Woman sues J&J over Ortho Evra birth control patch
Posted by Administrator (admin) on Dec 07 2008 at 7:38 AM
Ortho Evra Patch >>

A Texas woman is suing Johnson & Johnson over the injuries she suffered while using the Ortho Evra birth control patch.

Karenetha Easterwood claims that she suffered fatal pulmonary embolism just 5 months after she began using Ortho Evra.

The lawsuit was filed in the Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas. Easterwood is seeking more than $75,000 as compensatory damages from Johnson & Johnson, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical Inc. and Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development Inc.

Johnson and Johnson introduced Ortho Evra in 2002 as a suitable alternative to daily oral contraceptive pills. According to the initial safety label, health risks associated with the patch were similar to those of oral contraceptives. However, FDA received 21 reports of deadly blood clots and other disorders linked to Ortho Evra within 3 years. The FDA then warned that women using Ortho Evra would be exposed to just about 60 percent more estrogen than those who use oral contraceptive pills.

It is said that the difference in estrogen exposure is related to the delivery mechanism of the birth control patch. Human digestive system partially dilutes the hormones in birth control pills. But, hormones in Ortho Evra are directly absorbed into the blood stream, causing a higher quantity to enter the body. Elevated levels of estrogen can cause blood clots, strokes, heart attacks and some other severe health problems.

According to a study conducted in 2006, women using Ortho Evra were two times more likely to suffer venous thromboembolisms (VTEs) than those taking oral birth control pills. VTE is the formation of a blood clot in the veins which can travel from the site where it formed and block blood flow at another location.

Approximately 4,000 lawsuits have been filed in the state and federal courts over the problems associated with Ortho Evra. So far, Johnson & Johnson has spent approximately $68.7 million to settle Ortho Evra claims.

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