A study conducted by the Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program ("BCDSP") confirms that the birth control patch Ortho Evra Contraceptive Transdermal (Skin) Patch increases the risk of developing serious blood clots.

Ortho Evra is a birth-control patch manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, and has been linked to blood clots known as deep vein thromboses, or DVTs, as well as pulmonary embolisms which, if untreated, can be fatal. On Jan. 18, 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration required changes to the drug's label to include the results of the study.

Ortho Evra releases an estrogen hormone, ethinyl estradiol, and a progestin hormone, norelgestromin, into the bloodstream through the skin. Because the body processes the hormones through the skin different than the hormones from birth control pills, women are exposed to about 60 percent more estrogen.

An earlier study conducted by i3 Ingenix showed that women who used the Ortho Evra were twice as likely to develop serious blood clots, also known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), venous thromboembolisms (VTE), as women who take other oral contraceptives. If the DVT or VTE travels to the lungs and triggers a pulmonary embolism, it can kill. The BCDSP study, which looked at women aged 15 to 44, supported the i3 Ingenix study's findings.

Ortho Evra is made by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, a Johnson & Johnson division. A prescription drug that raises the risk of strokes and deadly blood clots is disturbing. The suggestion that the company misrepresented the risks of Ortho Evra to the public of a potentially fatal illness 20 years ago would have been met with skepticism. But with the examples of Vioxx, Bextra, Fen Phen, Baycol, Reszulin, Zyprexa, Reglan, Raptiva, Trasylol, YAZ, Gadolinium, Levaquin, and many more, drug companies ignoring or hiding risks in order to keep a block buster drug on the market to make more money instead of warning of the risks or withdrawing the drug to keep patients safe appears to be the norm and not the exception. As a lawyer who practices in the area of pharmaceutical liability, I do not find it surprising that a drug company hid the fact that healthy young women were dying from strokes and blood clots after using the Ortho Evra patch surprising. If you took Ortho Evra and had a stroke or pulmonary embolism and would like more information, please contact our attorneys for legal assistance as soon as possible.

The lawyers of the Carey, Danis & Lowe are experienced in helping people injured by dangerous drugs. We will seek compensation for past and future medical expenses, past and future wages, pain and suffering, disability and other damages. We also represent family members in wrongful death cases.

To learn more, visit our pharmaceutical injury blog.

Free Initial Consultation
We offer a free initial consultation for victims of dangerous medications. If you cannot make it to our office, we will come to you at the hospital or your home.

Contact the lawyers at Carey, Danis & Lowe today by calling 877-678-3400.