Manufactured and marketed by Bayer HealthCare, Beyaz is a widely-prescribed combination oral contraceptive similar to Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella. As its primary active ingredients, Beyaz contains drospirenone, ethinyl estradiol and levomefolate. Drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol prevent ovulation by inhibiting the release of an egg from the ovary, while levomefolate helps prevent a birth defect that could occur in a baby if an unanticipated pregnancy occurs while taking the drug. Beyaz is primarily prescribed to prevent pregnancy, though it is also commonly used to treat moderate acne in females who are at least 14 years old and have started having menstrual periods.
Like Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella, Beyaz has recently been linked to an increased risk for serious side effects compared to other types of birth control pills. The drospirenone contained in these drugs can increase a user’s potassium levels in the blood. This can lead to serious, potentially life-threatening health complications including:
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Blood Clots
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Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
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Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)
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Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
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Hyperkalemia
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Gallbladder Disease / Injury (cholecystitis)
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Gallbladder Removal (cholecystectomy)
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Strokes
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Cerebrovascular Accidents
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Heart Attacks
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Myocardial Infarction
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Death
In May 2011, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it was launching a safety review of Beyaz and other birth control pills containing drospirenone after it became aware of at least two studies linking the hormone to an increased risk of blood clots. The announcement came just days after the European Medicines Agency officially determined that drospirenone-containing medications were associated with a two to three times higher risk of venous thromboembolism compared to contraceptives containing levonorgestrel. According to the FDA, the goal of the ongoing review is to fully assess the risks and benefits of drospirenone-based drugs.
After the FDA first broke news in 2009 that Beyaz and other drospirenone-containing birth control pills are more dangerous than other types of contraceptives, women around the country began filing a Beyaz lawsuit against their manufacturers. These cases are currently consolidated in four primary jurisdictions: the federal court in Illinois and state courts in California, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
In December 2010, the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas issued an order scheduling the first trials in the Yaz/Yasmin/Ocella litigation. These trials, called the ‘bellwether’ cases, are intended to be representative claims that will be tried first and hopefully encourage settlements. The idea is that a verdict in a bellwether case will provide information to all parties about the strength and weaknesses of similar cases.
The litigation has been grouped into three categories based on the types of injuries caused by the drugs. In the first group, trials will be conducted for women who experienced pulmonary embolisms. The second will feature trials for women who had their gallbladders removed after taking the drugs. Finally, the court will hear cases from women who had blood clots. The initial trials were scheduled to begin in January and February of 2012, but were subsequently put on hold and the parties were ordered to negotiate settlements in good faith.
Women who have suffered any of the injuries listed above after taking Beyaz should understand the legal remedies available to them. If you or someone you love developed a blood clot or gallbladder disease while taking Beyaz, you may be eligible to recover damages.
Michael E. Schmidt is recognized as one of Americaʼs most passionate, accomplished and skilled trial lawyers. His law firm, Schmidt & Clark, LLP and The Senators Firm, LLP are currently accepting Beyaz lawsuits in all 50 states. To learn more about this topic, please visit his website: http://www.schmidtandclark.com/beyaz
