FDA Warning — Birth Control Pills Yaz, Yasmin and Other Drospirenone Pills: Possible Increased Risk of Blood Clots
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a Safety Communication reporting that it “remained concerned” about the potential increased risk of blood clots associated with the use of drospirenone-containing birth control pills. Drospirenone is the synthetic progestin ingredient used in certain birth control pills such as Yaz, Yasmin, Safyal, Beyaz and Zarah (name brands) and Ocella (generic).
The FDA communication followed a review of the preliminary results of a FDA-funded study involving 800,000 women, which revealed a 1.5-fold increase in the risk of blood clots, also known as venous thromboembolism (VTE), for women who use drospirenone-containing birth-control pill, compared to users of other hormonal contraceptives.
Symptoms of blood clots include persistent leg pain, severe chest pain, or sudden shortness of breath.