Women who use Loryna birth control pills (a generic form of Yaz) may be more likely to have a blood clot. Even for women with no previous history of blood clots, researchers have found Loryna associated with a 75% increased risk of blood clots. In the most serious cases, Loryna blood clots can cause a pulmonary embolism, heart attack, stroke, organ failure, or death.
Loryna Overview
Loryna (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) is a combination hormonal birth control pill that is sold by the generic pharmaceutical company Sandoz Pharmaceuticals. Loryna is the second generic version of Yaz (the other is Gianvi). Loryna and Yaz contain the same active hormonal ingredients, which include:
- 3 milligrams of drospirenone, a “fourth generation” synthetic progestin, a female reproductive hormone
- 0.02 milligrams of ethinyl estradiol, a synthetic version of estrogen, another type of female reproductive hormone
If you use Loryna birth control pills, you may have suffered a blood clot after using this medication. Much of the controversy surrounding Loryna and other “fourth generation” birth control pills comes from drospirenone, an ingredient that has only been used in medicine since 2001. In post-marketing research, experts have found that women taking birth control containing drospirenone (such as Loryna) are 75% more likely to have a blood clot.
Loryna and Drospirenone
What is drospirenone? Drospirenone is a “fourth generation,” newly-developed version of progestin, which is synthetic progesterone (a female reproductive hormone). When used as directed Loryna is more than 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy. Drospirenone helps inhibit ovulation (when the ovaries produce an egg) and also makes other changes to significantly reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancy.
The problem with drospirenone is that several studies have found that has a slightly higher risk of blood clots compared to other generations of progestin. All progestins increase the risk of blood clots. Drospirenone has a risk of around 10 women per 10,000. With older progestins, the risk is only 4-6 women per 10,000.
Loryna and Blood Clots
If you suffered a Loryna blood clot, you are not alone. Blood clots are one of the most serious side effects of Loryna. You may not have been aware of this when you decided to use Loryna. Unlike surface blood clots which are usually harmless, Loryna increases the risk of deep-vein blood clots, in a condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). When these blood clots break loose (called an “embolism”) they float in the bloodstream until they become trapped in a smaller vessel. Once a blood clot gets stuck in a vessel, it prevents blood from reaching tissues and organs ahead. This can cause tissue damage, organ damage, multiple organ system failure, permanent disability, or death.
If blood clots form in arteries, they can also be pumped to the heart, brain, or other major internal organs. Loryna blood clots can cause a life-threatening heart attack or ischemic stroke. In the worst case scenario, Loryna can cause death. Bayer faces at least 50 lawsuits for deaths caused by birth control pills containing drospirenone.
Loryna Side Effects
Were you injured by a Loryna blood clot or other side effect? If so, you are not alone, and you should contact a lawyer immediately for more information about your legal rights. The drug companies responsible for injuries related to drospirenone face more than 11,000 lawsuits. Although litigation is moving forward, there may still be time for you to file a Loryna lawsuit seeking justice and compensation for your pain and suffering, hospital bills, decreased quality of life, disability, and more.
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