Ortho Evra Linked to Blood Clots, Heart Attack, Stroke
Last Updated on June 26, 2017
Investigation Complete
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org have finished their investigation into this matter.
Check back for any potential updates. The information on this page is for reference only.
Free Consumer Tools:
- Open and Current Class Action Lawsuit Settlements and Rebates
- Open and Current Class Action Lawsuit List, Investigations
- Class Action Lawsuit and Settlement News
- Free Class Action Lawsuit Database
At A Glance
- This Alert Affects
- Women who have used the Ortho Evra patch as a birth control method and have suffered serious side effects, such as blood clots or a stroke, heart attack, or pulmonary embolism should speak to a lawyer in order to ensure their right to compensation is protected.
- Damages
- Ortha Evra, or "the patch," has been found to cause life threatening blood clots, heart attack, stroke, and pulmonary embolism.
- Company(ies)
- Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical
- Additional Details
- Women apply the Ortho Evra patch to the skin on certain areas of the body. Hormones are released into the body to prevent ovulation. This product was introduced in 2002 and was designed to be just as effective as oral contraceptives while eliminating the hassle of taking a pill every day.
- Date
- This product has not been recalled, but the FDA required the manufacturer to issue a safety warning in 2005.
Manufactured by Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical, the Ortho Evra birth control patch was introduced in 2002 as an alternative to the birth control pill. Now known as “the patch,” Ortho Evra prevented unwanted pregnancy just as effectively as the oral contraceptives, without the nuisance of taking a pill once a day. However, in 2005, the FDA advised Ortho McNeil to release a warning stating that women using the patch receive a higher dose of hormones and may be at a greater risk for blood clots.
According to the warning, women using the patch receive 60% more estrogen than those using oral contraceptives. Hormones released by Ortho Evra are removed from the body differently than those from birth control pills. While a higher amount of hormones released into the bloodstream is needed to prevent unwanted pregnancy, too much can lead to dangerous side effects. According to a 2004 FDA study, Ortho Evra caused a 300% increase of blood clot-related side effects including strokes, heart attacks and pulmonary embolisms.
More than 4 million women have used Ortho Evra since it was introduced in 2002.
Before commenting, please review our comment policy.