A stage actress has filed suit against Bayer, alleging that the birth-control pill Yasmin caused her to have a stroke at age 27. Brenda Hamilton, who is in the Broadway show Wicked, had been taking Yasmin for a little more than two years when she suffered a stroke in May 2007. Ms. Hamilton alleges in the suit filed in a New York court that Bayer knew Yasmin posed a greater risk than did other birth-control pills for blood clots and strokes, but withheld that information from patients and doctors. Ms. Hamilton had no history of health problems when she was stricken. She had this to say:

I’m pretty angry that this happened to me. I was 27 at the time. I don’t think this should be happening to young women. It shouldn’t happen to any woman just because they take birth-control pills.

Women have suffered strokes stemming from the use of other types of birth-control pills, which experts said were caused by increased levels of estrogen. Bayer touts Yasmin particularly for its low estrogen levels. But in 2008, as we have pointed out, the FDA cited Bayer for overstating the safety of the product in its advertising.

Ms. Hamilton’s lawsuit is one of about 1,100 throughout the country claiming the pills caused serious or life-threatening health problems. Two class-action suits were also filed in Canada. But the pharmaceutical giant has consistently defended the drug, which accounted for $1.5 billion in sales in 2009. Our firm is handling a number of cases for clients against Bayer. If you need more information please contact Alyce Addison at 800-898-2034 or by email Alyce.Addison@beasleyallen.com.