Orthocept symptoms and conditions

Severe FATIGUE... I cannot explain enough how fatigued I am while on Orthocept. I classify it as a mix of depression too. This is awful and yet my doctor keeps telling me to 'tough it out for another month'. I have lost 5lbs this month and am always sick to my stomach. I have the weirdest forehead and eyeball pain/headaches. My legs also broke out in an itchy rash during the end of the first week and the red bumps are still here. It is just awful, people. I feel like my whole body is falling apart. I'm only taking this because my periods are excruciating. I'd rather go through the pain for 2 to 3 days than all of this for months.

GUEST 37772
JOEY-

It would seem that you are right and very smart for listening to your body and to your intuition. What I can share with you is that for many, and in my case, my skin did look the most beautiful that it ever had-but in truth, and upon reflection, I always had compliments on my skin. I have mediterannean in my background so it runs on the oiler side in the t zone and I am therefore more prone to breakouts. However, the upside is less wrinkling/slower pace than women with dry skin.

What I will say is this, the horrible side effects of Yasmin that have been documented here, and on the UK site Flowerbabies/Sarah set up, is no case for taking Yasmin. It is so detrimental to our bodies and our health and as we all come to learn if we haven't already, there is no quality to life when your health is sacrificed.

Yeast infections are very COMMON with BIRTH CONTROL PILLS. Most everyone of them opens a woman up to experiencing these because of the change in hormones and the effect on bacteria and yeast levels in our bodies. It alreay exists, just in healthy levels. When there is over-growth however, it causes yeast infections-one woman here had THRUSH which is yeast in her mouth.

VAGINAL dryness is also a side effect of Yasmin. Please read the insert that came with the Yasmin pills. You can also google Yasmin side effects and read an electronic one online. Many women reported changes to their sexual libido while taking Yasmin.

There are a couple of birth control pills: Orthocept and Ortho-tricyclen Low that i had good results with. Ortho Novum 35 as well has been around a long time. However, after years of being on and off birth control/hormones, what I would say is that if you can find natural method of birth control/non-hormonal, you are far better off in the long run. If you google side effects of birth control pills, you will see LONG lists of side effects. There is so little really known about women's hormones and these synthetic forms do damage.

I did not suffer from vaginal dryness while taking Yasmin but I did:
1. Significantly lose vision in my right eye
2. Developed a heart murmur
3. Developed chest pain and pressure and heart palps and irregular beats
4. Clogged painful eardrums

All* of these were directly linked to Yasmin and are even documented as possible side effects in Yasmin insert.

So, with that, I'd encourage you to see the UK site if you haven't already and the host of women who have experienced terrible side effects while on Yasmin as well as coming off of it.

Listen to your wisdom. you'll be ahead of many of the rest of us before we came to decide to come off of Yasmin a little too late.

GUEST 37760
Your side effects-specifically those related to weight loss are experienced my many women. I lost 15 lbs on Yasmin-and I directly attribute it to the diuretic in Yasmin as I went off, gained 10 back immediately.

Diahrhea also common. See insert that accompanies Yasmin. Most to many side effects women experience as well as outline of the enormous risks are there.

I hope that you are off at this time and feeling better.

GUEST 37745
Yasmin can and often does give women nausea and dizziness. Longer term, loads of side effects that can be debilitating. If you haven't already seen many of the side effects here-I encourage you to read through as many as you can as well as on the UK site and at ask a patient.com.

While this may go away, there are so many risks and so many terrible side effects women have suffered and are suffering as a result of being on Yasmin and/or Yaz now (its recent sister to hit the market)-I'd encourage you to get off of it now and explore non-hormonal methods of birth control. its so not worth it. Some of us, many of us have suffered terribly.

GUEST 37679!
HOW DID THEY COME TO DISCOVER THIS? WHAT WERE YOUR SYMPTOMS? THIS IS THE MOST SERIOUS RESULT I'VE SEEN HERE BESIDES THE VERY FIRST ENTRY ON THIS SITE WHICH IS STROKE, AND ANOTHER WHOSE HUSBAND REPORTED HIS WIFE DIED OF A STROKE AFTER PARTICIPATING IN A YASMIN FORUM.

I hope that you have recovered??? How are you today? I hope you will post your experience on www.askapatient.com as well as to the UK site.

Did you have any prior high risk/risk factors?

Are you taking up legal action? A number of us have been wondering how to do so.

I do hope that you are healing. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.

GUEST 37673
Your side effects, specifically those of vertigo/dizziness and fatigue also documented here as common side effects. also documented on Yasmin's insert for possible common side effects. Good, very good, that you have stopped taking it.

Also common-irregular heart beats, heart palpitations-risk to women and risk in general with this pill for hypertension/high blood pressure. I experienced this, 1.5 years into taking Yasmin. First heavy chest sensation, then developed a heart murmur, irregular beats and chest pain that continue to this day 5 months off of being on Yasmin. Several other women here and at the UK site Flowerbabies set up also experienced this-multiple trips to the ER, EKG, ECG and a slew of other tests.

If it feels like your lungs are burning, i hope you are off this now? Has this continued? Interestingly, since I got off of Yasmin, I have been sick every month for the last 5 months at the onset of menstruation. A Naturpath I've seen has advised that changes in hormones create inflammation in the body and make this possible-more susceptible to infection. I've had bronchitis for 5 months in a row, each time starts at the onset of menstruation.

Your complexion going to hell is not so common as most women experience the opposite. It is so good that you are listening to yourself-and getting off of Yasmin. Too many of us had side effects over time that we didn't add up/attribute to Yasmin until too late-or until we are already suffering today from longer term side effects.

I also noticed while on Yasmin, I would wake up in sweats and became even more sensitive to cold than I already was. Almost like flu like symptoms-that several women here also experienced.

Nausea-also very common and outlined as well in Yasmin's insert of possible side effects.

To hear that these symptoms are in no way bad compared to those you experienced on Ortho Evra is quite concerning as that path is now under lawsuit and many of us are only waiting until this occurs, or working to figure out how to sue Yasmin and Yaz.

Best of healing wishes to you and congratulations for taking the responsiblity for listening to your body, taking the initiative to research your side effects, and taking personal responsibility for your own health. We can't count on pharmaceutical industry, pedaling doctors who receive financial incentives for prescribing this stuff, treating us like guinea pigs, to learn to take care and education for our own bodies and health.

Jasmine

Guest, #36376-

I did go from 2.5 years of Yasmin, to one month of Yaz to the last 3 months of Orthocept and did NOT experience all the terrible anxiety and such alof of poor other women did. So, in my case, I'd reccommend it. I'm only now completely off for this last month and so far so good so it could be very helpful but as you know, each woman's body is different. you could give it a try...

I wish you well and please ignore all these terrible personlized/emotional responses from other women. We are all trying to help one another and in the midst of so much suffering it really is quite embarrassing.

Has anyone experienced re-current colds after going off of Yasmin? I've been now for almost 3 months (went to Orthocept) but I've been sick now for almost 4 whole months!

Can anyone reccomend remedy for this? I can't figure out why this is happening? I was on Yasmin for 2.5 years, never,/rarely sick and certainly not ever this long!

What i can say and will say to everyone experiencing anxiety-the one tried and true remedy I have ever known was true and effective is EXERCISE. Aerobic. Meditation. Avoid caffeine COMPLETELY and sugar.

I would also say to be warey of all the Anti-anxieties and the anti-depresesants. i was on Prozac years ago when it just came out and since, they've come to recognize they've linked it to causing worse depression and suicide and there are no means to measure long term effects on the body/brain and its ability to naturally create and manage levels of dompamine and serotonin after going off of it.

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.

Sarah, Sophie,

Tonight, when I laid down, and on a few other occassions, I have this really heavy feeling like its hard to breathe as if someone were sitting on my chest? Is this like either of your sensations? This follows this fluttery aching squeezing sensation I've had since yesterday morning...

Any other ladies out there who have developed this problem?

I can't believe this-the acid reflux, the plugged up achey ears, and now this chest pain (last 6 months)/been off of Yasmin for 2 months....went onto Orthocept but I think I just have to get off of all bcp's.

J

I have experienced a vaginal yeast infection while on Orthocept, also got a urinary tract infection during that time. I have only been on the bill for little over a week.

I have experienced a vaginal yeast infection while starting the Orthocept, I have only been on the pill for little over a week. I also had a urinary tract infection during that time.

I just got my prescription from my doctor today to start on Orthocept after my next period. For all of the women that have gotten acne after taking Orthocept, can you tell me if it cleared you skin then got acne after discontinuing use of the pill or did you have acne to begin with and then it made it worse when you stopped using it?

I am only in my 3rd week of taking Estrostep and I feel HORRIBLE! I am having some heart fluttering, feeling very anxious, upset stomach, tingling in my left hand, and moodiness. I took Orthocept prior to this for approx. 8 years with no adverse side effects. I am going back to Orthocept next month.

I have been taking Yasmin for almost a year and have finally traced my current problem to beginning shortlyafter I started taking it. I have a HUGE decline in my sex drive. At first I thought it was just stress, but I have been stressed before, and this never happened. It is to the point where it is beginning to affect my relationship with my fiance! Has anyone else had a problem with this?

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and was planning to ask her to put me back on OrthoCept, which was what I was taking before. After reading all the symptoms of going off the Yasmin, I am scared now. I was wondering...did those of you who experience these symptoms after stopping Yasmin begin immediately on another pill, or did you just stop taking it?

I've been taking Yasmin for approximately 2years. It's the only BC that I've ever used. I haven't noticed any real side effects, except this month I started bleeding during the 3rd week of the pills, and I didn't get my period again in the 4th week. This happened 2 months ago as well. I bled (lightly) for probably 7-9 days, when all my other periods lasted 3-4days. I recently lost 30lbs, so I don't know if the weight loss has anything to do with it, or if the Yasmin is not the "right fit" anymore, like the doctor said. I'm starting Orthocept tomorrow, but those side effects sound bad, too. Has anyone had a similar bleeding problem with Yasmin?

I am 27 yrs old. I took OrthoCept for 9 years. Off one year and on Yasmin cuz doc says its the "best".
Started in Jan.
In perfect health, never been sick, hospitalized or have any illnesses, nor taking any additional medications.
Started with mood swings, anxiety and up and down. Blamed it to the 3 month "adjustment period".
9 months later, still "adjusting".

I have experienced alot of the side effects. I have felt as if I were depressed, but have NOTHING in my life to be depressed about. High Anxiety. Very scary panic attacks (never had one ever until this past 6 mths, have had 8) increase in breast size, breast soreness and tenderness when not having period, headaches (never had one before this yr either)NO SEX DRIVE (not even for pocket rocket) cramping, constipation (serious) I tried changing diet, fasting etc, nothing works. Lots of bloating.

I have layed in bed at night with my cell in my hand waiting to call 911 because I was certain I was going to have a heart attack.

Panic attacks have ruined my life. I do not go out. When I have one, my heart pounds and my mind races. I cant think or breathe and just feel like I am a freak.

I have seriously thought I was crazy. I have wondered how long it would take my friends and family to commit me. I am unable to focus on anything and I feel like I am shaking inside. I often feel like I am walking through a fog as if my life were not real, just a dream.

My relationships/friendships have desperately suffered. I have lost many friends because I have lost all interest in pretty much everyone and everything.

I have nothing to be depressed about. But yet I am not living.

Often when I sleep, my limbs fall asleep, this also never happened before in my life.

I quit Yasmin one week ago and entered therapy cuz I was convinced I had a chemical imbalance or an anxiety disorder but after reading this board, I am pretty sure I may be okay.

I have been having really bad headaches though since I went off and I was wondering if anyone else had experienced this? I read on a health board it was common but I was wondering if anyone knew how long it lasts? How long before all the Yasmin is out of your body? If you want, post here or email me please at ******

I think I am going to let my body be for awhile. Let my hormones do their own thing and feel normal for awhile. TROJANMAN......

I had been on Desogen for two years and my PCP said that Orthocept was the same amount of estrogen and was cheaper in the in site pharmacy so I switched. I HATE Orthocept, I will go back to Desogen after I use up these pills.

I have read many of the testimonials from people that have just recently switched to it or have only been on it a couple of weeks. All of the exact same symptoms happened to me when I switched to Orthocept. My doctor said that it takes 3-6 months for your body to get used to a new pill. I guess not every pill is for everyone.

I have experienced major hair loss and acne after coming off orthocept. Can anyone help?

I experienced a DVT and pulmonary embolus in 1996 as a result of taking Orthocept. I now have permanent vascular damage in one of my legs and require the use of compression stockings. I was 25 years old at the time.