Drospirenone, an ingredient in Gianvi, can cause severe depression and other mood disorders. Even so, the drug information does not strongly warn of this serious, potentially life-threatening side effect.
Gianvi Overview
Gianvi (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) is a birth control pill that contains drospirenone, the “fourth generation” of synthetic progestin. Drospirenone was first introduced in Yaz birth control in 2004. Gianvi is the generic form of Yaz, and both medications contain the same amount of active drugs, and the same amount of side effects.
Gianvi was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2010 and is created by the Israeli-based pharmaceutical company Teva Pharmaceuticals, under a joint project with Bayer, the makers of Yaz. Gianvi is a once-daily oral birth control pill that contains 24 “active” tablets, each containing the following ingredients:
- 0.3 milligrams of drospirenone, which is a new type of synthetic progestin. It has recently been linked to a 75% increased risk of blood clots, which can cause deadly heart attacks, stroke, and pulmonary embolisms.
- 0.02 milligrams of ethinyl estradiol, which is synthetic estrogen developed in the 1940s. Some women may suffer toxic high levels of potassium in the bloodstream, which can cause high blood pressure, kidney damage, gallbladder disease, and a condition called “hyperkalemia” which can lead to irregular heartbeat and sudden death.
Gianvi and Depression
The official drug information for Gianvi warns that Gianvi can cause “mood changes, including depression.” Depression is actually one of the most frequent, common side effects experienced by women taking Gianvi. More than 1% of women taking Gianvi suffer from depression. So many women experience depression and mood changes that the safety information warns that women who have a history of depression of other emotional disorders should be carefully observed for relapse of depression. If depression recurs to a serious degree, they recommend patients should stop taking the medication and switch to another method of contraception.
However, many women may not make the link that their mood disorder is caused by their birth control pill. If the safety information does not clearly warn of the risk of depression, they may be unaware that Gianvi could cause depression and mood changes.
What are the symptoms of depression?
The symptoms of depression vary widely, and there are many types of depression and mood disorders. The first symptoms typically include the following:
- Difficulty sleeping (insomnia), or sleeping too much
- Persistent changes in sleep pattens
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
- Fatigue, decreased energy
- Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, guilt
- Excessive anxiety over everyday things (relationships, stress at work, finances, family problems, health, etc.)
- Losing interest in things that were once enjoyable, including sex
- Changes in appetite (eating too much, or too little)
- Persistent aches and pains, headaches, cramps, digestive problems
- Irritability, restlessness
- Persistent negative thoughts that cannot be stopped
- Persistent feelings of sadness, or “empty” feelings
- Suicidal ideas
- Suicidal behavior
Symptoms of depression can have serious negative effects on a person’s life. Depression can cause relationship difficulties, work issues, and family disputes that make life very difficult. These problems can then exacerbate mood disorders and make depression even worse. People with depression often seek the care of a mental health counselor or health care professional to prevent their disorder from getting out of control. Depression carries a high risk of suicide.
If you are experiencing expensive medical bills to treat your depression that was caused by Gianvi birth control, you are not alone. Many women have suffered this severe side effect. However, not all of these women were aware that Gianvi could cause depression and mood disorders, because the safety labeling did not clearly emphasize this risk. If you have been diagnosed with depression after taking Gianvi, you may be entitled to compensation for injury by filing a Gianvi lawsuit.
Gianvi Side Effects
Other Gianvi side effects include, but are not limited to:
- Depression
- Blood Clots
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Venous Thromboembolism (VTE)
- Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
- Hyperkalemia
- Stroke
- Abnormal heart rhythm
- Heart Attack
- Myocardial Infarction
- Gallbladder injury
- Pancreatitis
- Death
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