Melasma symptoms and conditions

Have any of you suffered from really bad constipation whilst on Yasmin ???. Im at home now and i look five months pregnant. I keep taking senna tablets but it just isnt working. I eat really healthily drink loads of water. The only thing i can put it down to is Yasmin but im not sure if its just me if noone else has had it on Yasmin. Also have the following:

*melasma on top lip that looks like a moustache.
*cant stop eating constantly.
*really dry mouth, constantly thirsty.
*anxiety.
*feel down on myself

I can only take Dianette as a alternative but put weight on easily on it so im not sure what to do. Did any of you end up putting weight on on Yasmin after the first six months? . I don't know what to do.

Please could you let me know if you had constipation on Yasmin so i now if it is the Yasmin or not. My doctor knows but didn't seem too concerned.

Has anyone experienced Melasma with this drug? I am trying to identify if this is the cause of my melasma, because it worsened when we increased from dose from 150 up to 250mg a day.

Hello-

I took Yasmin for a 1.5 years. I am now 2 years post Yasmin. In hind-sight, had I known what I would live through both while taking Yasmin as well as the 2 years following, I would never have taken it in the first place.

I am going to summarize some of those side effects below:

For the first 1.25 years, it seemed like I was living in an dream. I was that spaced out all the time. No affect, if you will. I felt like a zombie.

Exhaustion/Fatigue:
I became lethargic all the time. Previously, being very athletic, I had no energy at all. A walk made me yearn for a nap. 2 years post Yasmin, I am still trying to recover and bring back all the muscle tone I lost. Reading through alot of possible side effects, ataxia (muscle atrophy/loss) was one of them I suspect could be linked to becoming dehydrated.

Painful plugged eardrums:
Every morning after i would take Yasmin, my ears would have this "popping sensation" much like what it feels like when you are on an airplane and the pressure changes. Over time, my ears became quite painful like I had alot of pressure built up in them. I later learned from a Hearing Doctor that it could well have been the potassium sparing diuretic as the inner ears are composed of potassium/sodium and the diuretic could offset its balance. This doctor also told me that in their field they have known forever that artificial/synthetic hormones are toxic to the inner ears. No other doctor I saw coming off of Yasmin knew this...

Melasma:
I developed brown spots on my forehead, beneath my eyebrows and on both cheeks within starting Yasmin in the first month.

Constant Urination:
I urinated every 15 minutes for 1.5 years straight that I was on Yasmin. Learned later about the potassium sparing diuretic in it a little too late. My blood tests showed I was dehydrated and was deficient in Folic Acid and Vitamin B12. Both 2 common deficiencies seen with artificial/synthetic hormone use.

Chest Pain:
1.25 years into taking Yasmin, at the onset of menses, I developed this pressure in my chest and sharp stabbing pains. The next month, again at the onset of menses, the pressure occurred again, this time spreading across my chest. I went to see a Doctor at that point who discounted that Yasmin could be involved at all. (Not sure why a member of the medical community would say that given I have since read a number of articles that suggest that Yasmin and Yaz both run a higher risk for clots/pulmonary embolisms then other birth control pills). Regardless, I had a chest x-ray to ensure my heart was not enlarged and had an EKG which just showed an abnormally slow heartbeat-Sinus Bradycardia. It was recommended at that time that I have a ECG (echo-cardiogram). Tests start at $5000 each and I did not have coverage for this kind of test.

I went off of Yasmin now, almost 2 years ago. Going off I spent the last 2 years getting sick every month at the onset of menses with severe bronchitis, chest pain that still occurs at menses (I have since learned can also be brought on by low levels of oestrogen and progersterone at menses) and gained 30 lbs.

Blood tests showed I was depleted of Vitamin D, B and Folic Acid, dehydrated and also had elevated potassium (a possible risk with Yasmin's potassium sparing diuretic.

I would encourage everyone to google anti-mineralocortoid (diasperonone) and anti-androgenic effects (Spironolactone)

These are both acting ingredients in Yasmin.

This has been the toughest couple of years in my lifetime. Initially it seemed like a great pill. My skin cleared up, I lost weight and my periods were only 3 days long. On that note, it took a whole year and half for my periods to go back to 5 days from 3 days long so again, doctors telling me that Yasmin would not and could not be affecting my body after stopping, just went to show it took that long for my own body to start re-producing its own natural hormones.

Through all of this, I have met amazing women and other survivors who have offered enormous support. I would suggest to any of you that find your way here to trust yourself and your body first and foremost to what anyone else may discount or try and remedy with anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications. There are a host of amazing authors out there as well who enlightened me enormously on the role of hormones in our bodies, and ultimately, their balance to our overall health and immune function:

Dr. Lee and Dr. Hotze. They both have websites and books which are wonderful. I would also suggest googling Yasmin Survivors online, which will take you to another resource/forum of women who are sharing side effects and healing and survival techniques coming off of Yasmin. The site is: ******

I am now really nervous reading all these responses about Yasmin. I started on YAZ about 18 months ago and had to stop because of constant bleeding. My doctor switched me to Yasmin about a year ago. The bleeding stopped and everything was fine for a long time. I have started developing melasma on my upper lip. Yuck!! Looking back, I think I have been kind of depressed too the last few months (and that is SO not me!). I wonder if it is the Yasmin. I am 37, married with three kids and am done having kids. I am wondering if I should stop Yasmin, hoping my melasma will clear up, but what do I do next??? My husband and I are definitely done having babies!!

I just started taking Yasmin 2 days ago now after reading everyone's comments i am scared of continuing. does all this happen to everyone? i had to buy my second refill because i need 2 months wroth because i am traveling overseas. please someone give me more advice and let me know if i should switch.

Yasmin gave me IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrom for those of you who don't know.) I was on the pill for eight months. My pre-symptoms were I had 5 yeast infections in a row, in the second and third months of taking it...this didn't ring any bells, even though I had never had a yeast infection before in my life, and my doctor just said I had a yeast imbalance. So a month after those stopped the IBS started. I was in the bathroom about 8 times a day, I thought maybe it was a flu, so i didn't go to the doc right away. I eventually gave up on that thought and went to see my doc, who even he, thought that it was IBS, so he sent me to a specialist right away. I had a colonoscopy and nothing, so the specialist told me that I needed to stop searching and just accept that I had IBS (I told him that I had been trying to figure it all out, because you literally don't wake up one day, go to the bathroom and your life changes forever, I KNEW something else was going on.) Anyways, I had a dumb specialist, he said that I had to accept this, I asked if it could possibly be my birth control and he said no and prescribed my a whole bunch of other drugs. Well I still just couldn't believe my life just all of a sudden changed, so I went to my family doc, lied, told him i was getting moody off Yasmin, and he switched me onto another. IT WORKED no more IBS, the results were immediate, it took a while for my poor damaged bowls to fix themselves, a few months actually, but now things are getting back to normal. Oh, and I've stopped birth control pills, back to condoms for me...my doc put me on Alesse, which didn't work either - moody! and then he put me on Marvelon, which inflamed my gallbladder (had to go for an ultrasound to see if i had gallstones) I figured at this rate, in two years i'd be dead from taking b/c so I was done, I would recommend the same to anyone!!

My gynocologist had to put me on Yaz because I had had a Kenalog Injection for a slipped disk and after being injected with Kenalog I kept having menstrual periods....4 in a month a half! So she gave me Yaz, it seems to work so far, but this drug gives me side effects too. Has anyone experienced extreme tiredness? I seem to be tired non-stop even after having a lot of sleep. This wasn't listed as side effect on my prescription, but I thought this may be causing it. Since I started taking this 3 weeks ago I began to feel real depressed and angry for no reason at all. I just get these weird bouts of depression.

Reading through these postings, I am surprised that so many women out there have had negative experiences with Desogen. I have had an extremely positive experience with Solia (the generic). It got rid of my preexisting, extremely painful premenstrual cramps, lightened my flow, didn't cause weight gain or bloating, cleared up my skin tone, and the melasma that is known to occur with high dosage pills didn't even happen to me. Conversely, I tried Yasmin about a year ago for about 5 months and it drove me bloody mad - intense food cravings, cramps came back, increased irritability - you name it, I had it. My advice to all the women out there is you really just have to try various pills until you find one that works for you. It's unfortunate and inconvenient, but if the side effects are significant enough to motivate you to research them online, then you owe it to yourself to switch pills.

I was on Yasmin for 1.5 years and YAZ for 7 months. I am getting off the pill after this pack...only 6 more pills.
I am terrified of what will happen when I stop.
So far my side effects are:
Melasma
heart palpitations
anxiety
rapid heart beat for 15 mins. or more (this happens randomly)
chest pressure
NO sex drive

Hi,

You name it, I had it. Fatigue, Headaches, Racing heart, palpitations, chest pain, naseau, sleeplessness, melasma. This is the second time this has happened to me. The first time was in 2003 on Ovcon. My gyn then put me on Aviane, a generic brand with lower hormone levels. A year later I went to and endocronolic specialist, who decided to put me on Yasmine, not sure why, but like so many people, I did as I was told (blind trust). I just this month reached the climax of my symptoms and decided to see a doctor. Just as someone else posted, the first thing they said was ANXIETY. They said I have been on Yasmine to long to just now start feeling side effects. I gave a rundown of everything I was feeling and they sent me for blood work.

Results are I am enemic. I have an iron deficiency. This I knew from my younger years. What I am curious about, is whether or not Yasmine has an effect on the level of iron in your blood. Can it worsen your enemia?

HERBAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HORMONAL BALANCE AND HEALING COMING OFF OF YASMIN:

Hi Ladies-to Anyone who has been on Yasmin/Yaz, if you haven't made it to the UK site Sarah/Flowerbabies set up, I am re-posting here some recent posts I've made in what has helped me enormously after coming off of Yasmin.

After being on Yasmin from 12/2005-8/2006 here is a list of the side effects I experienced: Hiatal hernia, vision changes, congestion ears, chest pains, heart murmur, palps and bracycardia, ectopic (abnormally slow and skips beats), melasma, bronchitis, fatigue. B12/Folic Acid Deficiency. Elevated potassium.

Following months of suffering, I've been doing loads of research. These are most recent supplements/remedies I have introduced and am seeing benefits from:

Whole Vitamin Supplement* (Bioavailable)
New Chapter Organices
The best I found for bio-availability (one that your body can easily assimilate/integrate) is New Chapter Organics. This is also extrmely low on potassium, which was very important for me because I am one of the women who ended up with 5.7 on my potassium when normal ranges are: 3.6-5.2. So I discovered I am in a range that is considered unsafe/mild hyperkalemia and working to lower it.

Organic Evening Primrose Oil:
contains specialized nutriet gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which has been show in scientific studies to support hormonal health and address symptoms of PMS and menopause.

Lignans:
highly studied and researched class of phytonutrient found in flaxseed studied by the National Cancer Institute and shown to possess impressive preventative properties-in addition to supporting hormone and breast health

Soy Isoflavones:
Plant phytoestrogens can help with symptoms of menopause and PMS in addition to supporting bone, heart and breast health.

Collodial Silver:
I also started for the first time taking Collodial Silver which has apparently been used for over 2000 years to boost immune systems. My sister, who has worked for and with a Naturopath for the last 5 years recommended this to me and she uses it with her own children. She is the healthiest she has ever been. After one month of using this, with a homeopathic remedy Pulsilla Negricans (for bronchitis like symptoms made by Boiron)-took this instead of anti-biotics, for the colds I have gotten every month for 5 months after coming off of Yasmin, this is the first month I haven't gotten sick!

Best Wishes to everyone in getting your body, spirit and your health back. There is nothing without health and from my experience, I will not be taking any pharmaceutical medications for the rest of my life if I can manage to do so. I've never been big on medications to begin with, but after this experience with Yasmin, and all the learning I am doing about the pharmaceutical industries and their partnerships with Doctors/Nurses, all the horrible symptoms and other problems that come with taking so many of these drugs , no thank you.

To be honest, sometimes, the lessons I am learning from having been on Yasmin, all the horrible side effects after being and having such good health has put me on a course to take personal responsibility for my own health and ways in which I can care for it without Doctors, prescriptions, un-healthy drugs that treat symptoms instead of cause. It is very empowering.

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 11:23 pm Post subject: Heart Health tonic, replenishing body fluids
Schisandra , liquid extract of dried ripe berry

I started this today and believe it or not, these horrible chest pains I've had for 9 plus months, mostly specific to the week prior to my mensturation and now more common, subsided. Strongly recommend it as a nutral remedy:

Actions: Nutritive. antioxidant. Adaptogen. Astringent. Expectorant and antitussive. Detoxifies, protects and regenerates the liver. Promotes production of body fluid. Allays spontaneous sweating. Calming sedative. Antagonizes stimulant effect of caffeine.

Uses: Support of healthy liver function, and treatment of hepatitis. Stomach and intestinal inflammation, chronic diarrhea and dysentery. night sweats and other spontaneous persperation. Neurasthenia (nervous exhaustion-caused by overactive adrenal glands) and sleeplessness. colds and flu. Dry coughs, weak lungs and asthma. To enhance physical performance in work and athletics. Dryness and thirst caused by fever.

In traditional Chinese medicine schisandra is said to nourish and tonify the kidneys, to replenish body fluids****, and to support the eyes. The anti-androgen in Yasmin can cause dry eyes***

Items
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:18 am Post subject:
Hi ladies-

Wanted to duplicate a posting here on results I am seeing from the herbal supplements a Naturopath recommended and I started in the last two weeks. As of last night, the experience of "palps" (which is feeling) the heartbeat and the arrythmia I was experiencing are gone! Needless to say, I am elated.
--------------
Available at Whole Foods* (you may need to have them order the Fem Rebalance or I am sure they are available through a Naturopathic or online:

Fem Rebalance made by Vitanica
and
Women's Phase I by Vitanica

They are specifically designed to for premenstrual and hormone balance support

Here are the ingredients:

Fem Rebalance (Indication that women with high blood pressure, who are nursing or are pregnant should not take this):

Licorice Root 200mg
Chaste Berry Tree 200mg
Rhodiola root-Rhodiola rosea 200mg
Borage oil powder 160mg
False unicorn root-Heloonias dioca 100mg
Vervain root-Verbena hastata 100mg
Sarsparilla root-Smillax medica 100mg
Wild Yam root-Dioscorea villosa 100mg
Black cohosh extract 80mg

Women's Phase I:
Again, not recommended for use during pregnancy and nursing. Dong Quai and gingko may potentiate anti-coagulant/anti-platelet agents

Vitamin E (as d alpha tocopheryl succinate) 200IU
Vitamin B6 as pyridoxal-5 phosphate) 25mg
Calcium 25mg
Iodine (from kelp) 50mg
Magnesium 75mcg
Chromium 100mcg
Borage Seet Oil Extract 150mg
Wild Yam root 100mg
Dandelion Leaf 100mg
Dong Quai root 100 mg
Passion Flower Extract 100mg
St John's Wort tops 100mg
Chaste Tree Berry 50mg
Chaste Tree berry extract 25mg
Gingko Extract (biloba) 15mg

Just know-that coming off of birth control or changes in our hormones have huge effects on our bodies. The Naturopath told me it opens up alot of inflammation in the body which causes susceptibility to colds and a host of other unpleasant side effects-like the heart palps for example.

I also posted to another link a listing of herbs and their benefits-many aid in PMS symptoms/menopause symptoms, inflammation, anti-spasmodic.

I am thrilled with the results in such a short time as the ND advised it may take a month or two, I am seeing results in only a week's time. Just moving beyond the arrhythmia and the palps is a tremendous relief.

Location: United States

Items
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:51 am Post subject: Benefits of Herbs and PMS and Hormone Balance
Hi Ladies-

As I referenced above, I've been on two herbal supplements recommended to me by a Naturopath I am seeing. I've only been taking them for a little over a week and seeing great improvements. If you see the herbs above, many of them are contained in the Fem Rebalance and Phase I support products by Vitanica that I am taking. I was struck by the fact that they were out of the Fem Rebalance initially and I had to ask that they hold 2 for me becuase when their order came in, they were out again as there were so many women who created a back-order:

Some herbs that are helpful with mentruation are:

BLACK COHOSH:
Antispasmodic and antirheumatic. Isoflavones ("phytoestrogens") bind to estrogen receptors and have mild estrogen like activity. Estrogen take a big dip during our menstrual cycle. Good for dull aching muslce pains (especially rheumatic and myalgic pains)-Low estrogen conditions like PMS.

BLUE COHOSH**:
Antispasmodic and antirheumatic. Uterine tonic. Used well for menstrual cramps and discomfort (especially "heavy legs"); excessive flow**

BUTCHER BROOM:
Antiinflammatory* tonic for veins. Reduces capillary fragility and permeability and tones sluggish venous system. Useful for Vein disorders related to oral contracptive pills, PMS**, certain menstrual disorders.

DONG QUAI:
Enriches blood, and promotes healthy circulation. Uterine tonic*. Increases DNA synthesis of uterus tissue and increases its regeneration. Regulates menstruation*. Antispasmodic. Anti-inflammaorty. Diuretic. Dilates coronary vessels and increases coronary blood flow. Harmonzies vital energy "chi". Particulary useful in cases of Amenorrhea (when period ceases) and dysmenorrhea: ***painful periods****

CATNIP:
Mild sedative and antispasmodic. Used well for menstrual maladies and nervous tension.

CINNAMON:
Warming, diffusive stimulant, with gentle astringent influence. Moderately stimulates entire nervous and circulatory systems. Warming to stomach and intestinal tract. Recent research shos several polyphenolic polymer compounds in Cinnamon bark enhance the action of insulin and improve glucose and fat metabolism. Useful in excessive menstrual bleeding*** among other things.

CRAMP BARK:
Balance sympathetic and parasympatheic nervous systems. Antispasmodic to stomach, intestines, uterus* and bladder. Useful for menstrual cramps**** and nausea*, sudden or irregular menstrual flow.

DAMANIA:
Nerve tonic and mild sedative. Promotes healthy menstruation* as well as a soothing tonic to sexual and urinary organs; purpoted to increase libido. Soothing diuretic and experctorant. Useful for nervous debility and anxiety. Sexual atony and lack of libido in women. Inflammation of sexual organs and urinary tract in men and women. Menstrual malaise and discomfort. Taken in hot water, it PROMOTES ONSET OF TARDY MENSTRUATION*. Helpful for emtional moodiness associated with PMS and MENOPAUSE.

FEVERVIEW:
Aspirin like action that relieves pain and reduces fever. Useful for headahces (especially migraines), arthritis, fevers, MENSTURUAL CRAMPS AND PAINS), stomachache and toothache.

GINGER
Heart tonic and warming circulatory and metabolic stimulant. Antispasmodic. Useful FOR PAIN AND CRAMPS*of stomach and bowel. Relieves stomach and intestinal gas. PAINFUL MENSTRUATION. Heart disease and poor circulation.

JAMAICAN DOGWOOD:
Nerve sedative, antispasmodic. Among many other things, useful for PAINFUL MENSTURAL PERIODS*

LEMON BALM:
Antispasmodic, mild sedative. Lowers fevers, antiviral. Useful in many things including nervous irritation, headaches, nervouse heart, nervous stomach and indigestion. Good for menstrual blues and emotions.

MURIA PAMA:
Soothing nervous system tonic. Antirheumatic. PMS*** and MENSTRUAL CRAMPS.

NETTLE:
Nutritive, alterative tonic. Antihistamine and anti-inflammatory, moderates allergic response. Useful for chronic inflammation, PROFUSE MENSTRUATION.

PASSIONFLOWER:
Calmative and sedative, allays nervousness and restlessness. Helps produce rest and natural sleep. Antispasmodic. Useful for nervousness, restlessness, worry and hysteria. *Nervous palpitationi or tachycardia of the heart or headache. PAINFUL MENSES.

SHATAVARI
Female reproductive tonic. Among many things including women's sexual libido, useful for PMS AND MENSTRUAL CRAMPING.

WILD YAM:
Antispasmodic. Relief of nervous system irritation. Abdominal cramps, pain and tenderness; spasmodic pain in uteris, cerix or ovaries; menstrual cramps***

YARROW:
Astringent, vascular tonice. Excellent for inducing sweat and lowering fevers, colds and flu. Passive bleading and EXCESSIVE MENSTRUAL FLOW.

J

I'm so depressed on Desogen. Moody, angry, feelings of doom, and no energy. I also have weird freckling/darkening of my face, which I'm told is called "melasma". Fabulous, I not only feel bad; I look bad too. Can't wait to ditch this evil pill.

Hi,

I've never felt compelled to post anything on a blog site before, but in this case, I felt that it was important to share my experience on Yasmin. I've was on Yasmin for 3 years, but last month, I switched to Avianne.

At first, I didn't notice any terrible side effects on Yasmin. However, slowly over the years, I noticed or experienced the following: a) marked decrease in sex drive; b) vaginal dryness; c) melasma (darkening of skin on the face); d) depression (especially in the first week of the cycle); e) muscle spasms; and f) dehydration even while drinking 10 glasses of water a day; g) weight gain; and h) fatigue.

Most desturbing of all, were symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. In my opinion, the diuretic component of Yasmin is dangerous. It was rare for me to pass a bowel movement every day and when I would, it was difficult b/c of constipation. Usually, I would pass a bowel movement every 3-5 days . I switched my diet to high fiber and eating mostly fruits/vegetables, and cutting out dairy, but that didn't help. Sometimes the pain from feeling bloated and "so backed up," that it was imbearable. Also, I would alternate from symptoms of constipation and diahrea.

I never had any of these problems before I started taking Yasmin.

It took me a while to put two and two together when I noticed that the ONLY time that I didn't have difficulty passing a bowel movement was the week of taking the placebo pills, and I was on my period.

On Avianne, I have 1-2 bowel movements a day. All symptoms of IBS have disappeared. The other symptoms of Yasmin are starting to abate, too.

Finally, if you don't notice any decrease in your sex drive at first while on Yasmin, you will down the road. It's rather insidious and it's no surprise-- if you do the research, you'll discover that the unique progestin component of Yasmin (what's usually associated with decreased sex drive) is 6 times greater than other BC pills.

Hope this helps.

I'm happy to annouce I'm off Yasmin as of today. Did anyone else have melasma? I have both large, faint patches on my forehead, as well as dark, smaller spots on my lower cheeks. Will they go away on their own or will I need to use some type of exfoliant/bleach?

Lisa, Virginia, thanks for your words of encourgement & advice!

Keila

melasma (i'm pale skinned caucasian who uses tons of sunscreen) above my upper lip. laser does not get rid of it. i'm not pregnant or nursing.

also, hair loss could be due to overmedicating with synthroid or just plain hypO-thyroidism. just learned that sometimes low calcium (take premcal ONLY) or calcium without the correct ratio of vitamin D and magnesium, could be the reason one gets overmedicated on synthroid, then follows hairloss.

Lauren, yes i had the brown spots and the increased peeing. The peeing is because Yasmin is a diuretic, which means its going to cause you body to eliminate more water then usual. The brown spots are called melasma I think and they are caused by birht control pills too. I have been off for 4 months and mine have faded but arent gone yet. Good Luck

Straight from the Yasmin booklet that comes with the pack of pills:
Warning signals:
Sharp chest pain, coughing of blood, sudden shortness of breath, pain in the calf, crushing chest pain or heaviness in cheast, sudden severe headache - vomiting - dizziness - or fainting, disturbances of vision or speech, weakness, or numbness in an arm or leg, sudden partial or complete loss of vision, breast lumps, severe pain or tenderness in the stomach area, difficulty in sleeping, weakness, lack of energy, fatigue, change in mood, jaundice of skin or eyeballs, irregular bleeding, fluid retention, Melasma (spotty darkening of the skin - particularly in the face) and other side effects may inclue change in appetite, headache, nervousness, depression, dizziness, loss of scalp hair, rash and faginal infections.

It makes me furious that some of you have told your doctors outright that you've been experiencing some of the above effects from this pill and yet they tell you to your face that it's not the pill.....(fuming)

The other poster is right - call Berlex and tell them what's happened to you and that Yasmin sucks!!