Please note: The Schmidt Firm, LLP, is no longer accepting gallbladder injury claims. If you feel that you may have a potential case, we urge you to locate another law firm adequately suited to handle your claim.

If you have been diagnosed with gallstones or gallbladder disease caused by Gianvi, you may have a Gianvi lawsuit.The use of Gianvi birth control is associated with a higher risk of gallbladder disease, including gallstones and inflammation of the gallbladder. These extraordinarily painful conditions may require surgery to remove the gallstones, or to remove the entire gallbladder itself.

What You Can Do & How a Gianvi Lawsuit Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, LLP is currently accepting Gianvi induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by Gianvi, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Gianvi Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

Gianvi Overview

Gianvi (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) is an oral birth control pill created by Teva Pharmaceuticals, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2003. It is indicated for the prevention of pregnancy, but it can also reduce mild acne and treat the symptoms of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a severe form of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). Gianvi is the generic form of Yaz, a blockbuster birth control pill created by Bayer. Yaz was the most popular birth control pill in 2008 and 2009 in the United States. Since Gianvi was introduced, thousands of women have switched from Yaz to Gianvi because it is a cheaper, equally effective alternative.

Gianvi contains two active drugs:

• Drospirenone (0.3 milligrams) – This is synthetic progestin, which is a female reproductive hormone. Drospirenone belongs to the “fourth generation” version of this hormone, and has been linked to an increased risk of severe side effects, including death.
• Ethinyl estradiol (0.02 milligrams) – this is synthetic estrogen, which is a female reproductive hormone. Several studies of women taking an oral contraceptive containing synthetic estrogen have found an increased risk of gallbladder disease and other side effects.

Gianvi and Gallbladder Disease

Did you know that women are four times more likely than men to have gallbladder attacks? Or that gallbladder surgery is one of the most common operations performed on women?

Experts believe that the increased risk of gallbladder problems is due to synthetic estrogen, taken in contraceptives such as Gianvi or in supplements. Early scientific studies of oral contraceptives have found that women who take a birth control pill containing estrogen have a higher lifetime risk of gallbladder surgery.

Some newer studies have found that the risk may actually be lower than expected, because many newer types of birth control contain lower hormonal doses or progestin and estrogen than older types. Even so, the Warnings and Precautions for Gianvi include information about the risk of gallbladder disease.

What is Gallbladder Disease?

The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ located under the liver, and its primary function is to aid in the digestion of fats. Fats are not water-soluble, and the body must produce a special substance called bile to break down fats into a usable product. Bile is secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. The gallbladder also removes excess water from bile, making it more concentrated. When a person eats food containing fat, the gallbladder contracts and bile flows into the intestine.

The most common types of gallbladder disease occur when something blocks the outflow of bile into the intestines through the bile ducts, such as a gallstone. Another common disorder is called “cholecystitis,” which occurs when the gallbladder becomes inflamed.

Types of Gallbladder Disease:

• Gallstones
• Inflammation of the gallbladder (can be chronic or acute)
• Gallstones in the common bile duct, between the gallbladder and the intestines
• Infection of the bile ducts
• Obstruction of the intestines by a gallstone

Signs & Symptoms of Gallbladder Disease

People who have suffering an acute gallbladder attack will feel tenderness when the upper-right part of the abdomen is touched. This is caused by inflammation and swelling of the gallbladder. The most common problem is a gallstone, which is a hard particle that blocks the outflow tract of the gallbladder. Gallstones can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golfball. Women who use hormonal contraceptives or hormonal replacement therapy have a higher risk of developing gallstones.

Common gallbladder symptoms include:

• Pain, mostly on the upper-right part of the abdomen
• Pain following meals
• Intolerance of fatty foods
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite

Gianvi Side Effects

Other Gianvi side effects include, but are not limited to:

• Depression
• Blood Clots
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
• Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)
• Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
• Hyperkalemia
• Stroke
• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Heart Attack
• Myocardial Infarction
• Gallbladder injury
• Pancreatitis
• Death

Do I have a Gianvi Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, LLP is currently accepting Gianvi induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by Gianvi, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Gianvi Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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