Diuretic effect symptoms and conditions

My now 17 year old daughter was prescribed Yaz back on 7/12/07. Since then she has had an extreme problem with constipation. She has been to the doctors several times, and is now seeing a gastrointestinal specialist because she can only have a bowel movement if she takes a laxative. The pediatric doctor had her on miralax from April to October trying to get this problem under control. It has not worked. We are seeing the specialist and they are running her through a battery of tests, which will now possible include a colonoscopy (at 17 !!!!). She has been extremely moody and aggravated - which I attributed to her age of course. She is no longer extremely athletic, she doesn't really do a lot. She is not the same person, definitely is a homebody now - never going out hardly with friends,etc. She has also had a 20 pound weight gain and for a tiny girl, this has had a huge effect on her. I have watched all of this, and never really thought about the yaz connection until today when a friend sent me this email with a link to this site:
******

that is when I got scared thinking maybe her problems were all caused by yaz. of course her acne cleared up, but her periods are still irregular and spotty. has anyone else experienced the bowel problems???

I see many women saying rapid heart beat and anxiety, but has anyone else experienced dry mouth, insomnia, and/or a lack of vaginal fluid? I'm a little concerned.
Cindy

I just want to say that I was on YAZ for 1 1/2 years and I had absolutely no problems with it. In fact, YAZ was one of two birth control pills that I was on that didn't make me sick, out of five. Yes, sometimes I have anxiety, I'm depressed, bitchy, etc, but it is because I am Bi-polar and have been diagnosed for years now. I hate to sound insensitive, but maybe some of you ladies are just crazy like me. Also, birth control pills pump hormones into your body, and hello, what do hormones do... they can make us a little irrational, bitchy, depressed, etc. YAZ is not that much different than any other birth control.

I just went on Yasmin, because my insurance covers it better than YAZ. I will keep everyone posted, but I'm not too worried.

I've been taking Yaz for three months and, as much as I'd like to stay on a birth control pill, this one just isn't working. I've been ravenously hungry, and nauseous too. It's been a vicious cycle of eating (to stem the insane cravings), and then vomiting. Yuck. I'm over it. I've read some of the other posts, and I can relate to the need to pee also. I experienced the same diuretic effect, but only for a few weeks during the first pack of pills. I've also had a mild headache nearly every day since I began taking the pill. And I've had sore breasts too. I'm sure there are some girls who can handle Yaz, but I'm not one of them!

I'm a 40 year old healthy woman. I took one Singulair on vacation and ended up having a few strange side effects including a heavy feeling in my chest, restlessness, racing heart and a high pulse. I also felt like it had a very strong diuretic effect. My allergies went away but due to the side effects I won't be taking this pill again.

In July my doctor recommended I try Yasmin to help clear up my acne. At first I thought Yasmin was absolutely wonderful! My face cleared up and due to Yasmin's diuretic effect, I no longer suffered from water retention. By the time September rolled around, my body was a complete and absolute mess. I suddenly developed severe IBS after never having experienced digestive issues. I was constantly bloated and constipated. Besides the IBS, I also experienced insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, weight gain, depression, and overall I lost my "glow!" I just looked and felt horrible and I felt like I was on speed even though I gave up caffeine.

I went to one doctor after another and they told me I needed to eat more fiber to cure my IBS. Since I have always doctors know more than me, I added more fiber to my diet and just got more bloated. One of the doctors I saw wanted to put me on anti-anxiety medication and anti-depressants. Not one of my doctors ever discussed a possible correlation between Yasmin and all my health problems.

All of my issues compounded and by January, I just had to stop taking Yasmin out of desperation because one night my anxiety was so bad I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Once I stopped taking Yasmin, my anxiety immediately went away.

It's been 3 months since being off Yasmin and I am finally regaining my energy, starting to gradually lose weight, and feeling like myself after feeling completely down and out about life.

I am not a doctor but from the research I have done, I think Yasmin caused a major hormonal imbalance and as a result my body became estrogen dominant. This is just a hypothesis but I had all the symptoms of estrogen dominance (weight gain, extreme fatigue, hair loss, depression, etc....).

This whole experience has taught me two very valuable lessons: 1) Do not start taking anything foreign until you do research and know the side effects 2) Respect MDs for their book knowledge, but know they are not always right. Do research on your own because you know your body better than anyone. Having an MD say you need more fiber in your diet or you need a prescription for sleeping pills, anti depressants, ect...is not always the best or healthiest solution.

If anyone else has experienced what I have due to Yasmin, my heart goes out to you. This past year has been the one of the worst years of my life and I will never take birth control ever again. Hang in there and know your health will be restored once you stop taking birth control.

My first month on yasmin, i bled the entire month through. i was terrified.i was moody and sensitive and i NEVER get pms. i lost half a stone in 2 weeks. i couldn't tell if that was because of the diuretic effect of the pills (water loss) or because it gave me IBS and i was getting alot of diarrhea.

hi ipj.
whilst googling yasmin and all the symptoms etc i came across quite a few references to the fact that bcp's in general can lower magnesium but i think yasmin has a higher impact on the magnesium levels due to it's diuretic effect so it probably is the yasmin that is affecting how much magnesium you are absorbing. along with all your other side effects it may be just as well to come off it. The fda has stated that yasmin is no better or safer than any other pill on the market the medical profession are just really pushing it for some reason...... back in the 60's and 70's there was a new wonder drug that was pushed to all the pregnant women as it stopped morning sickness...thalidamide....... i am sure you know the outcome of that story.just because a new drug is great for some it does not mean it is good for the masses. chat to your doctor about a pill that does not contain the diuretic that yasmin has.dehydration could make your symptoms worse so stay hydrated,drink as much water as you can.
please feel free to visit the new forum that is being set up. the link is below in my previous post.

kind regards and the best of luck with whatever you decide.
sarah

hi ladies foggy head here i just did a ton of research on diuretics which is whats in yasmin the stuff i read was unreal and confusing but if our electrolytes are imbalanced it causes all of our symtoms from vitamin deficiancy to heart palpatations to anxiety to muscle cramps and spasms please ladies read up on all of this because it made alot of sense but also confused me is anyone else familiar with the diuretic effect i did read certain diuretics can cause permanent neurological damage im hoping this is an elderly or extreme cases but the diuretic effect seems to be whats creating our nasty symptoms it also makes me wonder if it could be that becuz alot of women get their hormones tested and they come back pretty normal so has anyone had their electrolytes tested and be sure to remind your doctors this pill has diuretic in it i think they forget.

Dear Jasmine, (later on something for "foggyhead", too!!)

that heavy chest feeling have posted the most women I've met hiere within the last 2 years!! Seems to be a very common (side-)effect of that pill.

But as I also posted here earlier the heavy feeling CAN be caused for example by an iron deficiency (which also can be caused by the diuretic effect of Yasmin on top of your monthly bleeding!!). Also breathlessness, changing of your finger nails, weakness, tiredness, and so on can also be symptoms for it. Very important: The iron deficiency CAN cause anemia, but even if you don't already have anemia the iron deficiency may cause the above mentioned symptoms.

So I think it would be a good idea to get your iron levels checked and especially the "Ferritin" (hope it's called so in English, too). It shows the situation of the iron storage in your body. Try to google a bit over "iron deficiency" and the symptoms, I bet you'll find yours... Just a thought, which perhaps might be the solution and I think it's worth a try!!

Jasmine, I remember one lady here, Sherry, whom had gotten pregnant shortly after stopping Yasmin. She also had very severe side effects and posted a lot here. I wonder how she might be doing today... But you see there is hope to get pregnant even after this nightmare.

@foggyhead:

Well, I think you meant "Virginia", not Laura. Virginia had been off Yasmin for 15 mos now. But I think you didn't read the whole post.... First she was telling, that she physically is doing completely fine! And as I can say, I'm doing nearly the same way as Virginia now, I've been off Yasmin for about 17 months. And I hope you NOW read further:

Yes, there are still some problems, and YES, they come up every month around the same time, BUT: I (and I guess Virginia, too) am definitely NOT in the same stadium as I was a year or longer ago! I'm back working, singing, gardening, going out and the list goes on.

What I try to say is, that you might (and I don't say WILL!!) still have some problems after such a long time, but they're definitely not as they were shortly after getting off Yasmin. And I also met so many women here, who didn't have ANY problems after such a long time. Not every woman is the same. Every body is different.

So please don't loose hope! Hang in there and you will be better, I swear!!

Virginia, I remember your name somehow, I think we have already met here, too, a few months ago. One question: Do you have a normal cycle back? Are your problems somehow rising around ovulation and shortly before your period starts or even within it??

Best wishes!

Silke

Dear kim and dejay,

your posts nearly bring me to tears, because you exactly tell my story from about 1,5 years ago!!

I know it's hard to believe while you're still in it, but: IT WILL GET BETTER!! You will be your old self someday, but you'll need lots of patience and endurance and the support of your family or husband or anyone around you!!

I know exactly EVERY symptom you both have mentioned!! And I remember me sitting in there and thinking "I never will be better again, this is how it will stay the rest of my life, I'm done!" and today I'm BACK!!

It can last a few weeks or months but I swear someday you'll think "oh, today I think I'm doing a bit better finally", that's how it happened to me!! It will be only little steps every day or week or month, but you'll get through this!!!

Remember that the pill is affecting your natural hormones completely and brings them out of whack. Now, after getting off that horrible pill, it will take some time for your body to learn how to produce hormones by itself again!! It's definitely not only a flu or a simple cold we're all going through, it's something more serious, but nothing letal and nothing, that will last forever!!

On top the Yasmin is lacking your body of very important electrolytes and vitamines and so on, because of the diuretic effect!! So, as flowerbabies already told you, please make sure to take some good supplements (most important seem to be magnesium, zinc and b-vitamines, because they are absolutely essential for nerves and muscles!!).

Another thing that might be possible (also because of the diuretic effect of Yasmin): Please ask your doctor for a blood work about your iron levels!! The monthly period (which, I guess, came really regular during Yasmin) AND the diswatering effect of Yasmin can also lack your body of that important substance.

For the very hard times another thing that might help to calm down a bit: VALERIAN. It's a natural medication which doesn't make you addictet and in my very hard times it was always a good thing to help me through!!

But DEJAY: Don't feel weak because you couldn't get through without antidepressants!! I swear there were times, where I thought "Please give me ANYTHING, I will take it, I can no longer stand this agony!" and today I still don't really know, how I got through without that stuff!! So please take something, if it might help you through the very hard times and someday you'll be able to get off it again!! I swear!

Ok, sorry, I'll try not to write a book again. But I really hope I could help somehow.

And please: If you feel bad and hopeless come around here and I swear you'll always find someone to support you (which I know sometimes is the only thing that helps not to give up completely!!).

But always remember: I's NOT YOU!! It's the Yasmin and someday you'll be better again.

Big hugs to you both and every other poor victim of that horrible drug and stay strong! You'll get through this!!

Best wishes and god's bless
Silke

Dear Guest 33726-

I went off of Yasmin 2 months ago. I went instead onto Orthocept which I took years ago but will likely "wean" myself off of this as well when some of alot of transition that is happening in my life has become more settle. My ears are still plugged though they are not hurting as much as they used to while I was taking it so that should be hopeful for you. And I'm not as "foggy" headed as I was while on it. I used to take it and feel exhausted afterwards, yawn all day and pee up a total storm.

Two months off, though I am still experiencing chest pains (they were really bad last few days), ears are better. I also got a cold in September (same time I went off of the Yasmin) and it lasted for 2 whole long months! Then I was feeling a little bit more back to normal and then got sick again for this last week. I've never been sick like this in my life.

I can't link all of this to Yasmin but I've definately seen the patterns and confirmed what looks like similar experiences to so many others here (like colds, sinus and otherwise), chest pains, plugged ears, constant urination due to the diuretic effect, exhuastion and feeling blue.

I have also gained 7 lbs in just 1 month since going off of the Yasmin. Did this happen to anyone else? !!! One of the greatest benefits on it was losing weight (I am sure due to the diuretic effect)-but the trade-off of all the rest of the side effects so not worth it.

Hang in there. Things will get better. Much of them already have for me. Least I think so. And staying positive, thinking positive really important too.

rjrcows,
it sounds like you may be dehydrated,yasmin has a strong diuretic effect,up your water intake to at least 2 litres of water daily to avoid any worsening of side effect or kidney problems. hope that helps.

sarah

hi silke,
dehydration and anxiety are definately linked,when the body is lacking something it switches on it's emergeny mechanisms to survive so it is quite possible that valuable vitamins and minerals are used up in this emergency state. As yasmin has a strong diuretic effect it is not surprising that anxiety etc gets worse.As you were on it for so long i imagine most of your stores were used up a long time ago. i carry a bottle of water with me wherever i go,i am never without one! i drink at least 2.5 litres of water a day. like you i also take magnesium as it seems to help. i take evening primrose oil for pms,garlic pills for good blood circulation,omega 3,6,9 oil for the brain and nerves and calcium to balance the magnesium! it all seems to help me. The other thing that gets me through it all is the faith that i will be back to my old self and hopefully stronger than before. i am still having trouble with agoraphobia which appeared when my panic attacks came on but i am doing my best to get over with the power of positive thinking! I am hoping that now my periods have returned that nature will take over and get my body back to normal! the memories of this nightmare will take longer to heal though i think. best wishes to you silke,i really hope that the water and magnesium work for you and that you soon feel better than ever.

sarah (greetings from england!)

All you ladies, and expecially femalepara:

You shouldn't tell ANYTHING about this pill, as long as you haven't been taking it AT LEAST over a few months!!

Reading such a post like "I just started taking it TWO WEEKS ago and this is so much better than..." feel like a slap in a face of someone who had suffered and is still suffering because of this nightmare pill!!

Surely everyone reacts different on medicine, but you always should be careful and very sensitive about ANY symptoms you experience while taking Yasmin!!

In my case the worst symptoms started after 2 YEARS on it!!! Then another 2 very bad years (always tired and dizzy) without noticing, what this chemical was already doing to my body and then the total breakdown after 4 years on this stuff!! The first 2 years I thought it was the best pill I ever had taken and then in 2004 my life nearly was about to end because of that sh....!!!!

So please ladies, don't tell anything about a medicine as long as you weren't on it at least for one year!! Believe me, before that point you don't know ANYTHING about it!!!

I wish you best of luck, that everything stays that good as it does at "2 weeks" on it. In my case the diuretic effect changed into the opposite!! After about 3 years on it I got such bad water retention I've never had before in my life and cellulitis all over my body (not only legs or so!!), even at my arms!!! After about 4 years on it I looked as if I was pumped up with tons of water, my face looked like a big balloon (I ALWAYS was a very fit and slim person BEFORE!!! I swear!!), my belly wobbled with every move I made.... It was terrible!!! And still, even after one year WITHOUT Yasmin all the water I had retained is not gone completely. I'm just so thankful that it gets less every month; already I lost about 10 pounds during the last 4 months and my body and face finally starts looking like my old self!!

So again: Please be careful with that medicine and don't praise it to the skies since this is a bit hasty at such a short time on it!

All the best to everyone out there, who's still suffering or recovering of their personal "Yasmin nightmare"!! God bless you!!

Silke

Wow - I just started Yasmine two weeks ago. Before that, I had terrible Endo symptoms and incredible pressure (pain) that was made worse by the fact that I'm paralyzed.

I'd have to say that I had all the symptoms people are describing BEFORE I took this pill and it has made everything better!

The diuretic effect is great to relieve swollen unmovable legs from sitting in my wheelchair all day. Short period which was good - first time in a long time. The only problem is having to get in/out of my chair to use the toilet every hour. The nausea is overwhelming, almost dizzying .. but I'm told this will subside after three months.

This is soo much better than Cyclen!

Having not been on birth control pills for quite a few years....I was recommended by my gynecologist Yasmin. She told me it had a diuretic effect and may increase potassium levels.
She did not tell me what else it might do to my body.

I stayed on it for a total of 6 days......terribly depressed, angry, fretful sleepless nights with disturbing dreams. I was an emotional wreck, crying uncontrollably and feeling so sad over everything.

I would not recommend this BCP to anyone. I had been on Triphasil for almost 13 years with no such side-effects after taking a break for 4 years before going back on a BCP.

I was on Alesse for four years and felt I had reached maximum bloat, so decided to discontinue the pill altogther this fall. Unfortunately, my acne problems surfaced again (after a year and a half after a six-month course of accutane). My skin got really bad and was getting oilier and oilier. I thought I'd better get back on the pill again to get my skin at least somewhat under control. I also considered going to my derm and ask for spironolactone to help with my skin's over production of oil. While doing research on BCPs that were purported to be good for acne, I landed upon Yasmin, and asked my OBGYN for it and she prescribed it to me. Yeah! It's been a godsend.

I started around the holidays this past December and it addressed my oily problem within the first week of taking it. And it doesn't make me bloat! I swear I've lost 10 pounds of water weight that I was carrying before. I still have to keep a lot of attention to my skin to control breakouts, but not being so oily helps out a lot.

My only complaints are with the diuretic effect, I'm up in the night having to go to the bathroom, sometimes as much as three times. And if it's rather early in the morning I can't get back to sleep. I'm a little moody, but it seems to be the case with birth control pills. The moodiness is nothing excessive. I'd be a lot moodier if I had my old icky oily skin back and had to go back on Accutane.

I have not experienced the fatigue or other negative side effects that people have mentioned here. In fact, it seems that all the possitive side effects that Yasmin was purported to have have worked for me.

I'd be very upset if Yasmin was taken off the market. If you find that a birth control pill is not working for you, go back to your doctor and try another kind. I remember a friend in college who had started taking the pill and she had terrible side effects, like bad headaches, terrible moodiness, felt like her heart was palpitating, and I told her to go and get it switched. Evidently the one that she switched to was perfect because she's been on it ever since. Works out perfectly for her, no bloating, etc. Maybe a little crabbiness, but seems hard to avoid that one.

At any rate, I've been very happy with Yasmin. As birth control pills go, it's practically perfect for me.

I gave Yasmin two months. My endocrinologist recommended it since it usually doesn't interfere with medication. My gyni said it was the most popular birth control. I have to say I am so glad to have found this board. Certainly, every woman is different but it is great to have unbiased info out there.

The first week was great then I started having to get up to pee (that the diuretic effect). Then I felt fatigued sort of like I was getting the flu. Then came the intense hunger. Having hypothyroid, I usually have a low appetitie. I actually liked this side effect. I never ate more in my life! I didn't gain weight. I liked not being bloated but what I didn't like was the low grade headaches, spaciness/forgetfullness, acne, fatigue, low libido and then later chest pains and heart palpitations.

Now I am trying the NuvaRing. Ortho tri cyclen as well as OTC lo did not agree with me. I had mood swings, contact lense trouble and headaches. If NuvaRing doesn't work then I am getting and IUD.

Thanks ladies for your input.

First of all, I was experiencing a lot of the same side-effects that I've read about here, so I decided to do a little research. What I found was startling. Usually, if you are having a S/E with hormones, it's probably the Progestin ingredient. The Progestin in Yasmin is very different from the progestins in other products. The studies done on Yasmin are very minimal, which means we are pretty much Guinea Pigs. It promises a lot of benefits, but doesn't deliver any. The progestin in Yasmin has a diuretic in it, but not enough to do anything, but if you take certain other drugs, it can have a bad effect, mainly an increase in your Potassium. This could be causing alot of the S/E talked about here. A diuretic effect can also cause dehydration, which results in headaches. When I reached Planned Parenthood, they told me that they do not prescribe it because it may have more of a risk for blood clots (leg cramps. numbness).
There are a couple of things you can do; first call your Dr. and let them know about the S/E and they should report it to the company that makes it. You can also contact the company and let them know. The company is obligated to inform the FDA in the U.S.
As a result of my research, I also learned that almost every pill has a different Progestin, and might not have the same effect. My Dr. put me on Ortho Tricyclen Lo and I reacted to that much diferently(I feel good).

The difference with Yasmin is that it contains a different form of hormone...and the diuretic effect...this is why it is recommended that those taking Yasmin get regular blood work done...the diuretic will deprive your body of sodium..and potassium.....causing heart problems, arrythmias....leg cramping... I wonder how many people are getting their blood work done....Ive been taking Yasmin now for 8 months....the only effect I have noticed is that my sex drive has waned a bit....but virtually all BC pills do that....I dont think it should be banned because some people are having problems with it...its been a pretty decent pill for me so far...everyone reacts differently to medications...so if its not working for you, try something else...

Hi, everyone! I was wondering if anyone was put on the pill for pelvic congestion. Last September my doctor put me on Yasmin because of the diuretic effect and low weight gain. The moment I started Yasmin my knees began to ache. They continue to ache to this day. Also, I have exprienced a lot of tingling in my left arm and on the side of my face. Although I didn't know it might be the pill until I saw this site! I'm not sexually active, but I have noticed a significant decrease in sex drive. Recently I have experienced shortness of breath, too. I take the pill at night, and have noticed that I have a harder time waking up in the morning. After reading this site, I think I'm gonna switch my pill. On a good note, my skin has cleared up significantly. Thanks, and best of luck to you all!

PS: Restless Leg Syndrome: Probably caused by magnesium and calcium depletion, as the diuretic-effect of Neurontin exacerbates electrolyte imbalance. You should fast-fast have your doctor check this, and see what supplements you should take (potassium also affects muscle function, as erll, but it's a complicated and delicate balance.) JanK

I have been taking Yasmin for 5 days so far. I take it before bedtime. The first day I had a horrible headache and nausea and I had no energy. The second day was just nausea. The third day, just lack of energy. By the 4th day I was feeling fine. I hope that's the end of the side effects.