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Ortho Evra Patch News

Birth Control Patch Linked to Deaths, Strokes
Health Day -

07/17/05 - About a dozen young women died last year from blood clots believed to be related to the birth-control patch Ortho Evra, and dozens more survived strokes and other clot-related problems, safety reports reveal.

The federal drug safety reports obtained by The Associated Press under a Freedom of Information Act request appear to indicate that in 2004 when 800,000 women were on the patch the risk of dying or suffering a survivable blood clot while using the device was about three times higher than while using birth control pills.

The Food and Drug Administration and patch-maker Ortho Mc Neil both maintain that the patch is as safe as the pill, but they both saw warning signs of possible problems with the patch well before it reached the market, AP reports.

Ortho Mc Neil, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, says none of the deaths can be directly attributed to the patch.

"Although we are investigating each and every one of the reports that we get, we have not drawn any causal relationships to the medication," said Dr. Katherine La Guardia, Ortho Mc Neil's director of women's health care, told AP.

Several lawsuits have already been filed by families of women who died or suffered blood clots while using the patch, and lawyers said more are planned.

 

If you or someone you love has used the Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch and has experienced side effects such as: arrhythmia, heart attack, stroke, blood clots, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) you need to know your legal rights. Call our Orth Evra side effects lawyers for a free legal consultation or to ask questions about a possible Ortho Evra lawsuit or Ortho Evra recall.
1-800-856-6405.