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Ortho Evra Patch
Pennsylvania Dangerous Drug Lawyers
Marketed by Ortho McNeil Pharmaceuticals of Johnson & Johnson, Ortho Evra is a contraceptive skin patch that prevents pregnancy with the use of estrogen and progesin, which are released into the woman's body slowly and gradually throughout the week.
Because of its increased convenience as opposed to the birth control pill, the Ortho Evra Patch has been widely accepted by women upon its release into the market. Since 2002, it has been prescribed to over four million women, making it the number one prescribed birth control brand in the United States. Although the patch is more convenient than the pill, it presents risks that the pill does not. Because hormones are released directly into the bloodstream with the patch, and not digested as they are with the pill, women using the patch may experience increased levels of estrogen (over 60% more) in their bodies. Consequently, increased estrogen levels in women have been correlated with the formation of blood clots in the legs and lungs, as well as other problems such as heart attacks and stroke. Studies by medical experts have been found to show that the Ortho Evra Patch triples a woman's risk of developing a blood clot or deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and that the risk of death from using the patch was three in every 200,000 women. As a result of this increased estrogen level and risk of death, the FDA as well as Ortho McNeil, updated the Ortho Evra patch label with a new warning on November 10, 2005.
The possible side effects of taking the Ortho Evra Patch normally include breast changes, headaches, nausea, menstrual changes, vaginal discharge, and abdominal cramps and bloating. Several women, however, have experienced abnormal side effects that were rapidly onset before falling fatally ill. These side effects include severe headaches, vision problems, vomiting and nausea.
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