Recent reports implicate the medication in serious health concerns for women who are consistently taking Yasmin. Reports of complications such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, stroke and in some cases death resulting from these complications. Additionally, patients taking this medication could be at a higher risk for Yasmin side effects if they have preexisting conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney or liver impairment.
While there has been no official Yasmin recall, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned Bayer AG that the advertising campaign for Yasmin and Yaz were misleading, namely that the ads suggested a broad useage of the medication, minimized potentially serious side effects, and overstated the efficacy of the pill. Twice have letters been sent to Bayer AG, and once has Bayer AG been ordered to correct its ads, costing the company a total of $20 million. Bayer AG is also under obligation to submit future ad campaigns to the FDA for approval before it launches them in the U.S.
One of the causes for concerns to patients taking the medication a chemical known as DRSP (drospirenone). This ingredient is what makes Yasmin and Yaz chemically different from other combination oral contraceptives. However, this is the ingredient that can raise your potassium level.the high levels of potassium that can accrue in a person’s body after taking the medication for some time. High potassium levels in the blood can be dangerous for persons who are obese, diabetic, or who have chronically high blood pressure.
Since the launch of Yasmin and Yaz, Bayer has reported sales estimated in the billions of dollars. It was reported as one of the highest earning drugs manufactured by the Bayer AG Corporation over the past few years.