In brief: Birth control labeling update urged

Adelphi, Md. – Federal health experts said Thursday that drug labeling for Yaz and other widely used birth-control pills should be updated to emphasize recent data suggesting a higher risk of blood clots with the drugs than older contraceptive pills.

The Food and Drug Administration’s panel of experts voted 21-5 Thursday that labeling on the popular drugs made by Bayer is inadequate and needs more information about the potential risk of blood clots in the legs and lungs.

Yaz, its predecessor Yasmin and related prescriptions use a manmade hormone called drospirenone, which mimics the naturally occurring female hormone progesterone. Approved in 2006, Yaz grew to be the best-selling birth control pill in the U.S. by 2008. But prescriptions have fallen more than 80 percent in the last two years amid safety concerns.

No felony charge in pepper spraying

Los Angeles – A Los Angeles woman accused of attacking Black Friday shoppers with pepper spray won’t face felony charges, prosecutors said Thursday.

A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney said the case of Elizabeth Macias was referred to city attorneys Thursday after no evidence of a felony was found. Macias, 32, could still face misdemeanor prosecution.

Los Angeles police said Macias may have acted in self-defense. City prosecutors will have to decide if that’s true or if she used the pepper spray to grab video games from other shoppers.

The incident caused a chaotic scene at a Wal-Mart store in Porter Ranch. At least 20 people, including children, suffered nose and throat irritation.

‘19 kids’ mother miscarries 20th

Little Rock, Ark. – An Arkansas woman who stars on the TLC reality show “19 Kids and Counting” has suffered a miscarriage after announcing she was expecting her 20th child.

Jim Bob Duggar said in a statement that he and his wife, Michelle, were told at a doctor’s appointment Thursday that she had miscarried. He said she was resting comfortably at home and asked for privacy.

Michelle Duggar announced last month she was expecting her 20th child in April and had said she wasn’t worried despite the premature birth of their youngest child two years ago. She said last month that she had made it through the first trimester safely.