Mirena Iud Birth Control

The Mirena IUD is a long-term contraceptive with an extremely high effective rate. It has also been linked to reproductive organ injury and cranial pressure that can cause permanent vision loss.

Mirena is a small, plastic second-generation intrauterine device that uses the progestogen hormone levonorgestrel to prevent pregnancy. It is manufactured by German pharmaceutical company Bayer. 

Yaz and Yasmin first became widely used when the drugs were marketed as birth control alternatives that promised women relief from PMS, bloating, and acne when compared to traditional oral contraceptives.

SIDE EFFECTS:

In recent years, experts have also warned of more serious Mirena side effects like uterine wall perforation that may require surgery, and a rare neurological disorder called PTC that can cause migraines, blindness and hearing problems.

WHAT IS MIRENA?

Mirena was first introduced in 1990 and approved by the FDA for use in the United States in 2000. The device releases a regulated 20 micrograms of levonorgestrel directly into the uterus each day for 5 years, compared to birth control pills that release 150 micrograms per day. 

Mirena is implanted by a doctor or nurse during an outpatient office visit, and must be monitored for some time with follow-up visits. Normal removal of the device also requires the help of a medical professional. 

While Bayer claims Mirena is effective for up to 5 years, research has suggested it may retain prevention for as many as seven. 

The hormone levonorgestrel in Mirena works by preventing the survival and penetration of sperm, thickening mucus in the cervix, and reducing endometrium. It can also cause some patients to stop ovulating. 

With an effective rate between 99.3% and 99.8%, Mirena can prevent pregnancy as well as tubal sterilization. 

In addition to contraception, Mirena may be prescribed to treat excessive menstrual bleeding, thickening of the uterus, pain in the pelvis or pain during menstruation, endometriosis and low red blood cell counts. 

Unfortunately, reports have linked the device to uterine wall perforation and a rare cranial hypertension disorder called PTC that can cause headaches, hearing problems and vision loss. Lawyers have helped many of those affected file lawsuits. 

"MIRENA SIDE EFFECTS"

Clinical trials have shown women who use Mirena may be more likely to develop certain side effects. These include: 

• Irregular periods
• Infection
• Cramping and Pain
• Early device expulsion
• Ovarian cysts
• Nervousness or depression
• Vaginal swelling or itching
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Weight gain

In addition, the device is not recommended for women who may be pregnant, breastfeeding, have vaginal bleeding or inflammation, have cervical, uterine or breast cancer, liver disease, certain STDs or a recent abortion. 

Thousands of patients have reported these adverse Mirena side effects to the FDA’s MedWatch reporting program, and many have filed claims for compensation in special federal drug injury courts. 

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Yaz Yasmin Birth Control Pills

Birth Control Pills

In recent years, the birth control medications Yaz and Yasmin have been used by more than 100 million women. Yasmin was first approved by the FDA in 2001 and Yaz, later, in 2006. They are manufactured and sold by Bayer Healthcare, a German drug company. 

However, you may know that the FDA and leading health safety groups have warned about the risk of blood clots associated with these medications, and Bayer has paid nearly $1.75 billion to settle injury claims. 

Yaz and Yasmin first became widely used when the drugs were marketed as birth control alternatives that promised women relief from PMS, bloating, and acne when compared to traditional oral contraceptives.

WHAT IS YAZ?

What makes Yaz and Yasmin different from other birth control medications is that others contain only one hormone, progestin, while Yaz and Yasmin are combination pills that use both estrogen and progestin to prevent ovulation and pregnancy. 

What's more, the type of progestin used in Yaz and Yasmin is different from other pills. And, in recent studies, this synthetic progestin hormone -- drospirenone -- has been linked to an increased risk of blood clots. 

A blood clot can break loose, and move through the body to the lungs, leg or thigh, or brain, causing serious or even fatal problems including stroke, deep vein thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism. 

The FDA, European Medicines Agency, British Medical Journal and New England Journal of Medicine have issued warnings against Yaz and Yasmin because of their link to blood clots. 

If you have suffered a blood clot, stroke, pulmonary embolism, or DVT after taking Yaz, it is important to speak with a lawyer about your legal options. Substantial compensation may be available through a Yasmin or Yaz settlement from Bayer. 

YAZ SIDE EFFECTS.

The progestin hormone drospirenone, used in the popular birth control drugs Yaz and Yasmin, has been linked to serious health problems. Research has revealed that this chemical can raise levels of potassium in the blood, which increases the risk of blood clots. 

Blood clots can lead to serious and life-threatening conditions, including: 

• stroke
• deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
• pulmonary embolism
• heart attack

Blood clots are hardened clusters of blood, and are the body’s natural defense mechanism in healing wounds and repairing injured blood vessels. However, they can also form as a result of drug side effects, as with Yasmin or Yaz blood clots.

When a blood clot breaks free, it travels through the bloodstream, reaching the heart, lungs, brain, or other organs. Serious injury or even death can result. 

If you think that you are experiencing symptoms related to any of these conditions, call your doctor right away. 

WARNINGS

In 2011, the British Medical Journal and the FDA both published studies that showed a link between the hormone in Yaz and a substantially increased risk of blood clots, DVT, and/or pulmonary embolism.

Then, on May 31, 2012, the QuarterWatch report from the Institute for Safe Medicine Practices ranked Yaz and Yasmin second highest for the number of complications reported to the FDA in the previous year. 

In October of 2012, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued warnings that birth control pills containing drospirenone may have a higher risk of causing blood clots. 

Since Bayer did not properly warn women of these risks, the company has paid nearly $1.75 billion so far to compensate women who have been injured; Bayer continues to settle cases. 

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Xarelto For Internal Bleeding

Xarelto has several side effects, but the most dangerous is internal bleeding that can be fatal. People who suffered internal bleeds filed lawsuits against Bayer claiming the company did not warn of the risk.

Doctors prescribe the blood thinner Xarelto (rivaroxaban) to patients to reduce the risk of blood clots that may cause strokes. It is popular  because it does not require patients to have special diets or have blood tests to determine the dose like warfarin, one of the oldest blood thinners. The drug is manufactured by Bayer and marketed by Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceuticals unit. In 2013, Bayer made $1.3 billion in sales from the drug, and will make billions more in the next few years.

Bayer and J&J advertise that Xarelto is safe and more convenient than warfarin, but the drug comes with a very dangerous side effect: internal bleeding that can be fatal.

In 2013, German regulators reported the number of deaths attributed to the drug rose from 2012.

While the risk of bleeding exists with all blood thinners, Xarelto is more dangerous because it does not have an antidote. For example, warfarin, one of the oldest blood thinners may also cause bleeding, but ER doctors can use a vitamin K antidote to stop the bleeding.

People who ended up in the hospital with severe or fatal bleeds filed lawsuits against Bayer claiming the company released a dangerous drug and misled the public about its safety.

How Does Xarelto Cause Bleeding?

Because the drug is designed to stop the blood from clotting, there is a possibility that any injury – even a minor one – can be very dangerous. The blood thinner works by affecting specific proteins in the blood that normally start the clotting process and blocks them.

It can take as long as 24 hours for the drug to be flushed out of the system. Older adults have a more difficult time flushing the drug, and the anticoagulation effect lasts longer in their bodies. This puts seniors at increased risk for possibly fatal bleeds, especially if they fall or hit their heads.

Because there is no antidote, doctors have no way of immediately stopping the bleed, and the situation in the hospital can be dire. As the side effects mount, some doctors are growing wary of using it.

The drug can cause many types of bleeding, including:

• Bleeding from the rectum
• Intestinal or abdominal bleeds
• Hemorrhaging
• Bleeding in the brain

Patients who are going to have surgery must stop taking the drug at least 24 hours before the procedure to avoid complications. In addition, pregnant women may suffer hemorrhaging while taking Xarelto.

Compared to warfarin, Xarelto also causes more abdominal bleeding.

Black Box Warning For Spinal Bleeding

This blood thinner also has the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) most severe label warning for dangerous spinal bleeds called epidural or spinal hematomas. Hematomas are pools of blood that occur outside of blood vessels. Blood pooling in the spine can cause permanent paralysis.

People are at greater risk if they:

• Use epidural catheters
• Use other drugs that can affect the clotting process, such as NSAIDs or platelet inhibitors
• Have a history of spinal trauma
• Have a history of spinal surgery

The warning also cautions against any spinal procedures in patients who take Bayer’s drug.

Internal Bleeding Lawsuits

One of the biggest concerns with Xarelto is that it can cause irreversible bleeds that can be fatal. Trips to the hospital are costly and cause a good deal of emotional trauma for the patient and family members.

Victims filed the first U.S. lawsuits in June 2014.

Virginia Stuntebeck filed a lawsuit against Bayer in Philadelphia Courts after she suffered severe internal bleeding caused by the company’s blood thinner. In February 2013, she ended up in the hospital with severe gastrointestinal bleeding.

According to the complaint, Stuntebeck alleges that Bayer and Johnson & Johnson did not properly warn the public about the risks and should never have sold the drug.

“As the manufacturers and distributors of Xarelto, defendants knew or should have known that Xarelto use was associated with irreversible bleeds,” the complaint said.

A similar drug, Pradaxa, also caused irreversible bleeding and its manufacturer, Boehringer Ingelheim paid $650 million to settle thousands of cases.

Meanwhile, Bayer maintains that the drug is safe.

If you or a loved one took Xarelto and suffered from internal bleeding, Drugwatch’s Patient Advocates can answer questions about side effects and legal options and get you the help you need.

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Xarelto Lawsuits.

Legal Options for Compensation

People who took Xarelto Lawsuits and suffered from irreversible bleeding filed lawsuits for compensation for medical bills, injuries and emotional trauma. Families of people whose bleeds were fatal also sought justice for their loved ones. Xarelto Lawsuits predecessor, Pradaxa, has already led to a number of lawsuits filed against its manufacturer because of complications such as excessive bleeding and death. Its maker paid $650 million dollars to settle about 4,000 claims.

Holding the Manufacturers Accountable

Some of the lawsuits filed against Bayer and Johnson & Johnson say that the company failed to warn the public of the dangers of irreversible bleeding. Many of those injured were rushed to the hospital with severe bleeding. Lawsuits claim the drug's makers misrepresented the safety and effectiveness of the drug. Those currently involved in litigation allege the companies continued to sell Xarelto Lawsuits even when they knew it was dangerous.

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Xarelto Drug Side Effects

One of the most dangerous side effects is bleeding. Xarelto has no known antidote to stop incontrollable bleeds, while warfarin does, and this makes it difficult for doctors to treat patients. The drug’s manufacturers have yet to release information for doctors on how to treat this problem. Unfortunately, this leads to a number of deaths in emergency rooms.

This blood thinner also has a number other serious side effects. For instance, although the medication is supposed to stop blood clots and prevent heart attacks, information gathered from reports of FDA adverse events show that some patients may actually be at increased risk for serious clots. Patients who had hip or knee replacement surgery had the highest risk, according to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). These clots may trigger strokes or heart attacks if they travel to the brain.

Patients who have spinal injections or other procedures are also at increased risk for developing blood clots in the spine that can cause permanent paralysis.

In general, Xarelto's side effects include:

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Now What is Xarelto?

Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is one of the newest anticoagulants – more commonly known as blood thinners. The drug is an oral medication developed by Bayer and Johnson & Johnson’s New Jersey-based unit, Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Blood thinners prevent dangerous blood clots that can obstruct the blood flow to the vital organs. Unlike older anticoagulants that require doctors to prescribe specific doses for each individual, Xarelto belongs to a new type of oral anticoagulant that is prescribed in one uniform dose.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Xarelto for use in patients who have had knee or hip replacement surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots, reducing the risk of stroke in people with AF. Following a fast-track regulatory review, the FDA approved the drug for general treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).

One of the most severe side effects of Xarelto is uncontrolled bleeding. When bleeding occurs near a major organ, such as the brain, lungs or kidneys, blood flow to that organ is interrupted, causing it to lose some or all of its functionality. Also, pools of blood may form within the body and can cause other severe health risks. Because Xarelto prevents clotting, the hemorrhaging will continue until the drug is flushed out of the system.

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