The onset of Yaz and Yasmin side effects involving stroke requires immediate medical attention to limit brain injury and minimize the resulting side effects. Delays in going to the emergency room will likely have a negative effect on your recovery. Some types of medications (e.g. tissue plasminogen activator) are only effective if they are given within a few hours of the first symptoms. If you or a family member has suffered blood clot or gallbladder disease problems please contact us for the latest Yasmin side effects lawsuit news. We are currently representing women throughout the United States in bringing claims for compensation.

When you arrive at the hospital, the medical team’s first priority will be to regulate your vital signs. They will monitor your body temperature, blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate. Even slight variances – especially in your body temperature – can aggravate your condition.

Once your vital signs are under control, your doctor will diagnose your condition and create a treatment plan. Treatment is based on the severity of the stroke, and may include anticoagulants, thrombolytic therapy, and in life-threatening situations, surgery.

Blood Thinners And Antiplatelet Medications

Anticoagulants (i.e. blood thinners), such as warfarin and heparin, usually represent the first-line treatment for a stroke. Warfarin is taken orally in pill form, and requires several days to begin having an effect. It inhibits the production of vitamin K, an important clotting agent, and thereby slows the rate of clot formation.

Heparin is given by injection or intravenously, and takes effect immediately. It inhibits thrombin, an enzyme that causes the protein fibrinogen to turn into fibrin. Fibrin strands form the net that becomes the basis for a clot. Hence, inhibiting the action of thrombin slows your body’s clotting system.

Blood clots form when cells called platelets begin to clump together. Antiplatelet drugs, taken in pill form, prevent these cells from clumping. By doing so, they prevent further clots from forming in the blocked carotid artery following a stroke caused by Yasmin or Yaz.

Thrombolytic Medications (Clot-Busters)

While blood thinners and antiplatelet drugs work to prevent further clotting, they do not address the clots that triggered the stroke. Other measures must be taken to break these clots apart and remove them. This is the job of thrombolytic drugs, such as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), streptokinase, and urokinase.

These medications are administered intravenously and attack fibrin, the sticky net that forms the basis of a clot. Following a stroke, thrombolytics can dissolve the fibrin and break up the obstructing clots within the carotid arteries. This helps to restore blood flow to your brain.

The main drawback of thrombolytic therapy is that the drugs pose a high risk of bleeding in the brain. For this reason, most doctors will only administer them if they can do so within the first few hours after symptoms present.

Treating A Stroke With Surgery

If thrombolysis proves ineffective for breaking up clots, or the drugs cannot be given due to the risk of bleeding, surgery may be necessary. A procedure called carotid endarterectomy can be performed to remove the offending clots. An incision is made into the neck over the blocked carotid artery. The artery is opened so the surgeon can remove the obstruction. Then, the incisions are closed.

Though seemingly simple, there is significant risk involved with this procedure. The surgeon may unintentionally dislodge other clots in the area, thereby causing another stroke.

Installing A Filter In The Carotid Artery

Doctors will occasionally recommend the installation of a stent and filter in the affected carotid artery. This is done when surgery poses too great a risk. The stent keeps the artery open so blood can flow freely to your brain; the filter ensnares migrating blood clots before they can cause a blockage. This is similar to a vena cava filter that is installed to prevent a pulmonary embolism.

A stroke can cause lasting impairments to your physical and cognitive functions. If you or someone you know has suffered blood clots, stroke, or other serious Ocella, Yaz or Yasmin side effects, find out about your legal rights. Contact an experienced Yasmin lawsuit lawyer to discuss your options.

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