The Ortho Evra® birth control patch or transdermal system has been marketed as a convenient and safe alternative to birth control pills, but Ortho Evra® is actually a more dangerous alternative.  In fact, hundreds of healthy women who used Ortho Evra® have experienced serious health effects, including deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, heart attacks, strokes, and sometimes death.

 

Ortho Evra® Is More Dangerous

 

Ortho Evra® is more dangerous than standard birth control pills because it delivers more estrogen than a comparable birth control pill, as much as 60 % more. With increased estrogen exposure, the risks of blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, and other dangerous outcomes increase as well.  Studies have shown that the risk of blood clots was more than twice as great for women using Ortho Evra® compared to birth control pills. Thousands of women have suffered adverse outcomes, and dozens have been killed by the dangerous drug.

 

Blood Clots and Deep Vein Thrombosis from Ortho Evra® Use

 

Ortho Evra® increases the risk of blood clots and resulting blockage of blood vessels. These blood clots can form in many places and lead to many adverse outcomes.

 

When blood clots form in the deep veins in the body, most commonly in the legs, but sometimes also in the arms, hips, or elsewhere, it is known as Deep Vein Thrombosis or DVT. Deep vein thrombosis can be very painful and can lead to pulmonary embolism. Symptoms of DVT include:

• Swelling in the clot site
• Pain in the clot site which worsens when standing or walking
• Reddening and/or tenderness in the affected area
• Increased warmth in the swollen or painful area

 

If you experience these symptoms, you should seek immediate medical care to prevent the potentially deadly consequences of DVT and pulmonary embolism.

 

What Is Pulmonary Embolism?

 

Pulmonary embolism is when a large blood clot breaks away and is carried through the heart into the pulmonary artery, where it blocks blood flow to the lungs. Symptoms of pulmonary embolism include:

• Sudden, unexplained shortness of breath
• Pain with deep breathing
• Coughing up blood.

 

If you have these symptoms, you should seek emergency help to avoid the consequences of pulmonary embolism which can include cognitive impairment, permanent damage to the lungs, damage to other organs and even death.

 

Heart Attack and Stroke

 

When clots block blood vessels in the heart or brain, they can lead to heart attack or stroke. Both the heart and the brain have constant very high demands for nutrients and oxygen, and when blood vessels supplying these are blocked, the damage can be irreparable, even fatal.

 

When a blood vessel in the heart becomes blocked, it creates a condition known as angina pectoris, the painful result of oxygen and nutrient starvation of the heart. Some people may suffer many bouts of angina before experiencing a true heart attack, in which the heart stops beating due to oxygen and nutrient starvation.  Others may suffer a heart attack during the first instance of blood vein blockage. If you experience chest pain, especially pain that feels like squeezing or fullness in the heart and is accompanied by pain in the neck, jaw, shoulder, or arm, you should contact a doctor immediately.

 

Strokes occur when blood vessels in the brain are blocked, starving brain cells of oxygen and nutrition. Immediate and permanent brain damage can result if a stroke sufferer does not receive emergency medical care. Symptoms of stroke include:

• Sudden and/or one-sided numbness in the face, arm, or leg
• Sudden confusion or trouble speaking
• Sudden visual impairment in one or both eyes
• Sudden dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or difficulty walking
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

 

If you identify one or more of these symptoms and they persist, you should get emergency assistance immediately.

 

Compensation for Ortho Evra® Injuries

 

The consequences of adverse complications related to Ortho Evra® use, such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, heart attack, and stroke, can be life-changing or life-ending. If you or a loved one has suffered injury as a result of using Ortho Evra® birth control, you deserve compensation for your Ortho Evra® injuries. In some cases, the expensive and lasting after-care resulting may make it difficult, if not impossible, to go on without additional financial resources.

 

If you would like to discuss your case with us, please contact one of the pharmaceutical attorneys at Schlichter, Bogard & Denton. We defend the rights of people injured by Ortho Evra® and other dangerous pharmaceuticals in all 50 states. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today.