Ortho Evra Lawyer

Williams Kherkher - Ortho Evra Lawyers Providing Perspective

If you've been using "the patch" for birth control that's manufactured by Ortho McNeil Pharmaceuticals, you either already are or face the possibility of suffering from serious side effects that have been statistically linked to its use. A situation like this gives rise to many questions, and the Ortho Evra lawyers at Williams Kherkher would like to provide you with some basic information regarding this product. However, if you believe that you've been harmed by the patch, you need to contact the Ortho Evra lawyers at Williams Kherkher immediately for a free initial consultation.

About the Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch

The patch is a method of birth control that's available via prescription. It works by having the patient affix this patch on the skin of the buttocks, stomach, upper outer arm or upper torso once a week for three consecutive weeks. The patch releases estrogen and progestin into the system that in effect prevents a pregnancy from occurring, and this protection lasts for one month at a time.

Early studies showed that patch users were much less likely to become pregnant by using the patch than by using "the pill," a more traditional method of birth control. It was also seen as advantageous because the routine required by using the patch is much less rigorous than having to take a pill at the same time every day.

Problems Begin to Surface

In November of 2005, the FDA published an alert stating that the manufacturer had received approval for an updated labeling system for this product. The reason for this new label was that research began to show that using the patch exposed women to higher levels of estrogen than those who used the pill, and this increased exposure could lead to serious medical problems.

In September of 2006, another study was published that reaffirmed the initial discovery that using the patch could lead to a higher risk of the following side effects when compared to oral contraceptives:

• Blood clots
• Heart Attacks
• Strokes

Any or all of these conditions can lead to permanent injury and even death, which is what led to the updated label. If you have been using the patch and have suffered any complications as a result, you need to seek medical attention and then contact an Ortho Evra lawyer at Williams Kherkher immediately for a free initial consultation.