Health risks symptoms and conditions

Hi, I am so relieved that I decided to finish with Yasmin after just 4 months. ...ESPECIALLY, after reading all the above severe health warnings and symptoms many have experienced. I am 38 with 2 small children and after over 10 yrs of not being on the pill I decided to take it again for PMT reasons and lighter periods. I too have noticed the migraine type headaches are far more frequent but more so I have noticed a worrying tightness in what seems the arteries in my neck which I have been paranoid could be the beginning of clots. Last week I also had a heaviness in my right side mainly my arm and went numb on right side of my face and lips whilst out shopping last week. I was scared to death as thought I was having a mild stroke at the time. This was the end for me. That day I never took another pill from that Yasmin pack. It is not worth it. I also felt quite anxious, wound - up, depressed and neurotic during the last 4 months on Yasmin. I am now back to ovulation cramps and heavier periods again but who cares at least I know this isn't life threatening which I believe Yasmin has the potential to be with regards to thrombosis and other severs health risks etc to some users.

oh and here is the birth control pill side effect list...

Common side effects of oral contraceptives include loss of sex drive (libido), headaches, acne, weight gain, vaginal infections, and depression. Current research indicates that oral contraceptives increase your risk of acquiring HIV if your partner is infected. Oral contraceptives also have some uncommon but serious health risks associated with their use, especially among smokers; these include abnormal blood clotting and heart attacks, breast cancer, and gallbladder disease.

Hi! I am a 36 year old female and have been on this HORRIBLE HORRIBLE drug (prednisone) for 2 1/2 years now..... Hopkins doctors still arent sure exactly what i have. My immune system is attacking my liver so to speak. My body is basically looking at my liver like it doesnt belong and is attacking it with large multiple lesions that is eating it away... the good thing is that it hasnt interupted the functioning of it yet but is leaving horrible scar tissue. I have been in and out of the hospital 13 times, have had just about every test imangable, 12 liver biopsies and they STILL have NO clue! They are leaning towards Church Straus desease and Wegners but the weird thing is i have half symptoms of both. The first year they had me on 80 mgs of prednisone a day which had seemed to put me in remission for about 4 months and then they came back even worse so i was put back on the prednisone, 80 mgs a day AGAIN along with 100 cc's of Methotrexate, another not so nice drug... i had EVERY SINGLE BAD SIDE EFFECT OF BOTH DRUGS!! This second time around was ALOT WORSE for some reason!!! My body DID NOT LIKE IT!! Nausea, hair loss, moon face, gained 40 pounds (and i was in great shape, worked out, i am 5'4 and was 110 pds!), EVERYTHING was swollen, legs, ankles, arms, neck, face, had the camel hump, fingers and especially my belly!!! UGH!!! Have bone, muscle, and SEVERE joint pain! Kaliedescope vision, dry eyes and then had mucus discharge (kindof like pinkeye), headaches, intestinal problems.... VERY CONSTIPATED and then the opposite!!! I literally felt as if i had turned into a man in my behind!!! Sorry to be so gross but thats how bad it was!!! Jaw problems, teeth and gums as well, skin sensitivity and have little bumps all over my skin (kindof like tiny little moles), itchy, broke out with acne and pretty much NEVER had more than 1 pimple a month, had facial hair (VERY DISGUSTING!!!! HAD IT WAXED EVERY WEEK!!!!) and then on top of all of that the swelling of my liver not to mention the PAIN! I was recently in the hospital again with 12 new lesions, pneumonia, and 104 fever. My doctors said the Methotrexate was the cause and i was having a bad reaction to it so they now have me on 100mgs per day of Azathiroprine. I am now finally down to a maintenance dose of 5 mgs of prednisone cause my body was starting to reject that as well. I thank god that i am now down to that dose!!!! It as only been 2 wks and the withdrawl symptoms are horrible worse then they were but i know what is to come =) loosing all this fluid and all of the HORRIBLE side effects i listed above. I will have to be on the maintenance dose of 5mgs the rest of my life and can live with that cause when my body gets back to somewhat normal i wont even notice that im on this CRAP!! I will be on the high dose of Azathiroprine for a few years and then on a maintenance dose of that as well for the rest of my life to keep whatever this is that i have under control.... the scary thing is is that they arent even sure that all of these meds will even work...... im a guinea pig..... The only thing that i am on out of all 25 pills/meds that i take everyday that works is my pain meds. Oh and i also forgot to mention that i had to be put on some "HEAD CASE" medication (thats what i call it =) ) for depression. Its a low dose but it does seem to help... I am terrified of what the future holds but continue to be strong and have an amazing support team... my fiance and family =) I dont even want to think about how i would be without them. I go back on the 25th of this month for my MRI so please who ever reads this keep me in your prayers as for all of you are in mine. I feel for each and everyone of you that has to endure this horrible drug everyday and i hope that everything works out you. =)

Sue =)

For Ladies just joining this site and those posting for months/years, if you read through the post that includes all the possible side effects of Yasmin, I think you will find most of your answers there. This information came directly from the makers of Yasmin-Berlex and it is accompanied with the bcp-its that little pamphlet of size 1.5 font. It outlines all teh risks and many of them I can see are being experienced by women:

Anxiety, depression, changes in vision, pressure in the chest, heart attack atcetera. Please read through this (below) if you haven't already or your own pamphlet if you are now taking Yasmin or plan to and then keep it and discuss it with your prescribing Doctor. Know what you are at risk for in taking this or any birth control pill.

following that information is a letter written by the Dept of Pulbic Health to Berlex about the mis-leading advertisment that was being aired on yasmin and how it discounted the health risks associated with this pill because of its synthetic basis as well as the risk of increasing potassium.

See 3 posts below Flowerbabies most recent.

hi gypsy222, i would go and see your doctor again asap as it sounds as though yasmin is not suitable for you,some people have no problems with it and others have loads of problems! the breathlessness and cramps are NOT normal. guest26464, i don't think there is any health risks with stopping taking yasmin mid pack ..i did but i had been on it for 1.5 years. you may get a withdrawl bleed (period) a few days after you stop but if the pill is making you feel that bad it is probably the lesser of 2 evils. if in doubt speak to your doctor.get some good multivitamins and drink loads of water. some doctors refuse to believe that any of the problems posted here can be caused by a birth control pill but be your own judge,if you had no problems before and you have unexplained ones now then maybe it is this pill.

The hard truth about sustained release niacin ( NIASPAN) The Drug Niaspan will raise your HDL, but the prescribing physician won't tell you that this drug has one of the highest drop out rates. The reason? The side effects are unbearable for most people.

The posting below states that "Niaspan WILL save your life" Not true! The niaspan website fully admits that Niaspan is not to be taken to prevent a heart attack if you have never had one. So far there is no proof that Niaspan will prevent a cardiac event. But there is proof it will alter your blood lipids.

Niaspan can damage your liver. That is why liver function tests are routinly done for those taking the drug. It is toxic doses of Vitamin B3 which results in the horror stories you read in this.
Niaspan can damage your muscles. Taking this and other cholesterol lowering drugs only add to your health risks.

Be smart. Eat right and exercise. Its the best thing you can do for your health.

Good luck.

As a Registered Nurse who works in Women's Health, I am empathetic toward the many of you who have had such negative side effects from Yasmin. I, too, just started Yasmin a couple of weeks ago, but fortunately, I am not seeing the same effects as many of you. All I have really noticed so far is a pretty constant headache, which is a very common side effect from any type of oral contraceptive.

It is our right and responsibility as women to ask questions when we are prescribed a medication - irregardless of the type of medication being prescribed. Your health care provider must provide you with that information when you request it. Ask specific questions, demand answers. Be very proactive!

Pharmacists are also a great resource of information. Get the info on your meds in writing - manufacturers are required to provide this information for patients. If your health care provider won't give it to you, your pharmacist will. When I got my Yasmin prescription filled the first time, I read the whole information packet because I wanted to know all the risks and possible side effects. We should all pay attention to what our bodies are telling us. If you don't feel right, don't let anyone (including a physician) convince you that you are OK or dismiss your concerns. Get a 2nd or 3rd opinion. Listen to your body and do what you feel is right, like stopping a medication like Yasmin.

I know of several women who have taken this OC without difficulty. I know others who have problems with other types of OC's. Everyone is different and everyone's body reacts differently to the exact same medication. While most of the posts here refer only to the negative side effects, I am confident that many women out there are taking Yasmin without difficulty.

Unfortunately, some women are being prescribed OC's when they shouldn't, including those who smoke and any woman over 35. Many studies prove the increases in serious health risks for these groups in particular where OC's are concerned. Again, it is our responsibility to request information and ask questions of our health care provider before taking any type of medication.

To all of you having such a negative experience with Yasmin - good luck to you. Please seek another opinion if you are dismissed by your doctor. Request a change in OC's if that's what you want. If you can't get it changed, make an appointment with someone who cares what you have to say and will listen to your concerns. That is your right as a patient. Best of luck to you all.