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High thrombosis risk due to modern anti-baby pill
Less regular pain, consistent weight and an improved skin appearance: The new anti-baby pills promise a reliable positive effects in addition to a number of positive effects. But on top of that, there may also be unpleasant side effects. Because as the "pill report" of the Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) shows, the preparations of the so-called "3. and 4th generation "are often at a much greater risk of thrombosis than previous pills.
Modern preparations are prescribed much more often
Modern birth control pills evidently present a comparatively higher risk for the formation of thromboses (blood clots) than the pills of the second generation. This emerges from the "pill report" of the TK, which the cash register created together with the University of Bremen. Accordingly, preparations of the older generation of pills with the synthetic progestin levonorgestrel, while equally reliable in the prevention - yet the modern pills would be regarded as supposedly better and prescribed much more often, reports the TK.
For today, the preparations would be optimized to this effect, e.g. also to work against menstrual pain and skin problems or to reduce the strength of menstrual bleeding. "Now we are seeing that it is being specifically developed further in order to come closer to certain ideals of beauty and to become a lifestyle product," says Professor Petra Thürmann, director of the Philipp Klee Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, according to the TK-announcement.
Newer birth control pills often carry a higher risk of thrombosis. (Image: Wolfilser / fotolia.com) More than 75,000 TK insured receive new pill
"Especially for young women who do not smoke and are not overweight, at first glance, nothing speaks against the new preparations," said Professor Gerd Glaeske from the University of Bremen. "But new is not always better, on the contrary: The pills of the previous generations protect just as well from an unwanted pregnancy and have a lower risk of thrombosis," the expert continues. As the TK reports, a total of 76,290 of the insured last year, a pill with higher or unclear health risk prescribed, 40,577 women, however, received an older generation.
Among other things, TK evaluated information from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) as well as various articles for the "Pill Report". The BfArM had already announced in March 2014 that the specialist information on the higher risk of thrombosis of some new pills should be pointed out and manufacturers asked to have products with unclear risk continues to investigate. Previously, a study by the BfArM and other European authorities on the risks of so-called combined oral contraceptives (KOK) had shown that the new generation of drospirenone-containing drugs was associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism. According to this, nine to twelve users per person were in these funds
10,000 women, whereas in the case of older preparations only five to seven patients.
Advice especially for younger first-time users important
Accordingly, doctors should pay particular attention to a careful education, if it is young patients due to impure skin, acne or similar. apart from very specific KOK preparations. "In these cases, medical advice must also aim to prevent contraceptive pills from becoming lifestyle products, rather than medicines that can be dangerous," a BfArM spokesman told dpa news agency..
But also the second generation pills are not to be underestimated from the point of view of some experts. Although these might have a lower risk of thrombosis, instead, other undesirable side effects could occur here, continues the president of the Federal Association of Gynecologists, Christian Albring. This would include, for example recurrent recurrent menstrual pain or intermenstrual bleeding, as it could lead to increased hair growth or acne. Accordingly, the new generation of drugs would not be prescribed more often today, because it is a "lifestyle product" - but because they are simply better tolerated by some women.
Pill on the market for more than 50 years
In 1961, Schering launched "Anovlar", the first contraceptive pills preparation on the European market containing 21 coated dragons containing the estrogen ethinylestradiol and progestogen norethisterone. After a short time, the first controversial discussions concerning the new contraceptive pill were triggered, as cases of thrombosis, myocardial infarction and stroke became known after taking the high-dose contraceptives. More than half a century later, the "pill" has become the most widely used contraceptive in the interim, with constant evolution over time. The latest birth control pills contain artificial progestogens, such as gestodene or desogestrel (3rd generation) and drospirenone (4th generation), which promise the popular additional effects. (No)