Norplant removals spur suits. Some recipients report problems.

Legal action has been taken in several US cities against Wyeth-Ayersts Norplant claiming that labels were deceptive regarding the potential side effects and the difficulties possible with removal. All the lawsuits claimed suffering caused by removals. 25 women in Miami Florida filed suit for $50000 each in damages due to difficult removal. 8 women from Maryland joined 600 women filing in Chicago who seek $20000 to $50000 for damages due to difficult removals and scarring. The group of plaintiffs also have asked for an injunction preventing the company from selling Norplant to doctors without proper training. Wyeth-Ayerst reported that it requested label changes before the lawsuits were filed. The label now states that removals and insertions are possible without designating the time allocation required; prior labels indicated a 15-20 minute period. The new label includes possible side effects of emotional instability heart attack stroke migraine arm pain numbness and tingling. One Maryland woman requested removal because the capsules had shifted and one had moved from her upper arm to under her armpit. Removal required 3 stages totaling 3 hours and ultrasound detection. Another women gained 20 pounds and had a sore arm. Norplant was first introduced in the US in 1991 after 20 years of experience with use worldwide. The contraceptive is effective for 5 years after insertion of 6 capsules with slow releasing hormones. Planned Parenthood of Maryland administers Norplant at 7 clinics throughout the state by practitioners at several clinics and by the Baltimore City health department in school-based clinics. City clinics since 1991 have made 198 insertions and 14 removals with no problems with removals. School-based clinics have inserted 45 implants and no removals. Bayview Clinic in Baltimore has made 2000 insertions and 250 removals with few difficulties. The chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Bayview said that it takes about 6 times before removal is perfected by even a trained doctor. The Population Council which developed Norplant and licensed it to Wyeth-Ayerst still supports it as one of the most effective reversible methods of birth control.