Canadian woman blames Yaz for year-long illness
March 31st, 2010 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
Monica Dakin lost a year of her life because of her birth control pills.
The 23-year-old Canadian was prescribed the popular oral contraceptive Yaz last May to treat her ovarian cysts. She believed the low-dose hormone carried fewer side effects than other birth control pills. But soon after starting the medication, she was doubled over with abdominal pain. Dakin was hospitalized six times in the first six months before surgeons finally removed her gallbladder in an emergency procedure.
Yaz, also known by the brand name as Yasmin and the generic version Ocella, was touted by its maker Bayer Healthcare for treating premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and acne. This new type of contraceptive contains an added ingredient, a diuretic known as drospirenone. Dakin contends the diuretic caused the significant problems with her gallbladder and that she was never warned by Bayer that taking the pill could make her sick.
Dakin is one of hundreds of Canadian women suing Bayer Healthcare claiming they suffered severe adverse effects because of the popular birth control pill. The list of injuries includes everything from gallbladder problems to blood clots and even deaths. The lawsuits claim Yaz is more dangerous than other oral contraceptives and that Bayer knew this but failed to adequately warn consumers.
Dakin told Canadian news site HERE that the medical problems caused by Yaz have “ruined a year of my life.” Due to graduate from college in just a few months, she says she will have to sit out the ceremony because her illness set her too far behind.