-Top News NZ

03/15/2010 - Bayer's popular oral contraceptives Yaz and Yasmin have a number of lawsuits being filed against them by a group of Canadian women. These women have alleged that the warnings on the pills were not adequate as there were cases of stroke and other health problems being faced by women.

Thousands of teens and women in Canada are using these pills. These pills work well for many but there are certain women who have reported racing hearts, strokes and, in some cases, gallbladder problems leading to surgery.

Christine Lovelace, a Halifax woman says she developed strange symptoms after she began taking Yaz last February. There were heart palpitations, she woke up in the middle of the night with her heart racing, and unusual menstrual changes, with periods lasting as long as 14 days.

She had a TIA stroke, transient ischemic attack, or mini-stroke that led her getting paralyzed all down on her left side.

Her symptoms however disappeared as she stopped taking the pill.

In 2004 and 2008, Yasmin and Yaz were approved by Health Canada. Among young women and teens these pills are bestsellers.

The lawsuit's statement of claim alleges that Bayer could not warn the pill’s users adequately.

Bayer said, "We would also like to get the warning changed so that we have a proper warning for people going forward."