Ortho Evra Patch Blood Clots, Heart Attacks and Stroke Lawsuits

Ortho Evra (norelgestromin; ethinyl estradiol) or Ortho Evra Patch by Johnson & Johnson has been linked to the deaths of at least seventeen young American women over the past two years. The contraceptive patch increases the consumers risk of bloot clots, heart attack and stroke by twice that of traditional oral contraceptives. On September 20, 2006, study results were released that confirmed previous Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concerns regarding an increased risk of blood clots associated with Ortho Evra patch use.

Ortho Evra Patch Increases Consumer Risk of Blood Clots

On September 20, 2006, study results were released that confirmed previous reports and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concerns regarding an increased risk of blood clots associated with Ortho Evra patch use versus oral contraceptives. The study found an approximate two-fold increase in the risk of blood clots in users of Ortho Evra compared to the clot risk of oral contraceptive pills. While another study found that the risk was equal, previous calculations have put the blood clot risk for the patch at three times that of the pills. Johnson & Johnson announced it will update the Ortho Evra patch label with the results of the new studies. The FDA has also issued a warning about the new contraceptive patch study results.

Ortho Evra Contraceptive Patch

Johnson & Johnson's Ortho Evra contraceptive patch contains higher levels of a hormone known to cause blood clots than average birth control pills, U.S. regulators warned. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on November 10, 2005 that the new label for the patch will include information about the higher levels of estrogen. Women who use Ortho Evra are exposed to 60 percent more estrogen than those who use the pill, the FDA said in its statement. But the pills, which contain several variations with different hormone levels for use during one month, can contain a higher maximum amount of estrogen. The difference in exposure may be due to the delivery mechanism of the patch hormones and absorption into the body.

The Food and Drug Administration has received twenty-one reports of life-threatening blood clots and other ailments associated with Ortho Evra birth control patch use. The contraceptive patch, which has been aggressively marketed using Olympic athletes, sexy ads and fashion models, has been linked to the deaths of at least seventeen young American women over the past two years. Approximately four million women have used the Ortho Evra Patch since it went on sale in 2002. FDA records show that seventeen patch users between the ages of 17 and 30 have suffered fatal heart attacks, blood clots and possible strokes since August 2002. The first fatality publicly blamed on the Ortho Evra patch was in April 2005, when a Manhattan fashion student collapsed in a city subway station. An autopsy found that a blood clot had moved into the victim's lung, and the medical examiner ruled that the clot was a side effect of the birth control device. Ortho-McNeil, the manufacturer of the Ortho Evra birth control patch, has aggressively marketed the patch as a convenient alternative to oral birth control pills. Its original product label stated that the patch's health risks were similar to those related to oral contraceptives.

Legal Help for Ortho Evra Patch Consumers

If you or a loved one has developed blood clots, or suffered a heart attack or stroke as a result of the Ortho Evra patch, call us for a free confidential consultation. We understand the complications of serious side effects and life-threatening defective products, and our law firm will gladly help answer your questions. Submit our form for a free case evaluation by clicking the link below, or call our law firm toll free: 1-800-883-9858.