Ortho Evra Side Effects

On September 20, 2006, results of a new study were released that confirmed previous studies showing an increased risk of blood clots associated with the use of Ortho Evra versus oral contraceptives. The study found that women using Ortho Evra were twice as likely to develop blood clots as those using oral contraceptive pills. As a result, the FDA has asked Ortho McNeil Pharmaceuticals, a division of Johnson & Johnson, to update the safety label on Ortho Evra to warn users about the risk of blood clots, heart attacks and strokes.In 2005, the FDA stated that women using Ortho Evra are exposed to approximately 60 percent more estrogen than those who use oral contraceptive pills. It is believed that the difference in exposure is related to the delivery mechanism of the birth control patch. Hormones in birth control pills are partially diluted by the digestive system. However, hormones in Ortho Evra are absorbed directly into the blood stream, which causes a higher concentration of the medication to enter a patient’s body. It is believed that high levels of estrogen can greatly increase the risk of developing blood clots, heart attacks, strokes and other serious injuries.Approximately 4 million women have used the Ortho Evra Patch since it went on sale in 2002. As of November 2005, the FDA had received twenty-one reports of life-threatening blood clots and other ailments associated with the use of Ortho Evra. FDA records obtained by the Associated Press showed that seventeen patch users between the ages of 17 and 30 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 New York 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 Ortho Evra. The news of this young woman’s death became front page headlines throughout New York. The manufacturers of Ortho Evra have aggressively marketed the patch as a convenient alternative to oral birth control pills. The drug’s original safety label stated that the patch's health risks were similar to those related to oral contraceptives, even though a recent whistleblower suit alleges that the company was well aware that the birth control patch could cause high rates of blood clots.

Pharmaceutical Whistleblower

Former Johnson & Johnson Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Joel Lippman recently blew the whistle on his old company. Lippman claims that during 15 years in high-ranking medical positions at Johnson & Johnson, the company repeatedly released or refused to recall dangerous products to which he objected, including the Ortho Evra birth control patch. In a whistleblower suit brought against his former employer, Lippman claimed, “The clinical research had revealed that the estrogen dose released by the Evra patch as a means of birth control may increase the risk of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolisms.”

Ortho Evra Attorney :: Ortho Evra Lawyer

ORTHO EVRA birth control is a weekly birth control patch. In November 2001, the first ever weekly birth control patch was released into the marketplace and has since been embraced my millions of enthusiastic women. In 2004, ORTH EVRA accounted for more than 9.9 million prescriptions with sales topping $411 million. Howevever, in November 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning label for the ORTHO EVRA birth control patch.

ORTHO EVRA Birth Control Overview and Ortho Evra information
The Ortho Evra blood clot risk for using the weekly birth control patch is increased by women who are 35 years or older, who smoke, and by having conditions associated with heart attacks -- such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and certain inherited conditions that increase the risk of blood clotting.

The most serious Ortho Evra side effects, from using the weekly Ortho Evra birth control patch, are having a blood clot that starts in your legs or lungs move to your heart or brain causing debilitating strokes, heart attacks, hemorrhage, and death. It is important to tell your surgeon that you are using the birth control patch if planning a major operation because of the significant risk on Ortho Evra blood clots. Since stroke is associated with Ortho Evra and stroke is a risk during surgery, this side effects information about Ortho Evra blood clots is very important to your surgeon.

What is ORTHO EVRA birth control? What are birth control patch side effects?
∙ ORTHO EVRA is a thin patch used for birth control.
∙ Once applied to the skin, the ORTHO EVRA patch releases a steady supply of estrogen and progestin through the skin and into the bloodstream.
∙ ORTHO EVRA exposes you to 60% more estrogen than if you used a typical birth control pill. Increased exposure may increase the risk of side effects.

Are you suffering from any of these devastating ORTHO EVRA side effects?

∙ Blood clot - Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

∙ Blood cloth - Pulmonary embolism (PE)

∙ The potential risk of developing endometrial and breast cancer, gallbladder disease, and liver tumors.