Ortho Evra Contraceptive Patch Blamed for Teen’s Deadly Pulmonary Embolism

The Ortho Evra birth control patch is unreasonably dangerous compared to other contraceptives and should not still be on the market, according to a woman whose teenage daughter suddenly died of a pulmonary embolism while using the product.

Boston resident Leslie Niedner blames the death of her daughter, Adrianna, on the teen’s use of the controversial contraceptive. Adrianna, 17, collapsed last month in her dorm room at Trinity College after developing a deadly blood clot in her lung, according a Boston Globe report.

Niedner is hardly the first person to question the safety of the popular Ortho Evra contraceptive.

Controversial Patch Still Widely Used

The patch has been named in thousands of lawsuits filed by and on behalf of women who were injured or killed while using the product. However, Ortho Evra remains approved by the Food and Drug Administration and is still used by as many as two million American women.

In November 2005, the FDA issued a warning about the risks of using the Ortho Evra patch and said there was no evidence to suggest that the patch is any more effective than traditional birth control pills.

Many critics of Ortho Evra say the fact that the patch delivers higher estrogen levels than other birth control products increase the risks of heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots. Johnson & Johnson, the maker of the Ortho Evra patch, has already shelled out about $70 million to settle hundreds of lawsuits filed by injured patients.

Some have accused Johnson & Johnson of hiding or downplaying the risks of Ortho Evra and the drug’s high estrogen levels. The company has repeatedly changed Ortho Evra’s labeling to warn of possible side effects from high estrogen levels.

For its part, Johnson & Johnson contends Ortho Evra is safe and effective when used properly. However, the company acknowledges that like any drug, there are benefits and risks to using the patch.

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