Did you suffer a blood clot caused by Loryna birth control pills? This medication (a generic form of Yaz) has been linked to a 75% increased risk of developing a blood clot, even in women who had no previous history of blood clots. Serious side effects of Loryna blood clots may include: pulmonary embolism, heart attack, stroke, and death.
Loryna Overview
Loryna is a birth control pill that is sold by the generic drug company Sandoz Pharmaceuticals. Loryna is the generic form of Yaz, one of the most popular birth control pills in history. Yaz and Loryna both contain the following active hormones:
- 3-mg drospirenone, a “fourth generation” version of synthetic progestin
- 0.02-mg ethinyl estradiol, a synthetic version of estrogen
The problems and controversy around these new birth control pills comes from drospirenone, an ingredient that was first used in Yasmin birth control pills in 2001. Since then, researchers have discovered that drospirenone has a slightly higher risk of blood clots compared to other types of synthetic progestin. However, when millions of women decided to switch to drospirenone (including women who used Loryna), they may have been unaware that Loryna has been associated with a greater risk of blood clots, but is no more effective at preventing pregnancy.
Loryna and Drospirenone
Drospirenone is a newly-developed version of progestin, a synthetic female reproductive hormone. When it is used in combination with ethinyl estradiol in birth control, it is 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy. Loryna makes changes to the lining of the uterus, increases cervical mucous, and inhibits ovulation.
All types of synthetic progestin increase a woman’s risk of having a blood clot by a small amount. With older progestins, the risk was around 4-6 women per 10,000 taking the pill. With drospirenone, however, this risk is slightly higher — approximately 10 women per 10,000. The FDA announced this increased risk at the conclusion of a massive study of more than 800,000 women taking oral contraceptives.
Loryna and Blood Clots
The problem with blood clots is that they sound innocent, but can actually cause severe organ damage, permanent disability, or in rare cases, even death. Women who use Loryna have a higher risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a serious condition in which blood clots form in the veins deep inside the body. These deep-vein blood clots can break loose and travel through the bloodstream. They travel until they become trapped in a major internal organ, such as the lungs. Once a blood clot is stuck in a smaller blood vessel, it stops the supply of blood, which starves the tissue ahead of the oxygenated blood it needs to survive. This can cause irreversible tissue damage, which can progress to multiple organ system failure and death.
If the blood clot forms in arteries (blood vessels carrying blood away from the heart), they can travel to the heart or brain, causing a heart attack or ischemic stroke. Brain damage caused by blood clots is irreversible, and it can cause lifelong disability.
Loryna Side Effects
The pharmaceutical companies responsible for drospirenone and other “fourth generation” birth control pills now face upwards of 11,000 lawsuits brought by women who have suffered severe injuries after using one of these birth control pills. If you were injured by a Loryna blood clot or other Loryna side effect, you are not alone. If you decide to file a Loryna lawsuit, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, disability, decreased quality of life, lost income, and more. We can help.
Serious side effects of Loryna birth control pills include, but are not limited to:
- Depression
- Blood clots
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Venous thromboembolism (VTE)
- Pulmonary embolism
- Heart attack (myocardial infarction)
- Stroke
- Gallbladder disease
- Pancreatitis
- Hyperkalemia (toxic high levels of potassium)
- Irregular heartbeat (heart arrhythmia)
- Psychological trauma
- Death