The birth control market has been booming in recent years for many reasons, and the typical progression with any prescription drug-related market is for initial brand names to become available and then for generic equivalents to follow after patents have expired or declared invalid. When it comes to prescription birth control medication, this progression has been no different.
One of the leading generic drugs to hit the market recently is known as Ocella, and its widely known as a generic alternative to Yasmin and Yaz. Below youll find information regarding how Ocella works, how it came to the market, the problems it has encountered, its contraindications and how you should proceed if you have suffered as a result of using Ocella for any reason.
Ocella is manufactured by Barr Pharmaceuticals, and it originally hit the market in 2008. It provides protection from unwanted pregnancies in women by releasing small amounts of two hormones into the womans body that combine to perform the following tasks:
To prevent ovulation; and
To prompt slight changes in the physiological structure of the walls of both the uterus and the cervix, thereby preventing any fertilized egg from attaching to the uterus so that it can begin the process of growing and multiplying.
These hormones are known as drospirenone and ethinylestradiol, and for a short time, Ocella seemed to produce positive results. Ocella has also been used for two off-label purposes, which means that they were provided to treat conditions for which Ocella was not approved by the FDA. These conditions are the symptoms of PMDD, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder and acne. PMDD features symptoms that include anxiety, loss of sleep, confusion and irritability.
Ocella came to market quite recently, and it was only through a process of intricate litigation that its placement on the market became possible. Barr Pharmaceuticals sued Bayer Healthcare, the manufacturer of both Yaz and Yasmin, over its patent rights regarding those two name-brand drugs.
Through a series of hearings and decisions, the federal courts ultimately invalidated the patents held on these products, thereby opening the door for Ocella to be marketed, sold and distributed in the United States after it obtained FDA approval subsequent to this litigation. While this was clearly a victory for Barr Pharmaceuticals, Ocella soon encountered problems that were similar to both Yaz and Yasmin.
As stated above, there are substantial similarities between Ocella, Yaz and Yasmin. Unfortunately, these similarities also include the potential side effects that could arise after being on the market for a time. These side effects include:
Heart attacks
Strokes
Kidney damage
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
Gallbladder disease
Pulmonary embolisms
Death
Clearly, each of these side effects is dangerous, and DVT and pulmonary embolisms commonly exist in a continuum. DVT is a condition whereby blood clots form deep inside the bodys tissue, typically in the legs. When a clot grows to the point where it breaks off and makes its way through the circulatory system, it will sometimes settle in the tissue of the lungs. When a blood clot forms in the lungs, it is known as a pulmonary embolism. Both DVT and pulmonary embolisms can be extremely dangerous, and if they are not diagnosed quickly and treated properly, each can be fatal for the patient.
As is the case with Yaz and Yasmin, Ocella can also be dangerous if its used at the same time as other drugs. These drugs include:
Captopril
Irbesartan
Fosinopril
Enalapril
Candesartan
Benazepril
Eprosartan
Lisinopril
In addition, women with certain types of health problems or health histories could also be at risk if they use Ocella. These conditions include:
Heart problems
Obesity
Diabetes
Kidney problems
Depression
Cancer
Jaundice
If you have suffered from any of these conditions and youre either taking Ocella or youre considering it, contact your doctor to make sure that your safety is not at risk.
If you have taken Ocella and youve suffered from side effects as a result, you have probably encountered medical costs as well as lost income and other serious issues as a result of your injuries. If thats the case, you need to take action and begin to understand your legal rights and options. Contact the defective drugs lawyers at Phillips Law Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.
