Ortho Evra Information
Ortho Evra - An Overview
Ortho Evra Developed by Ortho-McNeil for Release in United States
Ortho-McNeil™ released Ortho Evra™ in the United States after the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug for release on the market in late 2001. Ortho Evra is a birth control patch applied once a week to the upper arm or torso, abdomen or buttocks. During the fourth week, no patch is applied to allow for menstruation.
Ortho Evra has been linked to serious blood clotting causing injury or death. Families who have lost a loved one should contact an experienced attorney at Miller, Curtis & Weisbrod, L.L.P. in Dallas, Texas to discuss their options. Women who are currently using the Ortho Evra birth control patch and who may be at risk should first seek medical advice, and then contact an attorney at Miller, Curtis & Weisbrod, L.L.P. for legal advice.
Ortho Evra Users at Greater Risk for Blood Clots
Initially, Ortho-McNeil, a division of Johnson & Johnson™, marketed Ortho Evra as an easy-to-use alternative that was just as safe as oral contraceptives. As an added benefit, women only had to replace the patch once each week as compared to taking a pill every day. But Ortho-McNeil's claims of safety came into question after several young, healthy women died while using the Ortho Evra patch.
In 2006, the FDA requested that Ortho Evra's label be changed to reflect results of two studies offering conflicting results on the heath risks associated with Ortho Evra. One study indicated that women using Ortho Evra had two times the risk of developing serious blood clotting than women using birth control pills, but the other study concluded that users of Ortho Evra had no greater risk.
In 2008, Ortho Evra's label was changed again because a third study concluded that Ortho Evra users did face an increased risk of serious blood clotting when using the Ortho Evra patch.
The risk of serious blood clotting from the Ortho Evra birth control patch comes in part because of the method of delivery. The patch delivers estrogen directly into the bloodstream through the skin. Additionally, because wearers of the patch only apply it once each week, women receive up to 60 percent more estrogen in the blood stream over the course of the week than oral contraceptive users. A well-established connection exists between estrogen and side effects like blood clots, stroke and heart attack.
Deaths from Ortho Evra Use
As several news agencies have reported, Ortho Evra was soon linked to an unusual number of deaths and injuries from blood clotting in healthy women from ages 15 to 44. As more personal injury lawsuits were filed seeking damages for wrongful death or serious injuries stemming from the drug, the federal courts actually consolidated all of the cases involving Ortho Evra into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) so that all the federal cases could be managed by a federal district court judge in Ohio.
Women Using the Ortho Evra Patch Should Seek Medical Advice
Ortho Evra users should consult their physicians to determine if they should discontinue use of the birth control patch. Women who use Ortho Evra may be unnecessarily putting themselves at risk for heart attack, stroke and death if they could also successfully use the birth control pill or another birth control alternative.
Conclusion
After obtaining necessary medical attention, women harmed by Ortho Evra should seek legal advice. If you have experienced a blood clot, stroke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism or other side effects from using the patch, you may be entitled to compensation for your injury. Contact an experienced attorney at Miller, Curtis & Weisbrod, L.L.P. in Dallas, Texas to discuss your situation and to take action for your injuries.
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