Ortho Evra, the first contraceptive skin patch used by women to prevent pregnancy, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001. Ortho Evra has caused serious adverse side effects including blood clots in the legs and lungs, and has been linked to other serious medical conditions such as heart attacks and strokes.

Over 4 Million women have used Ortho Evra as a convenient form of birth control since 2002. While Ortho Evra uses the same two hormones as regular birth control pills, the Ortho Evra patch releases 60% more estrogen directly into a woman's bloodstream than the pill. According to a report published in the Associated Press in July, 2005, Ortho Evra users increased exposure to estrogen has been reported to cause a three (3) times higher risk of dying or suffering a survivable blood clot than regular birth control pill users. High levels of estrogen in the bloodstream have also been shown to cause heart attacks and strokes.

Evidence shows that Ortho McNeil, the manufacturer of Ortho Evra, knew that Ortho Evra was more dangerous than the traditional birth control pill, but failed to warn Ortho Evra users or their doctors. In addition, Ortho McNeil chose not to fund research that would have compared the safety of the patch to the pill but chose not to because of the negative repercussions it could have on Ortho Evra sales.

If you or a loved one has taken Ortho Evra, you should watch for these indicators of a serious medical problem:

• Signs of a heart attack include tightness of chest or crushing chest pain
• Signs of a blood clot in the lungs include sharp chest pain, coughing of blood, or sudden shortness of breath
• Signs of a stroke include serious headaches, vomiting, dizziness, fainting, blurred vision, slurred speech, or numbness in the limbs
• Signs of a blood clot in the eye include sudden loss of vision

The Associated Press analyzed federal drug safety reports in 2004 and found that about twelve (12) deaths have been attributed to Ortho Evra use. If you or a loved one has been affected by using Ortho Evra, the attorneys at Goldenberg & Johnson can answer any questions you have and discuss your potential case. You can speak to one of our attorneys by calling us toll free at (800) 279-6386.