FDA Recall Petition Falls Short
Some women using the birth control Nuvaring have experienced serious and sometimes fatal side effects of the contraceptive. Many who have suffered these Nuvaring injuries are seeking compensation from the drug’s manufacturer, Organon, through drug liability lawsuits.
NuvaRing is a part of a group of birth control methods known as “third-generation” contraceptives. These products contain a combination of hormones which are designed to prevent pregnancy by suppressing ovulation, and making the uterine lining inhospitable to the implantation of a fertilized egg.
The combination of hormones used in NuvaRing includes estrogen and a form of synthetic progestin known as etonogestrel or desogestrel. Although NuvaRing was designed with the hope of reducing the incidence of side effects in women, these third-generation forms of birth control actually double the risk of blood clots when compared to older contraceptives. Independent studies dating back as early as 1995 substantiate this finding, yet NuvaRing still received FDA approval in 2001.
Noting the growing numbers of Nuvaring injuries and deaths, the non-profit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen petitioned the FDA in 2007 to recall all third-generation contraceptives. Thus far, the FDA has not issued the recall.
The first known lawsuit related to Nuvaring injuries was file in March 2008 by a New Jersey man whose 32-year-old wife died after using the contraceptive. According to court documents, the woman died after experiencing severe seizures caused by massive blood clots in her lungs (pulmonary embolism). Her husband and his legal team contend that she was in perfect health prior to using the NuvaRing in December 2007.
Since that time, scores of defective drug lawsuits have been filed by consumers or their survivors, alleging that their Nuvaring injuries are the result of the manufacturer’s negligence. They claim, among other things, that the company knew about the increased risks associated with the drug, but failed to adequately alert the public and the FDA.
The side effects associated with the most serious Nuvaring injuries are blood clots. These clots can present in a number of ways such as:
• Deep Vein Thrombosis. This is a blood clot which originates in a deep vein, typically in the lower leg. Symptoms of DVT include pain or cramps in the leg, and swelling of the leg or foot.
• Pulmonary Embolism. PE is a blood clot in the lung, the symptoms of which include chest pain, difficulty breathing, and the spitting up of blood.
• Stroke. Warning signs of a stroke include severe headache, sudden changes in speech or vision, and weakness or numbness in a limb.
• Heart Attack. Heart Attack symptoms include chest pain, and shortness of breath.
• Blood Clot of the Eye. This can be signaled by sudden changes in vision. Other serious side effects associated with use of NuvaRing include toxic shock syndrome (TSS), and increased incidence of breast cancer, and benign liver tumors which could rupture, causing deadly internal bleeding.
Women who experience the symptoms outlined above while using NuvaRing should seek immediate medical attention.
If you need information about your legal rights, Nuvaring online lawyers can help. For answers about the compensation that may be recovered in relation to your Nuvaring injuries, contact an attorney who specializes in drug liability litigation. Legal Tube can help you determine which lawyer has the skills and the expertise to handle your case.
|
|