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Ortho-Evra Birth Control Patch
Despite its approval by the FDA in 2001, the history of the Ortho-Evra birth control patch has been plagued with serious problems. At the same time that manufacturer Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, a division of Johnson & Johnson, plied the public with ads featuring sexy models endorsing the safety of the unique Ortho patch, the FDA was noting a staggering number of adverse reactions. The FDA logged more than 9,000 complaints between April 2002 and September 2003, nine times more than reported in connection with the leading oral contraceptives.
Ortho-McNeil originally boasted that its patch was as safe and effective as oral contraceptives. But one significant difference was soon apparent: side effects from the patch were much more severe. Common side effects of oral contraceptives can include nausea, vomiting, headaches, and breast discomfort. But the dangers of the Ortho-Evra birth control patch can be life-threatening thrombotic events:
- Blood clot
- Stroke
- Pulmonary embolism
The reason that the Ortho-Evra patch has proved so risky is that it delivers 60% more estrogen than prescribed. While estrogen delivered in pill form goes through the body’s digestive process, estrogen in a patch applied directly to the skin goes immediately into the bloodstream. The resulting concentrated dosage rivals the high-estrogen forms of oral contraceptives which were pulled from the market in 1988.
Damning evidence is increasing, yet the Ortho-Evra birth control patch is still on the market, attracting women with its promise, “Just as effective as the pill, but even simpler.” In January 2008 the FDA strengthened its warning about the risk of serious blood clots among Ortho-Evra patch users. Now, victims and families of women whose lives have been devastated by the side effects of the Ortho-Evra birth control patch are pursuing their rights in the courts. A class action is pending, and many individual lawsuits have been filed.
At Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley, our attorneys have been involved for several years in litigation relating to Ortho-Evra birth control patches. So if you have been injured, or a loved one has died, because of adverse side effects of the Ortho-Evra birth control patch, we have the experience and the resources to evaluate your claim and help you seek justice. Please fill out our contact form, or call us to learn more and arrange for a confidential free consultation.
