Ortho Evra Side Effects

Using the Ortho Evra patch can increase the risks of serious side effects. Women who have used the patch should be aware that some of these side effects include heart attack, stroke, and blood clots.

Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals
The manufacturer of the Ortho Evra birth control patch states that the risks and side effects of the patch are minimal. The Food and Drug Administration has received over 9,000 reports of adverse reactions to the patch in a 17 month period, compared to 1,237 adverse reports associated with the oral pill Ortho Tri Cyclen over a six year period. Information obtained by the Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act show that in 2004, the risk of dying or suffering a blood clot while using the Ortho Evra Patch was roughly three times higher than while using birth control pills.

Patch Blood Clot Risks
Blood clots from hormonal birth control are a known risk due to estrogen promoting blood coagulation. Before the Ortho Patch’s introduction, the FDA knew that the incidence of nonfatal blood clots was three times higher with the patch than with the Pill. Blood clots can cause serious injury or death if they travel to the lungs, brain, or heart.

At the launch of the Ortho Evra birth control patch, the list of side effects focused more on the increased risk for women who smoked, especially if they were over the age of 35, rather than on side effects on healthy users.

Birth Control Patch Symptoms
Women using the Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch should seek immediate medical attention if they experience any of the following symptoms:

• Chest pain
• Jaundice
• Severe headaches
• Chest pain
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Vision of speech impairments
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or fatigue
• Rash or hives
• Swelling of throat
• Weakness or numbness in the arm or leg

In addition to the above symptoms, patients should also be aware of major health risks associated with the Ortho Evra Patch. These side effects include increased risk of DVT (Deep Venous Thrombosis) and PE (Pulmonary Embolism), which can lead to stroke, heart attack, hemorrhage, and death.