Dangerous Drugs in Dallas: Should Yaz Be Marketed to Teens?

The birth control pill Yaz is also approved to treat moderate acne; perhaps this is why Yaz is the most popular birth control pill among teenagers age 13 to 18. Yaz, an oral contraceptive containing the synthetic hormone drospirenone is a fourth-generation birth control pill. Others include, Yasmin, Ocella, Gianvi, Zarah, Safyral, Beyaz, Syeda, Loryna, and Vestura. These medications have been linked to dangerous side-effects including blood clots, pulmonary embolism, stroke, cardiac arrest, and gallbladder problems.

In December, MSNBC published a news story about 19-year-old Lynsey Lee, a teen from Tennessee. Lynsey began taking Yaz when she was 16. She was prescribed the medication to help with severe menstrual cramps and pelvic pain. Instead, her pain got worse. She also experienced mood swings and nausea. She started having chest pains. The pain was so bad that sometimes she had trouble breathing. At first, her doctors could not figure out what was wrong. Then they found a blood clot in her left lung. The doctors asked Lynsey, “Have you taken Yaz?”

It is too dangerous to remove the clot, so Lynsey takes blood thinners in order to prevent further damage. The Yaz blood clot leaves her tired and in pain. She missed her senior prom and had to give up a prestigious dance scholarship to Vanderbilt University.

Lynsey is just one of more than 10,000 young women who are filing lawsuits against Bayer, the pharmaceutical company that makes Yaz. The first of these Yaz injury lawsuits will go to trial in January 2012. Given the health risks associated with Yaz, is it appropriate for this dangerous medication to be marketed towards teenage girls?

Do you have a story like Lynsey’s? You deserve accountability. Dallas Yaz injury attorney Kay Van Wey can help. Contact Van Wey Law at 800-489-5082.