TV ads for birth-control pill Yaz gloss over the risks
If you weren't paying close attention when you saw two recent TV commercials for the birth-control pill Yaz, you might have missed the part where they mention the serious and even life-threatening risks associated with the drug. That's because while a voiceover ran down the potential side effects of the drug, such as heart attack and stroke, pop music played in the background, and what appeared on the screen were images of women jogging, meeting up with their friends, and engaging in other everyday activities.
The ads raised a red flag with the Food and Drug Administration, which said the commercials glossed over the drug's risks and could give viewers the impression that Yaz is safer than has been demonstrated. The agency sent a warning letter in October to Bayer, Yaz's manufacturer, requesting that both commercials be pulled immediately.
In one ad, entitled "Balloons," the voiceover lists the side effects of Yaz while women are shown running in a park, driving, and singing. The FDA said the music and the numerous scene changes distracted viewers from hearing the risk information and made it difficult to process the adverse events associated with Yaz.
But that wasn't the only problem, the FDA said. The ads also give the misleading impression that the birth-control pill is appropriate for treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS), when in fact it's only approved for treating a more serious condition called premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD. The symptoms of PMDD are generally so severe that they interfere with a woman's ability to work, go to school, and engage in social activities. In one ad, women sing the chorus to the song "We're Not Gonna Take It" as they kick and punch away words describing symptoms such as irritability, moodiness, bloating, and feeling anxious. The "Balloons" commercial shows balloons labeled with similar symptoms. But the FDA said that the way both ads present these symptoms gives the impression that they’re milder forms associated with PMS, rather than the more severe symptoms of PMDD.
Another knock against the commercials is that they misrepresent Yaz's potential for treating acne, the FDA said. Both ads show women with blemish-free faces while the voiceover says Yaz can help keep skin clear. The FDA pointed out, however, that while Yaz can reduce the amount of acne a woman has, clinical trials show that it does not result in completely clear skin.
Because the ads were considered to be serious violations of drug-ad regulations, the FDA asked Bayer to develop a plan to present truthful and non-misleading information about Yaz.
—Steve Mitchell, associate editor, Best Buy Drugs
Read more on Yaz and other extended-cycle birth-control pills, and watch our latest CR Adwatch video on Seasonique.
Posted by: Cynthia | Oct 5, 2009 11:53:04 PM
The birth control pill. Yaz, has been linked to life-threatening side effects such as strokes, blood clots, and heart attacks. Since 2004, at least 50 deaths have been reported in women taking Yaz and contraceptives made with similar ingredients. There is more information on this disturbing problem at http://www.yaz-may-cause-strokes.com/.
Posted by: Cynthia | Oct 1, 2009 9:59:28 AM
The birth control pill. Yaz, has been linked to life-threatening side effects such as strokes, blood clots, and heart attacks. Since 2004, at least 50 deaths have been reported in women taking Yaz and contraceptives made with similar ingredients. There is more information on this disturbing problem at http://www.yaz-may-cause-strokes.com/.
Posted by: kayla | Sep 30, 2009 11:31:24 PM
I started taking Yaz when I was 16 because I had my period for two years and was still irregular. I'm now turning 18 next month and I can't begin to explain how much Yaz has helped me. I missed so much school from excruciating cramps which Yaz helped. Although they aren't completely gone, they are much more bearable. I also saw my skin clear up immediately. Now with a regular routine of washing my face and taking Yaz I haven't had a break out in two years. I know have my period for four days instead of two weeks. Starting Yaz was the best decision of my life.
Posted by: Frankie | Jul 25, 2009 5:01:09 PM
So I'm 18 started taking YAZ when I was 17 on Dec and turned 18 in feb
at first it seemed great than I had horrible insomia I couldn't sleep than I started
to be really paraniod and thought I was in contant danger and couldn't
help that I couldn't sleep in the dark and I would have panic attacks constantly
wad aggresive angry than happy suddenly. So in feburary excited to turn 18 I started to get
horribly sick an weak and the doctor told me they thought I had the flu but I didn't
have much symptoms of it. I got so bad I couldn't walk up stairs I was soo tired
couldn't eat and had horrible muscle spasms and twitching. I found my yaz packet and
I had every severe symptom side effects other than like 3 so it says call ur gyno
on my bday I called and was so emotional from all this, the lady pics up the nurse who put
me on yaz, would not let me talk to my gyno and these peple get paid to promote these evil drugs and
don't care about the patients it's effecting, they were so rude and told me I was crazy
and need to get test ran and was probably not from yaz. And I jus stopped taking yaz that day
and a week later had my period for two weeks straight and than two weeks later another period and
all my other symptoms were gone. I feel like me again I can't stress enough how bad this pill is and how
screwed up the FDA approves this stuff and doctors get money to promote it!!! Im afraid to go to the gyno
now and be on any drugs what's so ever and my ovaries have been boherin me a lot still and it's end of July so. I read a lot of others problems and sound like mine but. Had other problems too just annoying
Posted by: grace | Jul 15, 2009 1:14:23 AM
I took Yaz for the first time yesterday and had to quit. It gave me insomnia, nausea, anxiety, palpitations, and breathing problems. I am not taking it ever again.
Posted by: sue | Jun 27, 2009 7:42:49 PM
My 20 daughter has been on YAZ for approximately a year. During this time she has had slight anxiety and daily headaches from the beginning. She got to the point she couldn't drive her car without having a panic attack. It escalated to the point that she couldn't get in the car and drive across the street to work. She has such anxiety and anxiousness that she has been to the hospital twice with her heart racing out of control, nausea, vomitting, and diarhea. She is seeing both a physcologist and a physchiatrist. She has stopped taking the YAZ 2 weeks ago, she still can't even sit or sleep without anxiety. She can't eat and continues to lose weight.
The commercials on TV were so enticing to young girls. They didn't start showing any side effects to recently. My pharmacist has a 23 year old daughter that developed 6 blood clots from being on the YAZ. I wouldn't recommend this pill to anyone. I just hope my daughter returns to her normal state SOON. It is hard to see her like this.
Posted by: Patty | Jun 21, 2009 6:07:28 PM
I am a 46 year and was prescribed yaz because I was on another drug that required you be on birth control.....I am no longer on the drug that requires you to be on birth control but asked my GYN if I could stay on YAZ for my PMS......I feel so much better being on this pill. I'm not bloated, have severe mood swings, fatigue ect......I love this pill.
Patty
Posted by: OnemoreYazproblem | Jun 20, 2009 1:46:51 PM
I was diagnosed yesterday with deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot in my calf) and I have been on Yaz for less than a year. I am not a smoker and do not have other clotting risk factors. Ladies, be ware. This drug may not be safe, and safe alternatives exist.
Posted by: Alicea | Jun 8, 2009 10:15:27 PM
i started on yaz when i was 18 before i was sexualy active, and my docter gave it to me to regulate my period and with in a few months i had a normal period. I have a light case of acne and it also cleared it right up, i have always had really bad cramping with my periods to the point i had to take medicans to take of it, but when i got on yaz i dont have to take my medican. The main thing is i never got pregnant. yaz is the best birth control ive been on.
Posted by: C jackson | Jun 7, 2009 3:49:48 PM
I have been on yaz for about four years my periods have been a lot lighter and i have less cramps. but the recent ads ads on yaz are starting to scare me even though i havent suffered any of the symptoms i dont wanna wait til its too late so im thinking about changing birth controls. good idea or no?
Posted by: April Woods | May 26, 2009 8:05:54 PM
I have been on this for almost a month and I have not seen any side effects nor have I had a cycle.I think that this pill will be helpful..we will see
Posted by: NAKITA | Apr 5, 2009 3:14:47 PM
I been on the pill since february 26 2009.. i came on my period on the 25 of march and bleed for 3 days.. i haven't had a problem with the pill .. except being horny a lot.. i am 24 years old and married.. i have light cramps every now and then... i guess it work different for every one.. so i wish yall well.. and pray for yall.
Posted by: Rosa Lyles | Mar 27, 2009 1:50:57 PM
I would like the name of the jazz in the background please reply
Posted by: camille | Feb 2, 2009 8:12:42 PM
Be very wary - I am a healthy 42 year-old, I chose to take Yaz to regulate my period and for severe acne. After four days of nausea and terrible headaches, there was nothing to blame but YAZ. I was sad and very irritable, even a feeling of a panic-attack - very weird, and nothing like I have ever expereinced - I'll keep my acne and irregular period over these horrible side effects - which my doctor did not inform me about!!!
Posted by: Jenn | Jan 27, 2009 2:09:03 AM
I am 23 years old and I took another birth control pill for four years and had no problems until one day I asked my doctor if there was a pill that might help with my PMS/mood swings more. He put me on YAZ and I immediatly started having problems. I had worse than ever mood swings and PMS symptoms. Also, I started developing inflamation in my cervix and no doctor realized that it was a rare sideffect caused by pro-longed use of birth control pills. I was poked and prodded at for almost 2 years. I had every test ran on me. I was told everything from I might have STD to enometriosis to I might have cancer. I was told I probably wouldn't ever be normal again. It came down to a doctor doing exploritory surgery to find nothing, but a completely healthy yet inflamed reproductive system. Eventually, I found on the internet a site that said it might be caused by the pill and stoped taking it right away. My symptoms started to fade away in the first month. Now six months later I am feeling better than ever before with a whole new outlook on life and what I put in my body!
Posted by: EK | Jan 23, 2009 12:05:46 PM
I used yaz for 2 and a half months and I must say that those were one the most miserable months of my life. First, it started with a lot of breakthrough bleeding but I was told by my doctor that it was normal to bleed 2 weeks straight since I just started taking the pill. So I continued taking the pill, and I continued to bleed. I bled through the whole first pack and towards the end, I started to have cramps daily. When I started the second pack, the bleeding stopped for about a week and then started again. The cramps started getting worse and worse. At this point the doctors urged me to finish all three packs before I stopped. So I get to the third pack and the cramps become unbearable but I take enough painkillers so that I could go to work. While at work, the pain comes back and I start to feel dizzy and lightheaded. I worked as a lifeguard so I started to get away from the water and when I started walking, I passed out. I ended up at the hospital and finally stopped taking the pills. Then the pain reached its peak and I couldn't eat, or sleep. All I could do was cry from the pain and it took about a week for the pain to go away but my lower abdomen area was very tender and hurt from pressure and walking. It took about 2 months for me to become somewhat normal again. This was the worst experience.
Posted by: CM | Nov 27, 2008 2:45:39 PM
I used YAZ for less than 6 months to help with an out of control menstral cycle. It worked wonders, very few side effects, until I developed a DVT that broke off into my heart and lungs. I could have died. The doctors wanted to blame it on smoking, but I never somked in my whole life. I eat right and stay fit.
Posted by: lainey | Nov 21, 2008 6:58:55 PM
I want to add that yaz made me, a 22 yr old woman with normal PMS, have even worse PMS symptoms. I was moodier, had less sex drive, worse cramps, longer periods, and slight depression on the pill compared to before I started taking it. I took yaz for almost 2 years, just quit 08/29/08 and had the withdrawal period, but now its 54 days later and STILL no normal period. And there are many more like me. So if you think you want to try yaz or any birth control, Please weigh ALL the risks first. I tried to talk to my dr about my concerns and was brushed off, and now the drs have no explanation for why my cycles are messed up except for being OFF of yaz. I will never "experiment" with a chemical hormone in my body again!