US adds clot risks to some birth control labels, page 1

US adds clot risks to some birth control labels
By Agence France-Presse
Tuesday, April 10, 2012 16:20 EDT -- The Raw Story

The FDA has recognized increased risks in some birth control drugs that contain a drug called "drospirenone".

Bayer’s Yaz pills is one that contains drospirenone.

The FDA has also said that the studies used to make this determination also contained "mixed" results and other variables.

US health authorities on Tuesday ordered revised labels on some types of birth control including German pharmaceutical giant Bayer’s Yaz pills to advise of a possibly higher risk of blood clots.

“Women who use birth control pills with drospirenone (like Yaz) may have a higher risk of getting a blood clot,” said a new Yaz label on the US Food and Drug Administration website.

“Some studies reported that the risk of blood clots was higher for women who use birth control pills that contain drospirenone than for women who use birth control pills that do not contain drospirenone.”

However, the regulatory agency pointed out that studies have shown mixed results.

Drospirenone is a synthetic progestin which can suppress ovulation and thereby prevent pregnancy either when used alone or in combination with an estrogen component.

There are 11 approved versions of such pills on the US market, including names such as Gianvi, Loryna, Ocella, Safyral, Syeda, and Zarah.

Drospirenone is an anti-androgenic synthetic progestin that is used in birth control.

Medical uses

Drospirenone is part of some birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. In combination with ethinyl estradiol it is used as contraception, to treat moderate acne, and for premenstrual dysphoric disorder.[1] In combination with estradiol it is used to treat menopausal symptoms and premenstrual dysphoric disorder.[2]

Please see this ---> Drospirenone - Adverse effects