Ortho Evra Studies Reveal Conflicting Results on Patch Safety

RARITAN, N.J. - Two separate epidemiological studies examining the risk for adverse events in women who used Johnson & Johnson's Ortho Evra birth control patch as compared to those who consumed oral birth control pills recently revealed conflicting data, with one study showing no increased risk and one showing a two-fold increased risk.

Both studies evaluated the combined risk of heart attack and stroke in first-time Ortho Evra (norelgestromin/ethinyl estradiol transdermal system) users compared with first-time users of a norgestimate-containing oral contraceptive with 35 micrograms of estrogen. The studies also evaluated the risk of heart attack, stroke and venous thromboembolic …