Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch

In 2001, the Ortho Evra birth control patch was approved by the FDA for use as a contraceptive. Applied to the skin, the patch was touted by its manufacturer as being as safe and effective as oral contraceptives. However, there is one major difference between oral contraceptives and the Ortho Evra birth control patch. Specifically, the side effects with the patch are incomparably more serious. Side effects associated with oral contraceptives include nausea, vomiting, headaches and breast symptoms, while Ortho Evra has been shown to significantly increase serious thrombotic events, like blood clots, strokes and pulmonary emboli in women. In fact, the Ortho Evra birth control patch delivers 60% more estrogen than prescribed and is similar to the high-dose estrogen forms of oral contraceptives that the FDA required to be removed from the market in 1988. From April 2002 through September 2003, the FDA logged over 9,000 reports of adverse reactions to Ortho Evra. During that same time, there were only 1,200 reports of adverse events in connection with Ortho Tri-Cylcen, the leading oral contraceptive. Currently, there is a class action and many individual lawsuits pending involving Ortho Evra.

Please contact Alley, Clark, Greiwe & Fulmer for more information about these claims.