OP: Ortho Evra Patch

Somewhere on this site there is a thread on this--maybe a few weeks back? Many I know found the adheasive irritating causing redness. The Nuva ring looks pretty good if this does not work out for you.

I know there was litigation against the manufacturers awhile back as well.

One of the biggest questions I have about them is; really how effective are they if you are very active (meaning working out, sweating, swimming, etc.)? I know in the past when I have used nicoderm, to quit smoking, the patches lost the adheasive ability and the purpose was lost. I wonder how they really hold up. If I find the thread I'll add it in here.

sera300

Posted: 28 Sep 22:01

Some questions should be asked BEFORE. Generally, I steer my patients toward the ring. Those who forget pills, tend to forget to change the patch. I guess some could even forget the ring.

The patch is generally thought to be good. There was some issue with blood clots and stroke and there is some court action in the US. I, personally, could not tolerate the patch on my body and many of my patients feel the same way. Plus the ring puts the lowest possible dose of hormones into your blood stream. I di wear a demo ring (no hormones) for a couple months and had no difficulties. I have had patients leave the patch; I have had none switch from the ring.

Brandye

Posted: 28 Sep 22:01

I did talk to my doctor first and he seemed all for it but I wanted other peoples opinions... I had it on for less than a week and I was dizzy, nausious and depressed (im already on 100mg zoloft for that...I dont need anything messing with me) it was so bad that I had to take it off! This morning I feel much better. I checked out the nuva ring website and compared the amount of estrogen between the ring, the path and multi hormone pills and I was shocked. So I emailed my doctor and hes getting me a perscription for the ring. I was nervous about putting something inside me but the videos on the website were helpful and I have a friend who absolutly loves it.

mj2003

Posted: 28 Sep 22:02

Ahhhh! Another variable. Zoloft, and all drugs in that family, have great effect on the libido and sexual response. Nausea is also a side effect of Zoloft and there seems to have been some potentiation with the patch.

Talk to your doctor about the possibility of reducing the amount of hormone you are getting. The ring puts less in your system and gives a constant dose. The pill causes peaks and valley as the hormone is taken through the digestive tract. The patch obviously avoids that but still puts more in the system than the ring does.

Make absolutely certain that whatever doctor titrating either pill is aware that you are on the other and what your reaction has been.

Brandye

Posted: 28 Sep 22:02

Ortho Evra patch dangerous?
I've been hearing that the patch (Ortho Evra) has been connected with the deaths of young women (teens and twenties) due to blood clot, heart attack, and stroke. Actually, how I heard about this is that I've been getting generic emails from online lawyers asking if I have a case against Ortho Evra. I'm wondering how legit the information is, and why I haven't heard more about it. When I did a google search I noticed that a most of the information is from "Ortho Evra lawsuit" or "Online lawyer" places - does that mean this is a money making scam or is it legitimate information? If it isn't a scam, then I wonder why there haven't been posts about it on here on articles in the news.

Since most of the info I found was from lawyers, I got a little skeptical. But the allegation is that Ortho Evra contains 60% more estrogen than regular birth control pills, and this can lead to blood clot and stroke, especially in young women. I did check the Ortho Evra website, and on the first page it reports risk of blood clot and stroke but below that it says "You will be exposed to about 60% more estrogen if you use ORTHO EVRA than if you use a typical birth control pill containing 35 micrograms (mcg) of estrogen. In general, increased estrogen exposure may increase the risk of side effects. The risk of venous thromboembolic disease (blood clots in the legs and/or the lungs) may be increased with ORTHO EVRA compared with that of a birth control pill containing norgestimate and 35 mcg of estrogen. One study found a doubling of this risk and another study found no increased risk." So the info checks out. Does anyone know the story?

My other concern is that I'm on the ring, which is also one of the newer methods of birth control. It's scary that drugs in such wide use can be put on the market without more testing!

browneyedgirl

Posted: 29 Sep 23:26

There is a linkage between the two...the patch and serious side effects, additionally, increased morality rates of users. Therefore, lawsuits are being brought against the drug manufacturer's.

The class actions law suits are sent out to all who used them (or similar products) from a data base. If you read through the info if you experienced any damage you are eligible for [if it's won] financial reimbursement for medical bills, physical damage as a result, or worse...

If you have used them, I thought you were on the ring or something else, I would at least put your name in the bin to keep any future claims [if they arise] open to settlement. Much will depend on the outcome of the entire case & the "totality of the circumstances". When a drug is FDA approved it's hard to override this since it entangles an Agency Action & the Supreme's do not easily overturn the FDA for other reasons--Separation of government into three branches and which has the expertise & this sets precedence.

sera300

Posted: 29 Sep 23:26

Yeah, I'm on the ring so I'm not directly worried about my own health. It's just scary to me that they can discover these things only after years of use and a number of deaths. It makes me wonder whether I should be on regular birth control pills, since they are the most tried and true. And I am also wondering why there hasn't been more media coverage or at least discussion on sites like this about Ortho Evra. Even if it's not absolutely proven, it's not a risk I would want to take. I showed some of this info to a friend of mine who was on the patch, and she hadn't heard about it before but based on the links I gave her, decided to stop using it.

browneyedgirl

Posted: 29 Sep 23:27

All drugs have side-effects and some people are more susceptible than others to various medications. Media, etc., make big deals of drugs with higher incidence of side-effects than others. We are still talking about very, very few who experience dangerous side-effects. It is not until after all the controlled trials that these are used by millions. That is when rare but dangerous side-effects show up. If we want 100% safety, we use no drugs!. All of life is about balancing risks. There is still more risk in pregnancy than in using the patch.

That said, I steer my patients away from the patch but will prescribe iof they really want to use it. My favorite is the ring because I have had fewer patients experience difficulty in adjusting than with any other hormonal system.

Brandye

Posted: 29 Sep 23:27

As one of the so called "rare" victims of the patch, I have to chime in here. It is true that all hormonal birth control raises the risk of having a thromboembolic event (stroke,PE,DVT). What is at issue here is the fact that the patch releases unsafe amounts of hormones and the makers knew this before they put it on the market. They knew and they hid the info that all prospective patients should have been informed of. Why? Simply put MONEY. 1) Johnson&Johnson's money maker bc pill Ortho Tri-Cyclen was about to go off patent, meaning generics would be cutting into their profits. 2) Big pharma will continue to engage in this behavior as long as the profits they make outweigh any settlements/damages they have to pay.
So far, J&J is settling all these cases because of the very damaging information and documents that have been brought out during the 'discovery' period. The makers don't care about women, they care about making money. As far as the ring is concerned, I wouldn't relax just yet. One of the problems with the patch is the third generation progestin component. The ring also contains a third generation progestin (I believe). Hormonal birth control usually contains an estrogen and progestin component. They are supposed to work together, the progestin counteracts the clotting caused by the estrogen. These newer/proprietary 3rd gen progestins tend to cause the body to become immune to their anti-clotting ability. When that happens, the estrogen component is unopposed meaning your blood is MUCH more likely to clot. Second gen. BC pills are safer, less estrogen and less chances of becoming immune to the anti-clotting affect of the progestin. The reason the pharma companies keep coming out with new birth control options is again money. The second gen. BC pills are mostly off patent like OrthoTri-Cyclen. The pharmaceutical companies can't make as much money when the other pharma companies start making generic versions of their drug. :mad:

fillemal

Posted: 29 Sep 23:27

I'm on the patch too and Im pretty worried about it too; enough to seriously consider coming off of it. Im trying to get ahold of my OB/GYN to make an appointment but this is the hairest time of year.

hollywood807

Posted: 29 Sep 23:27

The amount of estrogen/progestin absorbed from the patch is dependent on where you put the patch. If you wear it on the upper arms(which i did), you will absorb more. If it detaches and you put a new one on right away, like the directions tell u to, you will absorb still more of the hormones. if the patch gets hot, like your skin starts to react to the adhesive(which is common), you will absorb still more of the hormones. It is not safe! So far the youngest girl to die from clots caused by the patch is 14 years old! :eek:

fillemal

Posted: 29 Sep 23:28

I would just tell her about the suits. I do not believe they will go far. There are trade offs as Brandye states...I did not know why I never adjusted to the BCP in the past [back 25 years or so] ....I was on the "old ones" with high hormone levels & smoked.

sera300

Posted: 29 Sep 23:28

The lawsuits are being settled by Johnson&Johnson. They haven't let any go to trial. The most recent case that involved a 17 yo fashion student dropping dead in New York, was supposed to go to trial 2 mos. ago. They settled out of court after J&J offered the family 5 to 10 times what the case was "worth". As far as I know, these cases are all individual lawsuits (like mine). Meaning no judge has certified a "class" yet. So no class action lawsuit.

fillemal

Posted: 29 Sep 23:28

They are in the midst of putting together a class action suit. Meaning this is why people are being contacted and site formed. They will always try to get them as individuals...and pay them off. Look at the tobacco industry and the outcome of the class action suit. Look at where the federal funds really go--the earmarked dollars...and the amount paid to each individual. Look at all the "foundations" Philip Morris has now and what they sponsor.

As I said the attorneys are attempting to establish a ground...sort of difficult when FDA approved and people chose to take it with all the info available and research on such....to certify a class....tough to over rule the FDA...ANd look at Johnson & Johnsons background....look at who/what they fund...

sera300

Posted: 29 Sep 23:29

OK, you all litigate this. To the original poster, talk the various hormonal systems out with your doctor - and you decide.

Brandye

Posted: 29 Sep 23:29