YAZ, Yasmin, Beyaz and Ocella
You may have heard the recent news about the controversy surrounding oral contraceptives YAZ and its sister drugs YASMIN, BEYAZ and OCELLA. Studies have found that a chemical used in these newer birth control bills may be more dangerous than traditional birth control bills.
These oral contraceptives have been linked to serious health issues, including:
- Blood Clots
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
- Pulmonary Embolism
In fact, Bayer has gotten in trouble with the FDA over YAZ more than once. In 2008, Bayer was accused of exaggerating the approved uses of YAZ in their TV ads and was forced to run new ads clarifying the drug’s approved uses.
Recently, the FDA has forced Bayer to include information about the increased risks of blood clots on the drug’s warning label.
YAZ has even been prescribed to treat conditions like acne or other feminine issues aside from just birth control.
Why are these pills more dangerous than traditional birth control pills?
While all birth control bills generally pose some health risks, studies have found that a chemical used in these newer birth control bills, called drospirenone, can increase health risks. YAZ’s unique combination of drospirenone and high doses of estrogen has been found to significantly increase the risk of serious side effects, most commonly blood clots.
What are the differences between YAZ, YASMIN, BEYAZ and OCELLA?
All of these medications use the chemical drospirenone, a synthetic type of progesterone.
Of the group, Yasmin was the original (so to speak). Yasmin was essentially the “protoype” of YAZ, and later became known as the generic form of brand-name drug YAZ.
Beyaz is the “new” form of YAZ. Introduced less than two years ago, Beyaz has precisely the same chemical make up as YAZ only it includes an additional vitamin meant to help if the user becomes unexpectedly pregnant (which really doesn’t make much sense considering that this IS a birth control pill). There has been some speculation that Beyaz (or, YAZ 2.0) is meant to appear as a “better” form of YAZ that has “fixed” the health issues of the original.
Ocella is part of the drospirenone drug family, the same chemical in YAZ and others that increase a woman’s health risks, and is considered a generic form of the drug.
