Bayer, a major pharmaceutical company that is a household name, has been in the news quite a bit recently and not necessary for good things. Thousands of women across the country have filed lawsuits against this corporate giant, alleging that their product Mirena causes serious side effects.
Mirena: An IUD
Today, women have many options available to them when it comes to birth control. Shots, the pill, and patches are all forms that are available through a prescription, but one of the most popular on the market is the IUD.
This small device is inserted by a doctor into the uterus where it releases low levels of levonorgestrel. The benefit of an IUD is that it can last anywhere between 3 and 6 years depending on the type and the patient doesn’t need to do anything further.
Mirena is supposed to work just like other IUD’s on the market but as many patients discovered, there are some serious side effects.
Side Effects Put Patient’s Health On The Line
According to the lawsuits that have been consolidated in MDL 2767, there are two major issues with Mirena. First, plaintiffs have claimed that the device migrates from its original insertion point, perforating both the uterus and other organs. As a result, surgery is typically required to not only remove the device but to also repair the damage that has been done to the organs. Second, recent lawsuits have alleged that the device causes pseudotumor cerebri.
Pseudotumor cerebri is a medical condition that mimics a brain tumor and is caused by swelling in the brain. If the swelling isn’t caught in time, damage to the optic nerve can happen resulting in vision loss or even total blindness. In order to release the pressure on the brain and nerves, brain surgery is often necessary.
The plaintiffs in these cases state that Bayer failed to warn doctors and patients of the side effects, engaged in deceptive marketing, concealed information, and designed a defective product.
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