Yaz Side Effects - Stroke
Once heralded as an improvement on the contraceptive pill and now embroiled in lawsuits, Yaz has been implicated in many cases of serious illness and sometimes death in otherwise healthy women. Yaz side effects are known to include blood clots, heart attack, stroke, liver damage, high blood potassium, anxiety and depression, gall bladder disease and pancreatitis.While most of these are possible side effects of all hormonal contraceptives, Yaz, as well as other forms of the drug--Beyaz, Ocella and Yasmin--are believed to be riskier than many other hormonal contraceptives because they have a progesterone called dospirenone, which raises potassium levels in the blood, causing a condition called hyperkalemia.
For the heart to beat normally and blood to circulate as it should, healthy levels of potassium must be maintained. Too much or too little potassium causes serious disruptions in the cardiac and circulatory systems. Hyperkalemia, in turn, can cause abnormal heart rhythm and heart attacks. In women on Yaz, a higher incidence of these side effects has been seen than with other hormonal contraceptives.
Blood clots and strokes are other serious Yaz side effects. The hormones in birth control pills can cause changes in blood platelet structure, which in turn may lead to clotting and disruption of blood circulation in the brain. Disrupted circulation in part of the brain may cause that part of the brain to shut down, which is the definition of stroke. It appears that Yaz may be even more likely to cause these side effects than most other hormonal contraceptives.
Bayer, the manufacturer of Yaz, advises women not to take it if they are over 35 and smoke cigarettes, or if they have any history of kidney, liver or adrenal disease. They further advise that women who take it have their potassium levels checked with a blood test during their first month on this pill. However, severe Yaz side effects have been experienced by women who were under 35, did not smoke, and had no history of kidney, liver or adrenal disease. Furthermore, checking potassium levels only during the first month may be inadequate, since potassium levels may take longer than a month to rise to dangerous levels.
Lawsuits against Bayer contend that the company is knowingly marketing a dangerous drug. The FDA has warned the company three times against deceptive marketing practices and once against unacceptable manufacturing practices in one of its plants. There are ongoing investigations and lawsuits tied to the Yaz product. It's wise to speak to a lawyer if you've been negatively effected by taking this product.