More Trouble for the Ortho Evra Contraceptive Patch - Will it be taken off the market?

Today, the Public Citizen’s Health Research Group filed a petition filed with the FDA urging them to take the Ortho Evra Patch off the market. The advocacy group is basing this petition due to research that shows that there is an increased risk of dangerous blood clots in contraceptive patch users; in fact, the petition is claiming that the amount of estrogen released from the Ortho-Evra patch varies widely among individual women and could cause up to twice as many clots and other side effects.

However, the in January 2008, the FDA required an updated the label on the Ortho Evra Contraceptive Patch to include the results of this new research. During that time, the FDA concluded women should discuss these risks with their doctors, and when used as directed, the patch is a safe and effective birth control option. The current label also includes the information that women who use the Ortho Evra Patch are exposed to about 60% more total estrogen in their blood than if they were taking a birth control pill containing 35 mcg of estrogen. Johnson & Johnson (manufacturer of the patch) claims that the Ortho Evra patch has risks and benefits like all hormonal contraceptives. Likewise, the FDA says that the chance of developing a clot is low.

Approximately 2.7 million prescriptions were written for the patch last year (keeping it among the top 200 brand-name drugs sold in the US); but these numbers have declined significantly from the 9.9 million prescriptions written in 2004.

What do you think? Place your vote in my Ortho Evra Patch Poll.

• Ortho Evra Contraceptive Patch Blackbox Warning
• All About the Ortho Evra Patch
• Birth Control Patch Video

Ortho Evra Contraceptive Patch Photo Courtesy of Getty Images/Staff