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Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch Information

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new warning label for Ortho Evra, stating in bold letters that the patch exposes women to about 60% more estrogen than the birth control pill. The makers of Ortho Evra previously failed to warn users of the higher estrogen levels, which may increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and death.

Ortho Evra was the first approved contraceptive birth control patch. It attaches to the skin at the upper arm, buttocks, thigh, or abdomen. It was intended to be more convenient than a daily pill as the patch is replaced every week once the body depletes the estrogen and progestin contained within.

Despite the fact that the FDA has now admits that "women who use Ortho Evra are exposed to about 60 percent more estrogen than if they were taking a typical birth control pill” the agency still allowed the drug on the market and at this time is unwilling to ban it.

Serious risks, which can be life threatening, include:

  • Blood clots
  • Deep Venous Thrombosis
  • Heart attacks
  • Hemorrhage
  • Strokes
  • Pulmonary Embolism

If you or a loved one have been harmed by the side effects of Ortho Evra, contact our experienced Ortho Evra attorneys to learn about your rights.

Ortho Evra Frequently Asked Questions

» What is Ortho Evra?
» Is the Ortho Evra birth control patch more dangerous than the pill?
» What are the risks of using the Ortho Evra birth control patch?
» What Ortho Evra side effects should I watch for?
» What should I do if I am using Ortho Evra right now?
» What if I have experienced a blood clot or other injury while using the patch?
» Is anything being done to protect women from the risks of using Ortho Evra?
» What does the new Ortho Evra warning label say?

What is Ortho Evra?
Ortho Evra is a thin, flexible birth control patch applied to the lower abdomen, buttocks or upper body once a week. The Ortho Evra patch delivers a continuous flow of estrogen and progestin to prevent ovulation. The patch is used for three weeks, and then stopped for one week to allow menstruation. Ortho Evra contains the same drugs as typical birth control pills; however, the way the drug is administered exposes women to much higher levels of estrogen.

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Is the Ortho Evra birth control patch more dangerous than the pill?
Although the hormones in Ortho Evra are the same as those in birth control pills, the birth control patch delivers hormones directly into the blood stream, exposing women to much higher levels of estrogen. Increased exposure to estrogen may increase the risk of side effects. The dangerous and potentially life-threatening side effects of estrogen include blood clots, heart attack and stroke.

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What are the risks of using the Ortho Evra birth control patch?
The hormones in the Ortho Evra birth control patch are associated with a risk for developing blood clots. Blood clots and blockage of blood vessels can cause death or serious disability. A blood clot may prevent blood from reaching its destination such as the heart or lungs. Using Ortho Evra may increase the risk of developing a stroke, blockage or rupture of blood vessels in the brain, and heart attack, blockage of blood vessels in the heart. Talk with your doctor about your risk.

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What Ortho Evra side effects should I watch for?
Indicators of a possible heart attack include crushing chest pain or tightness in the chest. Signs of a blood clot in the lung include sharp chest pain, coughing up blood, or sudden shortness of breath. A clot in the leg may cause intense calf pain. Warning signs for a potential stroke are a sudden severe headache, vomiting, dizziness or fainting, a disturbance in vision or speech, and weakness or numbness in the arm or leg.

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What should I do if I am using Ortho Evra right now?
If you have experienced any indicators of blood clot or stroke, such as shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, numbness in a limb, or dizziness seek immediate medical attention. Otherwise, consult your doctor regarding the potential risks associated with the birth control patch.

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What if I have experienced a blood clot or other injury while using the patch?
Assuming that you have received the necessary medical attention, you should contact an experienced attorney to discuss your situation. You may have the right to compensation for your injury.

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Is anything being done to protect women from the risks of using Ortho Evra?
Public organizations are warning women not to use the Ortho Evra birth control patch, including consumer watchdog group Public Citizen, which says that there is no reason to choose Ortho Evra over older, better understood, and equally effective oral contraceptives. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also taken action, and Ortho Evra will now bear a bold warning so that women will know that the birth control patch exposes them to about 60% more estrogen than the typical birth control pill.

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What does the new Ortho Evra warning label say?
In November of 2005, the Food and Drug Administration announced that Ortho Evra would carry a new label to warn users about the risks of the birth control patch when compared to the pill. The new label says, in part, "[h]ormones from patches applied to the skin get into the blood stream and are removed from the body differently than hormones from birth control pills taken by mouth. You will be exposed to about 60% more estrogen if you use Ortho Evra?"

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Related Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch Articles

  • Warning Added to Birth Control Patch
    Ortho Evra Patch Exposes Women to More Estrogen Than Birth Control Pills; May Raise Risk of Blood Clots, Says FDA
  • National Briefing | Health And Science: Warning On Birth-Control Patch
    The makers of a popular birth-control patch warned millions of women that the patch exposes them to higher doses of hormones and may put them at greater risk for blood clots and other side effects than previously disclosed.
  • Birth Control Patch Users Warned
    Until now, regulators and patch-maker Ortho McNeil, a Johnson and Johnson subsidiary, had maintained the patch was expected to be associated with similar risks as the birth control pill.
  • Warning issued for Ortho Evra birth control patch
    On Nov. 11, 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a revision to the label for Ortho Evra, the key ingredient in the birth control patch, warning women that they were being exposed to a higher level of estrogen than previously thought.

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If you or a loved one have been harmed by the side effects of Ortho Evra, contact our experienced Ortho Evra lawyers to learn about your rights.
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