Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P.C.,
Attorneys Representing Those Injured While Using the Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch Practice Areas and Legal Definitions
Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch Litigation:
Although Ortho-McNeil's Ortho-Evra birth control patch contains the same combination of ingredients as oral combination hormonal birth control products (estrogen and progestin), clinical trial data obtained from the FDA by the Associated Press suggests that women using the Patch have a significantly increased risk of potentially fatal blood clot injuries (such as pulmonary embolism, stroke and heart attack) over those using the Pill. The Patch is touted as being more convenient than a daily pill because it's only applied once per week and only three weeks per month.
Unlike the oral medication, which undergoes first-pass metabolism in the liver, the progestin and estrogen in the patch are delivered through the transdermal patch and released directly into the bloodstream. Dr. Pamela Berens of the University of Texas Medical School at Houston theorizes, "There may be something about the way the drug is metabolized that could increase the risk for clots."
About a dozen women, mostly in their teens and early 20's, died in 2004 from blood clots believed to be related to the birth control patch. Dozens more survived strokes and other blood clot-related events.
The first death known to be associated with Ortho-Evra occurred in April 2005, when an 18-year old Manhattan woman collapsed and died in a New York subway station. The medical examiner concluded that her death was a side effect of the birth control patch.
On November 10, 2005, Ortho McNeil, a division of Johnson & Johnson issued a warning to the millions of women using Ortho Evra that the birth control patch exposed them to significantly higher doses of hormones (due to the elevated levels of estrogen produced) and may put them at greater risk for blood clots and other serious side effects. Ortho McNeil and the FDA announced changes to the Ortho Evra label to disclose that patch users receive on average approximately 60% more estrogen than originally thought. While enough of the hormone to prevent pregnancy is needed to make it into the bloodstream, too much of it can pose serious health risks. Johnson & Johnson's own internal studies revealed that Ortho Evra triples the risk of blood clot related incidents - blood clots that can cause strokes, heart attacks and pulmonary embolism.
For many women the warning came too late. Approximately 4 million women in the United States have used the Ortho Evra Patch since it became commercially available in April 2002, with approximately 23 deaths associated with Ortho Evra, of which 17 were directly related to blood clots. Earlier this year, the Associated Press reported that patch users die and suffer blood clots at a rate three times higher than women taking the pill. The FDA reports that only 1% -10% of patch-related medical problems are actually reported, so these conditions may actually be more prevalent than initially believed.
If you or a loved one has used the Ortho Evra patch and has suffered a heart attack, stroke or pulmonary embolism, and would like a free evaluation of your claim, please contact the attorneys of Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P.C..
If you or someone you know has used Ortho Evra or needs the assistance of an experienced Ortho Evra lawyer, then contact Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine, P.C. to schedule a free consultation with a qualified Ortho Evra lawyer. The firm can be reached at (888) 262-1935 or complete the contact form provided on this site to begin your free consultation with an experienced Ortho Evra lawyer. Consultations are provided in English, French, Russian and German.
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