Loryna

Loryna is a combination of drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol which is used to prevent pregnancy. It works by stopping a woman’s egg from fully developing each month; thus the egg can no longer accept a sperm and fertilization cannot occur. Doctors have also prescribed the drug to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and acne in women as early as 14 years of age. Loryna is a generic version of the controversial contraceptive, YAZ/Yasmin.

Birth control pills containing drospirenone have recently been associated with a number of serious side effects. Cardiovascular events and other side effects have even been life-threatening.

One of the most serious side effects that have been seen in Loryna and similar contraceptives is blood clots, which can lead to stroke or even death. It has also been seen that women who smoke and take the drug have a higher risk of experiencing serious cardiovascular events.

Two studies published in the British Medical Journal showed that women who took drospirenone birth control were 2.5 times more likely to experience a blood clot.

Loryna has also been linked to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), venous thromboembolism (VTE), pulmonary embolisms (PE), hyperkalemia, stroke, cerebrovascular accidents (CVA), heart attack, myocardial infarction and heart disease. Many of these conditions can become so serious that they result in death if they develop.

Serious side effects may include:

• Breast pain or tenderness
• Headache, severe and throbbing
• Heavy non-menstrual vaginal bleeding
• Irregular menstrual periods
• Nausea
• Normal menstrual bleeding occurring earlier, possibly lasting longer than expected
• Longer or heavier menstrual periods
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Vomiting
• Abdominal or stomach pain
• Chills
• Clay-colored stools
• Dark urine
• Difficulty with breathing
• Dizziness
• Fever
• Headache
• Itching
• Loss of appetite
• Pain in the chest, groin, or legs, especially the calves
• Rash
• Slurred speech
• Sudden loss of coordination
• Sudden, severe weakness or numbness in the arm or leg
• Sudden, unexplained shortness of breath
• Unpleasant breath odor
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Vision changes
• Vomiting of blood
• Yellow eyes or skin

Less serious side effects may include:

• Crying
• Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• Delusions of persecution, mistrust, suspiciousness, and/or combativeness
• False or unusual sense of well-being
• Inability to have or keep an erection
• Irritability
• Loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• Mental depression
• Quick to react or overreact emotionally
• Rapidly changing moods
• Weight gain