Precautions for Users of the NuvaRing and Ortho Evra

In recent decades, more and more people are using birth control. At the same time, doctors and researchers are creating a steady flow of new forms of contraception. In October 2001, the FDA approved the NuvaRing, a small ring that can be placed inside the vagina to release hormones that help prevent unwanted pregnancies. A month later, Ortho Evra was also approved by the FDA: this is a patch that can be placed on a woman's skin, helping to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Many doctors offer these forms of contraception to their patients as a alternatives for women who do not like the birth control pill. "The pill" must be taken every day, whereas the new forms need to be replaced once a week (for Ortho Evra), and only once a month (for NuvaRing). Both release hormones into the blood stream to thwart conception.

There are side effects associated with almost every medication and drug on the market. After a few years, people started noticing dangerous side effects that they attributed to the use of the two new contraceptives. Both the NuvaRing and Orth Evra were blamed for causing blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, other cardiac issues, comas, and even death. One woman who was using Ortho Evra had a ten inch blood clot and died in 2003. Her family blamed the patch as the reason for her unfortunate death. In December of 2007, after using NuvaRing for six months, a New Jersey woman died of a severe blood clot that caused her to have two strokes. Her widow is currently suing Organon, the company that makes the NuvaRing.

Although these are two of the most extreme cases, there have been a strikingly large number of complaints about both the NuvaRing and Ortho Evra. There have been class action lawsuits over the past few years, and even more continuing today, attacking the companies that make these products: Organon and Ortho McNeil. Research has noted that both contraceptives have three times the risk of deaths or blood clots as compared with the birth control pill. This is perhaps due to the fact that they contain significantly higher levels of estrogen. The FDA investigated the issue in 2005, and forced OrthoEvra to update their labeling to emphasize the higher risk. However, they did not conclude that the drug was unsafe enough to be removed from the market.

The severe blood clots are most likely to occur in the leg or chest. Therefore, if you are currently using Ortho Evra or NuvaRing, and you are concerned about having a blood clot or similar medical condition, here are some warning signs you should report to your doctor:

More research is being done into the potential medical hazards of both products, but it is important to note that as of now the NuvaRing and Ortho Evra are considered safe and are still on the market. If the research and lawyers can make a strong enough case to prove that these two contraceptives are to blame for many peoples' medical problems, then these products will be withdrawn from the marketplace. But as mentioned above, nothing has been proven yet and therefore continuing or beginning use of either should not be of considerable concern.

References:

"FDA Warns Ortho Evra Contraceptive Patch Users." Consultwebs.com. 14 October 2008. <http://www.consultwebs.com/ortho_evra_contraceptive_patch__alert.html>

"NuvaRing Contraceptive Device Warning Announced by Morgan & Morgan." Transworldnews.com. 29 September 2008. 14 October 2008. <http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=63113&cat=10>

"NuvaRing Side Effects Lawsuit Filed." Consumernewsweekly.com. 27 March 2008. 14 October 2008. <http://www.consumernewsweekly.com/nuvaring-side-effects-lawsuit-filed/>

Peschong, Douglas. "NuvaRing Side Effects Include Blood Clots for NuvaRing Lawsuit." Ezinearticles.com. 14 October 2008. <http://ezinearticles.com/?Nuvaring-Side-Effects-Include-Blood-Clots-For-Nuva-Ring-Lawsuit&id=1532663>

"Serious Complications and Side Effects of the Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch-You're your Risks." Orthoevrainjury.net. 14 October 2008. <http://www.orthoevrainjury.net/html/risks.html>

"Women Sue Birth Control Patch Maker." Money.cnn.com. 25 July 2005. 14 October 2008. <http://money.cnn.com/2005/07/25/news/fortune500/birth_control_patch/>

"Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Ortho Evra Manufacturer Ortho McNeil." Medicalnewstoday.com. 18 December 2006. 14 October 2008. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/59042.php>

Created November 6, 2008