Ortho Evra Patch
The Ortho Evra birth control patch is a contraceptive, used by more than 4 million women since its debut in 2002. In 2004 alone, an estimated 10 million prescriptions were written for the Ortho Evra patch, which is marketed by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson).
In January 2008, the Food and Drug Administration warned that women who use the Ortho Evra patch are more likely to suffer serious blood clots than women who use birth control pills. The agency had issued an earlier warning in 2006 after a study found that women who use Ortho Evra are twice as likely to suffer blood clots as women on the pill. Despite these findings, there has been no Ortho Evra recall issued.
Prescribing information for Ortho Evra Patch updated
The Ortho Evra patch releases the hormones estrogen and progestin. These hormones are absorbed directly into the bloodstream, as opposed to ingesting them into the body, as with the traditional birth control pill. This causes an increased exposure to estrogen, which can increase the risk of blood clots and other Ortho Evra side effects, including heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis.
Learn the answers to frequently asked questions about Ortho Evra.
If you or someone you know has experienced complications with the Ortho Evra birth control patch, call the office of Hissey Kientz, toll-free at (866) 275-4454 for information about your legal rights or fill out a free online evaluation (top right of this page).