Injured by the Ortho Evra Side Effects?

Send to Friend | Bookmark | Live Chat

Ortho Evra is linked to serious life-threatening side effects including blood clots, stoke, heart attacks, pulmonary embolisms, transient ischemic attacks, and deep venous thrombosis.

If you or a loved one have used Ortho Evra and developed a serious side effect, you should contact us immediately. You may be entitled to compensation and we can help.

Side Effects of the Ortho Evra Patch

There are some side effects that can occur with using the Ortho Evra birth control patch. Some of these effects will clear up within two to three months. These short term side effects include breast tenderness, mood changes, headache, bleeding between periods, weight changes, and abdominal pain. Conversely, there are some longer lasting side effects associated with patch use. These long term effects can include change in libido, skin reaction where the patch was applied, and depression. Women who have or have had depression may have to stop using the patch if their depression returns or worsens. Patch users should see a clinician immediately if any problems occur while they are using the patch.

Although rare, serios Ortho Evra side effects sometimes occur with use of the patch, as with any other prescription contraceptive. Blood clot in the legs, lungs, heart, or brain can occur. Users who have surgery are at a greater risk of developing blood clot. Other Ortho Evra side effects include stoke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, transient ischemic attack, and deep venous thrombosis. Women over 35 and women who smoke are at higher risk of these side effects.

Complications

Although rare, complications sometimes occur with use of the Ortho Evra patch, as with any other prescription contraceptive. Blood clot in the legs, lungs, heart, or brain can occur. Users who have surgery are at a greater risk of developing blood clot. Other complications include stoke, heart attack, pulmonary embolism, transient ischemic attack, and deep venous thrombosis. Women over 35 and women who smoke are at higher risk of these complications.

Ortho Evra Lawsuits

The Ortho Evra birth control patch exposes users to about 60 percent more estrogen than the pill. Studies show that because of the higher estrogen levels women using the Ortho Evra birth control patch are at a higher risk of developing blood clots than women who are taking other forms of birth control. FDA reports show that at least 17 women have died from blood clots since 2001. If you or a loved one have suffered from blood clot related incidents including, but not limited to, stroke, heart attack or deep venous thrombosis you may be entitled to compensation by filing an Ortho Evra lawsuit.

Blood Clots and Ortho Evra

One of the complications that can develop from use of Ortho Evra birth control patch is the development of a blood clot in the legs, lung, heart, or brain. The Ortho Evra patch exposes women to roughly 60 percent more estrogen than the birth control pill. Because estrogen causes blood to clot inside the veins, these higher estrogen levels put some women at a higher risk of developing blood clots. This risk is increased by recent surgery or leg restrictions, such as a cast. A woman's risk for experiencing a non-fatal blood clot while using the patch is 12 in 10,000, according to Associated Press. The risk for a fatal blood clot is 3 in 200,000. It was also noted that at least 12 women died in 2004 due to complications associated with the birth control patch. Most of these women were in their late teens and early twenties.

Strokes and Ortho Evra

A stroke is caused when something restricts blood flow to the brain. This causes the brain cells to become starved for oxygen. Some brain cells will die and others will be severely damaged. A good number of strokes occur when a blood clot blocks the arteries to the brain. Because of the high levels of estrogen that are released directly into the blood stream, Ortho Evra can cause blood clots in some women. If a blood clot travels to the brain it can cause a stroke.

Heart Attacks and Ortho Evra

The heart is supplied with blood and oxygen through three major arteries. When one or more of these arteries becomes blocked with a blood clot, the part of the heart that is supplied by that artery will stop. This is what causes a heart attack. Since Ortho Evra's high estrogen levels increase the risk of blood clots, patch users are also at a higher risk of having a heart attack due to a blood clot. Heart attacks can be life threatening if blood is not restored to the stopped part of the muscle within 20 to 40 minutes. If you are a patch user and begin to chest pain, shortness of breath, and or nausea, you should seek emergency help immediately.

Deen Venous Thrombosis and Ortho Evra

Deep venous thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in the arms or legs. The clot could negatively affect the circulation in the area of the arm or leg. It is also possible for the clot to break off and travel to other parts of the body including the lungs, heart, and brain, all of which can be fatal. Users of the Ortho Evra birth control patch have a higher risk of developing blood clots because of the high levels of estrogen that the blood is exposed to. There are few symptoms of deep venous thrombosis. Some affected may feel pain in the leg; others may not feel any symptoms at all. If you have a history of blood clots you should consult with your doctor before using the patch.

Pulmonary Embolism and Ortho Evra

Pulmonary embolism occurs when an artery leading to the heart gets blocked. Usually this blockage is caused by a blood clot that has moved into the lungs from another part of the body. The most common place for a blood clot to form is in the legs. They can also form in the arm veins or right side of the heart. The blood clot can travel through the body to the vessels of the lungs until it reaches vessels that are too small for it to pass through. The clot prevents blood from passing through the vessels causing a blood shortage in that part of the lung. Blood clots can be caused by the high estrogen levels that are introduced to the blood stream by Ortho Evra birth control patch users. Users are at a high risk of developing blood clots that can lead to pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism can be fatal if it is not detected early enough. If you are a patch user and begin to experience chest pain, shortness of breath, anxiety, sweating, and/or passing out you should get emergency assistance immediately.

Transient Ischemic Attack and Ortho Evra

Transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a stroke that lasts less than 24 hours. Transient ischemic attack's are caused by a temporary decrease in the amount of blood being supplied to be brain. This decrease is sometimes due to a blood clot that has traveled to the brain from another part of the body. Women who use Ortho Evra birth control patch are at higher risk of developing blood clots. Users of the patch are exposed to higher levels of estrogen which can lead to clotting of the blood. These clots can develop in various parts of the body and move into the brain causing a Transient ischemic attack. Some symptoms of a Transient ischemic attack are sudden weakness or paralysis in one side of the body, slurred speech, difficulty understanding others, dizziness, and/or loss of balance. With TIA, these symptoms do not last long. If you are using Ortho Evra and have experienced these symptoms you should visit a doctor as soon as possible to determine the exact cause. There may be remaining blood clots that can be fatal if the travel to the wrong part of the body.

Do I have an Ortho Evra Lawsuit?

The Defective Drug Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus exclusively on the representation of plaintiffs in Ortho Evra lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new Ortho Evra side effect cases in all 50 states.

Attention Attorneys: We do not publish prior verdict/settlements. If you are an attorney and would like to refer us a case or for us to send you a profile of prior award judgments or average referral fees, please visit the attorney referral section of our website.

= Required Field