Chasteberry symptoms and conditions

I was recently put on Yasmin, I've just finished up my first pack. Some of my friends told me to read the blogs on it cause it's not all that it's cracked up to be. I was originally put on it due to PMDD. I get hellacious PMS and i was told that this pill can help. I also take antidepressants to treat mild depression, so the low/single dose hormone is essential for me. Throughout the past month I've had two migraine headaches which is unusual. I do get headaches but not like these. I can't even open my eyes, eat, or have any noise or light around. It's really awful. I do have the dizzy spells and some gnarly pain in my lower abdomen and in between my shoulder blades. It feels like cramps but I'm not having a period yet. I'm hoping these side effects will go away as my body adjusts but frankly, from these blogs I'm really leery to keep taking this pill. Any recommendations for a girl who needs a monophasic pill and need extra help staying sane during PMS? Any news helps. Thanks and best of luck to us all.

37 yr old wife/mother of 2. I consider myself level-headed, analytical and have a strong Christian belief. I am a runner & healthy for the most part. (Gotta have the pizza & chocolate right?) That said...6 cycles on Yasmin28 for hormone regulation, stopped due to price doubling. Thinking about picking it up the next month at maybe a differ pharmacy but decided to do a little research on the side effects. Lightbulb/Ah-Ha moment.

Apparently the gradual changes I had been going through I have found others to be experiencing as well. I just completed a 2 week gentle body detox and called the health food store for some hormone suggestions. She told me to research "Vitex" aka "Chasteberry". I am now taking Standardized Vitex to recover from BCP as well as helping to naturally regulate extreme highs/lows (previous to Yasmin28). Because I am a "why??"-type, I explained away symptoms to stress/life's demands, not making a connection to medication. I was expecting Yasmin to help create the balance.

Most of the the following was progressively getting worse over time: Insomnia leading towards daytime problems of daily sluggishness/no-care hygiene, strong & frequent headaches unlike that of usual seasonal sinus issues, No sex drive (my hubby is a stud muffin & great guy too), eyesight worstened/blurry even to watch tv (not normal for me), legs hurt often but thought it was lack of REM sleep?, "moodiness" even when PMS was no where in sight on the calendar, bouts of sad/depressing/hopelessness thoughts which turned me to prayer for help. I was not feeling right to run (sporatic miles) so I don't know if jump in weight gain can be blamed on BCP or not. Digestive issue with soy became a Major problem, I'd look pregnant even if eating a little. Soy is in A LOT of stuff, read labels if bloating is a problem for you. I am more on the low sodium side so I knew it wasn't from that. I question if Yasmin escalated the results of a few stressful moments in my life - OR could it be that there would've been no stressful reactions/symptoms/effects if I had NOT been on Yasmin. I'm a firm believer in drinking water and a daily food-based vitamin and the power of prayer for help. I say this because dehydration and nutrient-lacking diets can reak havok and mask unexplained health issues.

It's a Godsend that I quit Yasmin, will not return to synthetic hormones. Since quitting? Fluid retention/edema elevated. With a late 1st period I lost 6 lbs of fluid/urine in 1 hour, 2 more lbs within the next few hours. I reluctantly started taking Direx, which is helping. I am on the backdoor of "Aunt Flow's" house for the 2nd time. I started running 3 miles regularly again, libido better, vision not as blurry-ok to watch tv (weird isn't it?), insomnia is slowly getting better. Overall I am not a moody, just some PMS which we all control the best we can right? I am smiling/laughing more again. After 3rd cycle I want some bloodwork done to check levels.

Wow, I am thankful for insightful websites like this one! I do agree Yamin28 should be taken off of the market. Let's educate the caring doctors with facts on our side effects. Maybe they will be more reluctant to prescribe Yaz (1 month on that was enough) and Yasmin. Pharmaceutical companies may listen up if sales are down.

Hi,

I went on Yasmin when I was 19 for 2 years and never had any adverse side effects that I was aware of. My skin improved and people started asking me if I had lost weight alhtough I didn't change my diet/exercise regime (thanks to the diuretic in it). I went off the pill for 1 year, then went back on it 3 months ago, because me skin had been steadily declining, and being off the pill was the only connection I could make.

But this time, my skin didn't get any better. I've been getting large, very red, painful pimples unlike anything I've had before, and in random areas like my cheeks and even around my mouth and chin. I went on a minocycline, a mild antibiotic, for 6 weeks to help my face, and it got somewhat better, but whenever I would cycle, my face would seem to explode right on time with more of these painful pimples. I just finished the antibiotics and will not be taking them anymore since it didnt help that much, and I'm worried about the levels of Candida (yeast) in my body, which can also contirbute to acne and other health problems.

I'm starting to think that maybe now my body is just reacting differently to Yasmin then the first time I was on it. Although my skin in this last year that I'd been off it, I think I've traced these new, worse pimples to being back on Yasmin. And after reading posts here and on aphroditewomenshealth.com, I'm stopping Yasmin right now for good. I'm going to deal with my skin using natural methods.

Here's some suggestions for natural supplements that I've gathered from other posts to balance hormones and help adult acne in the process. I'm going to look into them right away.

Agnus Castus
Chasteberry (Vitex) extract
Progesterone Cream
Evening Primrose Oil

I've also started taking Acidopholus supplements to reverse the damage to the good bacteria in my body from the antibiotics, trying to keep the Candida in check. And I'm drinking 3-4 ounces of Goji juice a day, which is supposedly really powerful stuff for all kinds of health problems. One of my professors claims that Goji juice is the only thing that's successfully balanced her hormones now that she's going through menopause.

Hope this helps...Interested to hear if anyone else has had bad acne problems from Yasmin.