Woman blames Yaz for gallbladder damage, severe depression
June 28th, 2010 by Jennifer Walker-Journey
A Virginia woman has filed a lawsuit against the makers of Yaz birth control pill, claiming the oral contraceptive damaged her gallbladder and drove her to attempt suicide. Megan M. Stewart, 21, filed the 11-count complaint against Bayer Corporation last month, adding to the more than 1,000 lawsuits filed against the pharmaceutical company by women who allege they were not adequately warned of the risks involved with taking Yaz, also known as Yasmin and Ocella.
Stewart was prescribed Yaz by her gynecologist in September 2007 to treat cramps associated with her period. Yaz is marketed as a contraceptive that also treats premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), premenstrual syndrome, as well as moderate acne. It also is the only birth control pill to contain ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone, a diuretic.
In June 2008, Stewart began to feel pain in her abdomen and learned that her gallbladder was not functioning properly. Two months later her gallbladder was removed. Stewart took a short break from Yaz until April 2009, when she resumed treatment only to go off of it again when she says the pills made her feel queasy. Severe cramping a few months later led her to go back on Yaz. Within days of resuming treatment, Stewart’s lawsuit claims she began suffering severe depression and suicidal thoughts that led her to attempt suicide on two separate occasions.
Stewart’s lawsuit names Bayer, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Bayer HealthCare AG, Bayer HealthCare LLC, Bayer HealthCare Corporation, Berlex Inc., and Berlex Laboratories Inc. The plaintiff seeks unspecified damages, court costs, and attorney fees.