Three women in Texas have filed Ortho Evra lawsuits against Ortho-McNeil, the maker of the Ortho Evra patch. The women say that they experienced severe birth control patch side effects after using Ortho Evra.

All three of the women are in their mid-30s. They say that they were hospitalized after experiencing Ortho Evra side effects, including blood clots and pulmonary embolisms. All of the women are now on blood thinners to prevent a reoccurrence of their birth control patch side effects. One of the women also says that she will have to take the drugs for the rest of her life because of her birth control patch injuries.

In their Ortho Evra lawsuit, the women say that Ortho-McNeil should be held responsible for manufacturing a dangerous drug. Studies have shown that the Ortho Evra patch releases a 60% higher dose of estrogen into the bloodstream, which increases clotting and leaves patients vulnerable to birth control patch side effects.

Besides those reported by the three women, other Ortho Evra side effects include stroke and heart attack. There have been at least 23 birth control patch deaths since the Ortho Evra patch went on sale in 2002. Several hundred women have filed Ortho Evra lawsuits as a result of their birth control patch injuries.

According to researchers who have studied the patch, Ortho Evra users face three to four times the risk of stroke or other birth control patch side effects compared with the pill. The Food and Drug Administration updated its warning label in September 2006 to warn women of their risk for Ortho Evra side effects. The FDA has called for further studies to investigate the side effects of the Ortho Evra patch. Many experts say that because of its birth control patch dangers, there should be an Ortho Evra recall to take the patch off of the market.