of the Ortho Evra transdermal birth control patch may be at risk for heart attacks, stroke or pulmonary embolisms. If you have suffered any of the above injuries, you are not alone. Fill out our Questionnaire form and have your situation evaluated by an attorney today.
Ortho Evra Health Risks
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
- Pulmonary Embolism
- Blood Clots
Health Risks of the Ortho Evra patch include the possibility of blood clots in the legs or lungs and hypertension. Additionally, the side effects of Ortho Evra may lead to further complications and other health risks. For these reasons, women who smoke or have a history of migraines, high blood pressure, diabetes, abnormal and unexplained vaginal bleeding, blood clots, liver cancer or disease, breast or uterine cancer, stroke or heart attack should not risk their health by using Ortho Evra.
The Ortho Evra contraceptive patch releases estrogen through the skin into the bloodstream. Using the patch, women are exposed to higher levels of estrogen than most birth controls pills. Since its introduction to the market in 2002, over ten million prescriptions have been written for the birth control patch under the brand name of Ortho Evra. In 2004, there were 9,677 reports of adverse effects from Ortho Evra birth control patch.
Johnson & Johnson's Ortho Evra contraceptive patch contains higher levels of a hormone known to cause blood clots than average birth control pills, U.S. regulators warned. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on November 10, 2005 that the new label for the patch will include information about the higher levels of estrogen. Women who use Ortho Evra are exposed to 60 percent more estrogen than those who use the pill, the FDA said in its statement. But the pills, which contain several variations with different hormone levels for use during one month, can contain a higher maximum amount of estrogen. The difference in exposure may be due to the delivery mechanism of the patch hormones and absorption into the body.
Among the side effects reported have been debilitating strokes, leaving some users almost completely paralyzed. Ortho Evra lawsuits have been filed nationwide on behalf of women who have died or been seriously injured by blood clots allegedly caused by the Ortho Evra patch.
On July 25, 2005, ten women filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Ortho McNeil, alleging the Ortho Evra patch caused them to suffer strokes and blood clots. The lawsuit calls the product “unreasonably dangerous” and contends the patch is “defectively designed.”
The FDA has received twenty-one reports of life-threatening blood clots and other ailments associated with Ortho Evra birth control patch use. The contraceptive patch, which has been aggressively marketed using Olympic athletes, sexy ads and fashion models, has been linked to the deaths of at least seventeen young American women over the past two years. FDA records show that seventeen patch users between the ages of 17 and 30 have suffered fatal heart attacks, blood clots and possible strokes since August 2002. The first fatality publicly blamed on the Ortho Evra patch was in April 2005, when a Manhattan fashion student collapsed in a city subway station. An autopsy found that a blood clot had moved into the victim's lung, and the medical examiner ruled that the clot was a side effect of the birth control device. Ortho-McNeil, the manufacturer or the Ortho Evra birth control patch, has aggressively marketed the patch as a convenient alternative to oral birth control pills. Its original product label stated that the patch's health risks were similar to those related to oral contraceptives.
The FDA still has not taken action to protect women from these potentially serious side effects. In fact, the agency initially approved the patch in spite of evidence that Ortho Evra greatly increased the risk of strokes and blood clots. The FDA has come under fire lately for not responding adequately to public health concerns, including the delayed response with the prescription drug Vioxx.
If you are a victim of the Ortho Evra birth control patch, it is important that you contact an experienced, knowledgeable defective drug attorney in a timely manner.
Statutes of limitations restrictions exist for all Ortho Evra birth control lawsuits. This dictates the amount of time a victim has to file a claim after suffering from complications from the patch. Acting quickly is imperative, because if these statutes of limitations run out, the individual may be unable to seek any compensation for the injuries they have suffered.
Your Legal Rights
The law in most states provides several personal injury claims for persons who have been seriously injured by a medical device or prescription drug with dangerous, undisclosed side effects.
Damages sought against manufacturers of an allegedly dangerous prescription drug typically include:
- Physical pain and suffering, mental anguish and physical impairment;
- Medical expenses associated with the allegedly defective product; and
- Loss of earnings and/or earning capacity
For persons who have died, family members can bring a wrongful death action.
Our Lawyers Can Help
If you or a family member has suffered a serious injury or a loved one died after being prescribed the Ortho Evra patch, you may be able to file a claim. Fill out our Questionnaire form and have your situation evaluated by an attorney today.
Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, PLC legal claims against Johnson & Johnson and Ortho McNeil, the manufacturers of Ortho Evra birth control patches. Please contact us to discuss your legal rights at no cost or obligation. We will handle all inquires with the strictest confidentiality. Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz, PLC works with other plaintiff law firms through out the United States to better serve their clients. |
