Yasmin and antidepressants

I have been on Jasmin for 3 years and stopped taking the pill 3 weeks ago after finishing the last pack.

I had 1 panic/anxiety attack 2 weeks before I started the pill but was FULLY FREE of all other symptoms listed below. After I started the pill, the anxiety continued, but not with the same intensity - I stopped having panic attacks and instead felt permanently uneasy and anxious and began having high blood pressure. I cannot be sure that the pill has aggravated my symptoms, but neither can I believe that my fully changed reaction to any stress (I used to be very stress-resistant) has come from that one panic attack (triggered by strained back muscles).

The symptoms have really started about 3-4 months after I began and became gradually worse. I went to every doctor imaginable and they did not find anything at all wrong with me, except high pressure, which they said is from stress. I have been in psychotherapy for months and do not see an improvement and I feel like I have completely lost the last 3 years of my life: I am afraid of everything, I am unhappy despite a great boyfriend and I cannot imagine my life continuing like this.

When I asked my gyn whether this could be caused by the pill (I did not even connect this all to Yasmin), he said it is unclear, but I should stop because of my high blood pressure anyway.

Here are symptoms I have experienced, though whether they are all from the pill is still unclear to me.

1. Elevated blood pressure (around 140/90 or much higher if I am anxious)
2. Permanent anxiety with varied intensity
3. Permanent muscle tension with resulting pain all over the body
4. Hypoglycemia-like symptoms (but my sugar levels are never really low)
5. Headaches occasionally which can last several days
6. Facial muscle spasms
7. Jaw/tooth pain
8. Tremors - shaking all over for several minutes to half an hour
9. All the standard anxiety symptoms - chest pain, lump in the throat, dizziness, numb fingers, etc.
10. Extreme fatigue
11. Sleeping over 8 hours and still feeling tired
12. Inability to concentrate on anything - trouble working
13. Intense fear attacks during stressful situations (client meetings, talking to my boss, etc)
14. Dry eyes
15. Dry skin
16. Very high adrenalin production - cannot drink any coffee at all
17. Red wine intolerance - my throat starts to contract for some reason
18. Pressure in my head and in the nose now and then
19. Pain in my legs and calves - usually after walking for over an hour
20. Irritability
21. Lack of interest in any social activities, I avoid friends and am afraid of doing anything outside my usual routine
22. Cannot go on without carbs for more than 3-4 hours without feeling hypoglycemic
23. Severe stomach pains and nausea (occasionally)
24. Itching skin

I think this is all...but there could be a couple of things I forgot.

Until now, I have not noticed any real improvements, but my skin is gradually getting worse, which I expected. I guess 3 weeks is not enough to reverse what has been happening in my body for the last 3 years and I am trying to to lose faith and continue going to my psychotherapist...

Hi to all Yasmin victims. I have been off Yasmin for 2 months now and still experiencing anxiety in the mornings and depression. Silke, flower babies, whoever is there to help me believe this suffering will come to an end. I lost the joy in life, and cannot function as i used to. Please please write to me girls, i really need support. I am 26 and living on my own in another city. I had to move next to them for 1.5 months in order to survive. I lost so much weight, my thyroid started to work fast (it is under control now). I have a beautiful and loving boyfriend, and he is suffering with me too, our relationship is damaged a lot because of my severely depressed mood. I need to talk to people who are getting better. I am on antidepressants because I was soooo depressed and with no appetite. I feel much better compared to the previous month, I am trying my best to stay strong but sometimes loose my hope. I really need you guys, I really need your supporting words.

Yasmin basically ruined my life for the 6 months I was on it. I was 22 when I first started taking it, and for the first 4 months on it everything was great, then suddenly I started having extreme panic attacks - laying in bed shaking uncontrollably, my chest so tight that I felt like someone was sitting on me. Every other hour I felt like either crying or screaming or pulling my hair out. I started questioning everything in my life, including the great relationship I was in at the time. I was absolutely miserable to my boyfriend - either mean or crying for no reason. I had to miss work because I couldn't get out of bed because I couldn't stop crying in the morning. If I did go to work - I would have to run to the bathroom to cry. Eventually I ended up seeing a doctor and going on antidepressants. That didn't help either. Finally, I decided to take myself off of everything and just try to pull my life back together. It took about 4 months to get back to being myself. Needless to say, the boyfriend couldn't stick this one out, and quite frankly I don't blame him. Just a few days ago, I tried going on Yasmin again, thinking maybe it was just circumstantial last time - graduating college, new job etc. Literally, on day TWO of taking the pill, I felt all the symptoms come rushing back. I stopped the pill yesterday and feel pretty much normal again. PLEASE don't take this pill, and let anyone you know that's on it know how much this pill can ruin your life.

Hi ladies,

I'm a 20 year old girl and I've been on Yasmin for just over a year now and it has hands down been the WORST YEAR OF MY LIFE. I started taking it for extreme menstrual cramps that would leave me screaming on the kitchen floor, curled up in a ball begging for the pain to stop. Yasmin fixed that, trust me it was like a miracle, and my acne on my face and back cleared up, another miracle.

Now the bad stuff. The first month was okay, because sometimes it takes time for the hormones to take affect. But I became severely depressed thereafter. It just started happening, crying all the time, hopeless, binge eating, gaining a lot of weight. And on top of that the GI problems, my stomach literally ballooned out to the size of a watermelon, and everything I ate irritated me. But a few months ago I became bulimic in a drastic attempt to get control back of my life, I hadn't even thought of the pill as the culprit up until this point. Keep in mind that I'm young, fit, have a great family, in school, there's no reason for my to be falling so low.
I started seeing a therapist, then a psychiatrist. I was this close to being put on antidepressants. And then something happened, my years worth prescription of Yasmin ran out so my OBGYN told the pharmacy to refill my prescription but with the generic brand, Ocella, that they had available which would only cost me 10 dollars a month with health insurance. Within four days I felt like my old self. Happy. I couldn't believe it. I went to a physician for tests and everything seemed normal, but after explaining to her my severe stomach problems she told me that it seemed like the pill induced me to become lactose intolerant. Wonderful!
So I started the second pack of Ocella a week ago and it all started happening again. The first month was fine again, but my body had caught up by now and even though I've cut dairy out, my stomach has ballooned up again and I have heartburn and indigestion no matter what I eat. Yesterday I felt insanely depressed, I binged, became insanely nauseous and threw up. I didn't leave the couch once. Now I know that it may sound like I need to reevaluate my problems, but I promise you, THIS IS NOT ME. I've realized that Ocella is exactly what it is, the generic version, and hence chemically the same as Yasmin, so the effects will mirror Yasmin's. MY OBGYN told me to finish the pack, and then I can come off them, and I cannot begin to explain how excited I am. I'm done with pills, and I'll find another way to deal with the pain.

Please, if you're taking birth control for something like acne, reconsider, it's not worth it. We are the experimental age. We can't ask our grandmothers what the long terms affects are. But if you must be on it and are feeling badly in any way, switch! You might find something better for you.

Yasmin is the WORST drug out there. I'd been taking Yasmin for 5 months when suddenly one day I had a terrible panic attack and couldn't stop shaking. I went to the ER and they told me I was just having a panic attack so I went home and layed on the couch for about 2 weeks having one panic attack after another and being extremely anxious. Eventually I went to my normal doctor who said Yasmin had nothing to do with it and put me on 37.5mg of Effexor which took away the panic attacks. Eventually I found this website and the Yasmin Survivors website and made the connection. I've been off Yasmin for almost 2 weeks and Im already making a very slow recovery. I don't recommend antidepressants but they are helping me get through it and im hoping very soon I wont need them anymore. This pill is not worth it. It almost ruined my life.

Both my 19 year old daughter and my 30 year old step daughter were put on Yasmin. Both began having heart problems. The eldest had heart palpitations, a racing heart and dizziness. The doctor discovered that her potassium level had shot up and her magnesium was down. They put her on magnesium to help control the racing heart. It helped, but then she became pregnant and had to lower the dose. The 19 year old has had the worst side effects. She was fine on ortho tricyclene, but when her doctor switched her to Yasmin her blood pressure shot up to 170/118. She began having chest pain. We pulled her off the Yasmin, but she has continued to have uncontrollably high blood pressure. The doctor ran several tests and has found no underlying cause as of this writing. She began taking 5 mg. of Norvasc, but was increased to 10 mg. to manage the high blood pressure.

My name is Bobby and I've been dating a girl who has been through some tough times. She took my advice and started taking an antidepressant, Celexa, 5 weeks ago. 3 Weeks after starting the Celexa, we began to have the relationship I always knew we could. I love her so much and for one week I was the Happiest man in the world.
Unfortunately, against my advice she started taking Yaz a week after beginning the Celexa. I told her that beginning two new drugs at once will eliminate the ability to identify which drug is causing which affects whether they be positive or negative.
After 3 weeks of Celexa and 2 weeks of Yaz, my girlfriend started acting alive and excited about life again!! She even started losing weight because of her beautiful new-found energy and zest for everything. She was playful, she was laughing, she was sexual, she was the girl of my dreams and we fell more in love than ever.
One week later (After 4 weeks of Celexa, and after 3 weeks of Yaz) a monster emerged who no longer can stand the sight of me. She doesn't want me to touch her, hug her, or even kiss her. She doesn't sleep at night. She screams and yells at me for being annoying when I'm doing things that once made her smile with love in her eyes.
I found an apartment today and decided to move out... I have never been treated so poorly by anyone in my life before. She's aggressive and verbally abusive. She's been complaining that people are talking about her and she seems paranoid. I made the mistakes of taking steroids a while back and I can tell you she is the monster now that I was then and both Yaz and steroids affect hormone levels and I'm telling you I just can't believe how many relationships this drug must be ruining.
Tonight I took the Yaz and threw all of it out. She got mad at me because she's afraid that she'll stop losing weight... I mean she's just completely lost perspective. I showed her pictures of us happy together and she still chose losing 3 more pounds over our relationship. I'm losing my mind... Just a few weeks ago she reminded me again that she wants to marry me and give me babies. Where has my future wife and future mother of my children gone??

I'M LIVING IN FEAR THAT SHE WILL FIND A WAY TO GET MORE YAZ B4 SHE'S BEEN OFF LONG ENOUGH TO SEE WHAT IT'S TURNED HER INTO.

SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP!!!
******

I have been using Yasmin for over 3 years now. I did suffer from tiredness and nausea with everything else that I have tried before Yasmin. However, after reading several comments on this forum, I have to say that I too suffer from anxiety and depression. Although I wouldn't call it severe, its enough to take its toll on me. It makes me extremely paranoid in the sense that I worry over the silliest things and elaborate on every little problem thinking that everything is going to be worse. Basically my mind races over problems all day and I have been feeling like I am losing my rationalization. I did seek help from my psychiatrist and was put on a mild antidepressants and although they provide immediate relief and give my mind a little rest, I didn't benefit from any long term solution that he said the medicine would provide.
I have been quite annoyed at myself really for not being in control of my feelings because the person I know I am, has done an okay job at it before. Something is definitely screwing up my emotions and that could very well be Yasmin since I have tried every other solution. So I am going to give Yasminelle a go as of today and see if the lower dose improves things and if not I will definitely be looking at alternative birth control methods because I am honestly fed up of feeling like I have no control over my own emotions.

I have been on Yaz for 3 months now.. I just want to start off by saying i love it! I use to take tri-cyclen.. that use to be the only pill i could take b/c all other pills made me bleed all the time..so i like tri-cyclin(not sure if i'm spelling it right cuz i took generic tri nessa) but the only problem is i was so psycho and messed up.. i felt like iwas going to go crazy i was a total bitch and my moods were so messed up i almost got on antidepressants.. but my dr. gave me yaz and i have never been better! i feel great i have lost weight my periods are very light..i'm happy everything is wonderful! the only thing i have noticed is diareha and at first i had a funny taste in my mout but i also have constipation as well and i have been reseaching I.B.S (irritable bowel syndrome) which i though i might have had before taking yaz.. so all in all i love the pill but a little concered about the consitpation and Diarreha but i'm looking into it

Like many of you on this forum, I am glad to have found this site! First though, I would like to say that I understand not every one taking Yasmin experiences the same side effects. I understand that some women probably have wonderful experiences with this medication. However, it frustrates me that while some women might have good experiences with this drug, I think the potential for SEVERE side effects other women could experience should be much more emphasized and researched. The pamphlet inside the Yasmin packaging briefly touches on what they advertise as rare side effects that overall outweigh the benefits of this drug. I think many of the side effects listed on this forum are not even mentioned in the packet. Personally, I believe I have had a horrible experience taking Yasmin for the past 8 months. It is very frustrating to take a medication that advertises itself to help symptoms (such as MOOD SWINGS) and in fact, causes many of these horrible symptoms in some women! I am so sick of the multi-billion dollar prescription drug industry (which seems severely under-regulated by the FDA.) Has anyone seen the fancy Yaz birth control commercial? You know, with the "we're not gonna take it" song? All those skinny models prancing around in a PMS-free world??? OMG PLEASE!!! I can't believe it has taken me this long to realize all of my horrible symptoms have started and only worsened during my time on Yasmin. I thought this pill wasn't related because my skin looks beautiful, I haven't had bad cramps anymore, I've had light periods, and my boobs have gotten bigger. Sounds great, huh? But since taking Yasmin I have also had such horrible mood swings I can't control myself. I feel like a completely different person. I've become extremely impatient, irritated by everyone on this planet, I can't concentrate, and I have looked so bloated at times several people assumed I was pregnant. My self-esteem is ridiculously low, I hate myself, my mirrors, and I accuse my loving boyfriend of the most ridiculous things. I don't see how he even puts up with me! I have become so depressed I rarely want to go out. I'm EASILY offended by the slightest comments and ridiculously paranoid. It is also very hard to go out when many of my clothes (even my "fat pants" do not fit anymore!) I have thought I was crazy, almost quit my job, left my boyfriend, and seriously wanted to kill myself. I'm aware that many of these symptoms could be caused by other things, but honestly, I have contemplated so many other potential causes (such as major depression) and I realize every thing has started during these past months I've been taking Yasmin. I am 21 years old, I do not smoke, and have generally great health. I feel entirely overwhelmed...I honestly don't know what to do.

I am a healthy 33 year old female with PMDD. I was recommended to switch to YAZ from my other birth control because I didn't want to take antidepressants. Within 24 hours of taking my first pill, I had every symptom of a heart attack and severe dizziness. I landed in the cardiac unit for five days and had every test including heart cath. The doctor gave me a clean bill of health on my heart, but, told me to immediately stop the YAZ. I had contacted Bayer, they told me that it takes awhile to get into your system and to follow through with the pack. (the doctor said it is only the contraceptive part that takes that long in the system) the medicine is absorbed immediately. If I had kept taking YAZ, I don't know where I would be right now.

Hi there!
I have to say, I am so happy that I have found this website. I feel like I'm crazy!! I have been taking Yasmin for a little over a year or so and within the past two month I have noticed significant stress, anxiety, depression (which I have NEVER experienced in my life). Although, over the past year I have noticed I have been tired, overall low energy, and snappy for no reason. Really high strung. I never knew why.

I do have to ask though, those of you who have stopped taking, or switched from Yasmin...have you noticed a shift in mood for the better? Have you noticed a difference in depression? I am planning to make an appointment for my OB/GYN tomorrow to get off this pill. I just want some hope that things will indeed get better, you know??

Hello,

I read about how YAZ birth control pill affects the body and psych and I am now scared. This is my 2nd day of YAZ (I've never been on birth control pills ever and I am 27 years old), it's all new to me but after reading all these negative posts about Yaz I don't know what to do. Before the birth control pills, I was depressed, annoying, serious weight problems - 210 lbs :~~((, low energy, low libido, always tired, terrible migraines every 2nd day, ridiculously increased appetite and excessive hunger, hair where it shouldn't be, menstrual blood clots, excessive cramping etc
I have all these problems for 3 years now and now that the family doc. put me on YAZ birth control pill I am even more scared - mainly of more weight gain, it would be a tragedy for me, I am fat enough already and what's worse I can't lose the weight, exercise doesn't help, diet doesn't help, NOTHING. Will YAZ birth control pill worsen my already tragic condition? I just don't know what to do and what to believe ... I appreciate any advice or help you can give me ... Thank You to all!

I also completely understand the decreased libido many report. If you think about it this way it makes total sense and none of are crazy! Yasmin increases serotonin in the body according to my research. SSRIs are a group of antidepressants that also increase serotonin in the body. SSRIs are NOTORIOUS for decreasing libido due to the increase in serotonin, so it makes sense Yasmin would also. For me this has been a troubling problem along with the others I mentioned. Interestingly I had increased depression and anxiety, but this couod be to the increased moodiness overall. I also agree with the palpitations and dizziness as I have these symptoms also from time to time. These could also be attributable to serotonin-mediated side effects.

AVOID YASMIN LIKE THE PLAGUE! I never have got on with contraceptive pills, but this pill is absolutely the worst of all types I've tried. I specifically told my doctor that responded badly to hormones in BC pills such as weight gain and tender and enlarged breasts - well, two days after starting Yasmin, I started to get shooting pains in the sides of my breast and I grew at least a full cup size. I was miserable, having to wear sports bras and unable to move in any way without feeling discomfort.

The discomfort was not only in my breast, I also started to get extremely moody and a bit depressed. My best friend and husband and I were on a weekend seminar and the two of them called me 'punchy' all weekend. This occurred for about two weeks, succinctely during the two months, I was on Yasmin.

Other side-effects were: heavy periods, spotting, weight gain, dizziness and I swear, I could have slept my life away on this pill. I was always feeling tired and like I needed more rest.

I'm now trying Loestrin 20 now - hoping that will be ok for me.

I truly believe after 4 months of research that the problem is that Yaz Yasmine cause severe anxiety coming off the pill and on the pill and it depleted or altered all of our neurotransmitters.

There are only a couple ways to fix that

1. Antidepressants
2. Alot of time like a year or more
3. Some forms of electromagnetic holistic approach but it takes 4-6 months and I hear very expensive

All I know is Yaz Yasmine changed my whole life and personality

The people taking antidepressants are off the birth control of course.........
I dont know for sure if neurotransmitters replace heal on their own Bitter RN is better without antidepressants as are some of you but it took almost a year.

Its very scary

Dear Jen

My Thyroid elevated quite high when I came off the Yaz I thought I was having heart attack
I had it last checked a month and half ago and it was 0.89

I dont know I too was wondering where it is at now
Maybe should have it checked again

Wish I understood what is making us all feel this way
Hormones?
Thyroid?
Stress?Anxiety?
Depression?

Which is it what is it???

I have tried so much
Just got adrenal support vitamins today and whole foods B6
Trying the vitamins now

Cant fall asleep on my own is so terrible

Does anyone else have insomnia or the problem where you cant fall asleep

Dejay had it the same as me but the Lexapro I believe made her gain her sleep back.

Is anyone else out there taking antidepressants and it helped alot

Dejay was a mess and the Lexapro has her out everyday and functioning pretty well and sleeping

I tried Lexapro for 4 weeks and it nearly killed me

My doctor wants me to try Celexa a mild version thinks it would help alot but Iam terrified

Anyone know?

My 23 year old daughter started Yasmin last October 2006. After about 7 weeks she was extremely anxious, unable to sleep, nauseous every morning, lost her appetite, unable to eat, and SEVERELY DEPRESSED. She went to a counselor who referred her to a psychiastrist who prescribed an antidepressant. Her internist prescribed a sleeping pill. After finding this web site & reading the postings, I alerted her that all of her symptoms seem to be related to Yasmin. The drs. agreed. Two days after stopping the Yasmin (as well as the antidepressants & sleeping aid), she was back to normal. Yasmin is extremely dangerous and should not be given out indiscriminately, without adequate warnings, and without closely monitoring the patients. My daughter almost dropped out of graduate school and came close to giving up a prestigious internship because of the adverse effects of Yasmin!!!

Kim,

please remember, that being off a bcp (not only Yasmin or Yaz) for only 6 weeks really isn't very long!! Most doctor's say, that it lasts at least up to 3 months for the chemicals of the pill to leave your body completely, because it's not only in your blood but also in your tissue, and getting out of there takes much longer than getting out of your blood!! (That's another reason why drinking loads of water is so important!!!)

So even if your hormone levels maybe at the same stage than one year ago, there maybe still the side effects of Yaz, that you're experiencing, on top of the hormonal problems you've mentioned!!

Please Kim, try to stay strong and give it more time, 6 weeks off that pill really really isn't enough to say, you have to feel well again at once!! This is no cold or a flu we are or were going through!! Hormonal problems can't be solved within a few days or weeks, it definitely takes months (should be clear alone by the fact, that our cycles last about one month!).

And if you feel that an antidepressant might help you, please give it a chance. I still don't know if you had already tried the Valerian, I've mentioned a few posts before (well, although, as bitter RN told, you should not take it together with other antidepressants as ssri or such!!). I found this a very good little helper during my hardest days. It always helped me to calm down and at night it helped me to sleep. Please think about it.

Best wishes to you and I'll send you all the strenght I have left over to stand this Kim!!

Silke

Hello everyone, I have been off yasmin for almost three months. When I went to see my doctor and told her about my anxiety/panic attacks and depression, she laughed when I suggested it might be related to this pill. Instead she suggested I see a psychologist to help me with my depression, as I am never taking antidepressants, the side effects are just not worth it.
My question is to you ladies, I only took it for three months and I have been off them for about three months but the anxiety/panic/depression episodes continue - how long will the effects of this pill last? Any thoughts?

I was on Yasmin for a year and experienced vaginal dryness, excess discharge at some times of the month and eye dryness. My doctor told me this could mean that my PH is off and that it may be an effect of my BCP. While getting on Yasmin I was really emotional for the first three months, then my body got used to it and it got a little better. The anxiety on Yasmin was always present but I started to deal with it by exercising, yoga, etc. I decided last month I wanted to go off of Yasmin. I stopped taking Yasmin. The week after I stopped, I began to notice a drastic change. I felt SO anxious, depressed, just awful. I was actually suicidal one day, thank god my mom rushed me into psychiatric care immediately. They prescribed me antidepressants even though I had no history of these problems. I found it funny that they didn't think it had anything to do with the BCP. I decided not to take the antidpressants and to go back on the birth control pill. I doubled up the first two days and resumed my pack as usual. Three weeks later (today) I feel normal again. I really want to get off of Yasmin and birth control all together but I am afraid that an episode like I had will occur again. Does anyone know if you can slowly ween yourself off of BC by cutting pills in half or taking one every other day? I know I would have to use a backup method of BC but I just want to do this so I don't experience such negative withdrawal symptoms

Hi everyone, thanks for the response about my daughter, i need to explain her symptoms a little better.
Shr's been off yasmine 5 weeks now and had 2 and a half great weeks, she was confidant, happy a complete turnaround to the depressed girl of before, she has struggled on and off for some time, she has suffered from depression, anxiety and all the problems that go with it such as nervous vomiting shaking not being able to sleep, self harming the list goes on, so when she was well it was a great relief, we thought it must be the yasmin.
She went down a little at about 3-4 days before her period by the second day of her period she was back in the deep pit of depression, now her period is all but finished and there is hardly any improvement, everything ive read on this site the women say they begin to suffer from ovulation until there period, that wasn't the case with my daughter, she has suffered terribly during her period.
That makes me question if it is yasmin cuasing hormone problems, or if it is a form of depression, ive even considered maybe bipolar which scares the hell out of me.
She is on lexapro and her doctor has yet again increased her dose to 40mg which is a worry to me, it is a concern that she is still having these problems while on antidepressants, her mood has gone up and down to the extreme, what can we do, some advice would be greatly appreciated

i've only been taking yasmin for maybe a week and a half, and i've noticed that my mood has been wayyyy down low. i suffer from depression, and i've been on antidepressants for a couple of years, but i've been a lot better for a while now. but over the last week, i had one *fairly* negative event last week with a guy i'd been seeing and suddenly it's completely deflated my whole life... i get home from work and basically curl up in a fetal position on the couch with virtually no desire to budge for the rest of the evening. my thoughts and outlook have been really black and hopeless and i start crying at the least negative thought because every little not-so-great thing blossoms into my life being completely pointless. plus i'm pretty lethargic and discombobulated. two questions: a) could one week on this pill really cause all this mayhem, and b) can i just go off of the pill? -- as in, can i just stop taking them and it won't mess my cycle all up? i haven't been on the pill for about 8 years, so i can't remember how much it affected me back then (it was ortho tri cyclen) but anyway, any input would be greatly appreciated!!!

Hi Sophie!

Different than the last post I don't think that your life is really in danger... Don't worry (sounds very weird, I know.....). But, YES that's exactly the way I felt, too, under and even about 3 - 4 MONTHS AFTER Yasmin!! And so much times I was really about to call 911 (well, though here in Germany it's 112 ;).

The Valerian you can get in every pharmacy / drugstore. It's a herbal medicine which helps you to calm down a bit. In my worst times I had them with me every day. It's not as dangerous as all of the chemical antidepressants or sedatives, which I would refuse to take, if I were you, as long as I could!!

And if the panic attack gets that heavy, that you think you REALLY can't bear it anymore, there's always the chance to call 911 to perhaps give you a slight injection or such to just help this one attack.

You should always keep in mind, that those attacks won't be there every day of your life!! I swear they will get lighter and lighter every month, I definitely KNOW what I'm talking about!!! Today I'm nearly free of them (well, I feel a change every few weeks, when my period "should" come or so, which is because of the hormonal changes a body goes through within a month!!)

Sometimes it helped me also just to hear some music, that I'm really keen on or just read a little bit or even watch TV. You should try to not stress up yourself to much with other things (doing your household or anything). Everything is unimportant besides your health at the moment!!

And you're definitely NOT bugging me, Sophie!! I see which phase you're in and I'm feeling so much with you, because I remember me sitting in the same sh.... as you do now about one Year ago!! And I know that the only thing that can help a bit at the moment is someone who understands you're problems and someone you just can talk with about that agony!!

And another thing, which I guess you are feeling, too: I always thought, I will never get through this and this is the way things will stay for the rest of my life and I always was afraid to completely loose my mind over all this!! And look at me now: I didn't loose my mind and everything is nearly completely gone!! I'm working again, going out again, today my husband and I will do a little shopping tour, which I thought I would never be able to do ever again in my life!!!

Sophie, if I could I would like to give you a big hug right now (My thoughts send you a big hug right now!!) and tell you, that it's just a phase you have to go through now until that Yasmin poison has completely gone out of your system and you're hormones finally get back in balance. And I swear, the sun will shine again for you, too, in a few months!!

Stay strong and hang in there, you have the strenght to get over this, I know!!!

Big hugs and god's bless to you!!

Feel free to E-Mail me or post here again if you're in need for help!!!

Silke

hi all

i have now been yasmin free for 14 days after taking it for 13 months.

when i first stopped i had my period for 4 days.
i also had bad migraines and shooting pain in my head when i stopped taking it.

i have been ok feeling pretty fine of it but the past 2 days i have been feeling a bit panicky and anxious especially in the evenings. HAS ANYBODY ELSE EXPERIENCED THIS AND IF SO IS THERE AN EXPLANATION.

since coming of this pill everyday i wake up thinking hope everythings going to be ok today its so scary.

to evey women out there coming off yasmin and feeling the same way as me. please dont give up and remember to take one day at a time and also remember it gets easier because everyday is a anotherday to getting this crap out of our system.

another thing that has helped me is drinking loads of water.
also whenever i feel panicky i try to keep busy which occupies my mind, which makes me not concentrate on that horrible feeling. I KNOW ITS SO FRIGHTENING BUT HANG IN THERE THINGS WILL GET BETTER!!!!!!!!!11

DONT LET THE DR PUT YOU ON ANTIDEPRESSANTS YOU KNOW WHATS CAUSING THE PROBLEM, YOU DONT NEED MORE DRUGS WHICH CAN MAKE THINGS WORSE

TAKE CARE AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL

SOPHIE XXXXXXXXX

Guest 20168--Guest 20077 here...thanks so much for your response. I am really overwhelmed at all this though... it's crazy how many women are listing their problems with Yasmin. Don't you think there should be something done with it? I do, just don't know how. I'd like to see how many women there are that do not have problems taking the pill. I just found out that quite a few of my friends take the same kind, and one didn't have any side effects...the other didn't have any problems when taking it, but said that after she stopped with the pills, she did feel better--more energized, motivated, more like herself. I am utterly frustrated at everything...and not just because the pills are making me feel that way. You read about the situation I had with the doctor...I have been seeing a counselor/phsycologist about the lack of sleep issue, and she doesn't seem to think it's Depression, as she says that people who are depressed think they are... I'd say I'm depressed, but that's not more than feeling down every day. She says she hopes to find the truth behind my problems... and I said I hope that depression isn't the truth and that it's just something simple, like Yasmin. All this just because I can't sleep. Before taking Yasmin, actually, as far as I could remember, I had a hard time with sleeping. Even as a little kid...but with this birth control, something with many great benefits, I've become exhausted, angry, frustrated, tense, anxious, stressed, overwhelmed, etc. All that. As the Doc has said, "You're depressed. Come back in 3 weeks." Yea, and about those antidepressants...I don't mind taking pills...I'd rather take an antidepressant to feel better than be taking 7 or 8 different sleeping pills in one night just to find sleep. No one seems to understand, or seems willing to understand, besides women who post on websites. Thank Heaven for you ladies and thank heaven for caring families. I wish I could show them Me...who I really am. I wish I could see who I am and feel just like me.

Guest 20077 I feel your pain. Yasmin messed with my head so much I felt I was crazy too!! But I listened to that little voice inside me that told me your not crazy its the medication. I hoped and prayed that voice was right, but I had my doubts many times. Thank goodness I have a supportive family as well because the depression got soooo bad and the physical symptoms play on top of it and I just hoped the world would end so I wouldnt have to deal with it anymore. Even when I stopped the Yasmin the depression continued and more physical side effects on top of that... But after a couple of months of stopping the poison, I swear I felt a heavy cloud lift from my brain and I felt better emotionally. I am 4 months post yasmin and occasionally I get down, mostly from the physical effects still lingering, but it is NOTHING like what I was feeling before. I was in a dangerous state of mind looking back and the doctors I went to see told me I needed to be on antidepressants as well, but being in the medical field myself I didnt want to add side effects on top of side effects, and I was pissed too because they didnt want to fix the problem, they just look at you and go, oh your depressed, lets put you on antidepressants! Time is money next patient please. Oh and by the way all my labs came back normal too, though I thought for sure I had a hypothyroid. I think this drug is BAD news. I had same symptoms as you, anxiety, didnt want to do anything or go anywhere, MOOD SWINGS, didnt want to be left alone, i think even some sleep problems, but mornings were horrible i didnt want to even get out of bed and hoped it was all just a bad nightmare. I would say talk to your doctor about what you can do about the pain, and tell the one who put you on yasmin about the depression and sleeplessness, because that is a side effect they would have you stop taking yasmin for. (depression.) Know that you are not alone. Write me and let me know what happens, K. I hope this helps cause you sound desperate! BitterRN

Dear Linzi,

Firstly throw away your pill packet, i too was just like you i went to the er three times thought i was having a heart attack and it was just full blown anxiety attack and the other lovely numbness side effects of this poison.
I too couold not work, thought i was going to die in the middle of the night, had constant death thoughts, could not cpe etc.
THERE IS HOPE, this week i am 10 weeks off this poison they call yasmin and i am feeling sooo much better. The anxiety is a lot better, the paranoia is all but gone and when ifirst was off yasmin i could not even walk past my letter box i was so fatigues and could never work out why. It took me weeks of just waslking slowly each day ( to help my anxiety) and then this past week i have managed a 5kilometer walk each day with my children (CHRISSY you would be s proud) and i am feeling like i am getting my life back. IT IS SLOW and that first two months if it were not for the girls here i dont think i could have done it, but think of it this way you stop the pill, and then you just let your body recover. If you continue taking this pill then its just another day, week month that you continue to let this hell control your body.
antidepressants are not the answer , try something natural, are you living in australia, if so i will give you some names of the things that i took, i understand you feel you need something but trust me give yourself a few months and you wont be 100% but you will be on the way to being you again.

Good Luck
Lisa
p.s all symtoms are worse at ovulation time and te week of your period remember that.

and thanks to all the girls that have constantly been there for me i could not have come this far ( and i have a way to go) without you all.......

I took Yasmin for a year to clear up my acne and regulate my periods...but I quit taking it in October because I thought it was exacerbating my anxiety and depression. (Also, I quit antidepressants in August, so that probably had more to do with why I feel like I've completely lost my mind...?)

Anyway, now I'm worried that I could possibly have PCOS...I gained like 25 lbs. in the past year (UGH!) while on Yasmin. (Not saying Yasmin was the cause - I really let my eating habits get out of control and I wish I would've stopped myself). Since I've quit Yasmin, my acne has started to creep up slowly again...My back is beginning to look like a warzone. I really hope it doesn't get worse on my face! Also, I looked in a magnifying mirror the other day, and I have BLACK hairs sprouting on my upper lip and chin!!! I have blonde hair and fair skin..This is horrible, I don't know what to do. Anyone have similar problems??
--annie

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Oh dear, it makes me so angry reading such sh...... told by those "gods in white"........

If I wouldn't have had the internet and hadn't found many sites just like this site here, I think today I would be sitting in a mental hospital taking lots of medicine, antidepressants and god knows what else, perhaps not knowing who I am and what my name is any longer..... I'm so glad I found this site in January 2005 and all my problems finally seemed to be declared at once... And getting better a little step every month after getting off this terrible pill agrees with my decision not to take this poison any longer.....!!!!!!

No doctor I had visited was able to connect my very very heavy problems (for about december 2004 to March 2005 I thought that in a few days I was about to die!!! I'm not exaggerating!!) with this hellsent drug!! Only a female endocrinologist whom I had asked about an eventual connection of my symptoms with the possible side effects of a bcp mentioned that this could be the solution and I had just to try it out and get off this pill immediately. And damn, she was so right!!!!!!

So if I hadn't had the internet I perhaps some day around there would have ended my life by myself, because I had no hope any longer for many many months to ever get better cause no doctor could tell me anything about my problems......

Well, my blood pressure was not constantly very high but went up to about 170 to 100 when I was in stress or anxious (so it happened when I was brought to the ER on January, 1st...). That had never happened to me before in my life!!

The higher heart rate I had for about 4 - 5 months after getting off Yasmin. But remember that every woman is reacting different!! And I had been taking this Yasmin sh.... for 5 years!! The only thing that might help you and give some comfort until your heart rate goes down to normal places might be, to keep in mind, that it's not dangerous (I think you had been done many tests at many doctors before, and everyone of them told you that you're ok...!??). It's very unpleasant but doesn't do any harm to your body so far. That was the thing that helped me not to be too anxious about this symptom (ok, although this was not my biggest problem, there were much heavier symptoms I worried about than this...).

Not to mention, that I had been taking my pulse a hundred times a day, too... ;-)

But today my heart rate is always about 65 to 75 and everything about that has gotten normal again. Sometimes I have little heart palpitations again, but not too heavy and just for a short time...

Hope this helps.

All the best to you ladies out there, and keep us updated. This is the only thing that might help through those hard times!!!

I'll pray for a better and healthier new year for all of us!!

Silke

I am in shock after reading all of your experiences...I began taking Yasmin one year ago to help clear up my acne, and it's truly been the worst year of my life. I've finally put 2 and 2 together. It did clear up my skin, but I'd rather have acne than be CRAZY. I have 3 yellow pills left, and after those, I am DONE.

I have a history of anxiety and depression, but it has never been this SEVERE. I quit my antidepressants in July and it's gone downhill since then. I give myself extreme panic attacks by sitting around and constantly dwelling on all of the stupid things I've done and said in the past. I did poorly in my first year of college (I was on Yasmin the whole time). I've quit jobs because I thought I couldn't handle my anxiety on the job. I've decided to go back to college in the spring, but I could kick myself for not doing better.

I was very fit before Yasmin, now I've gained 20 lbs.!!! I just can't stop eating. I will do anything to lose the weight I've gained.

I'm so happy I've decided to quit these pills, but I'm TERRIFIED about the withdrawal effects! It seems a lot of you have gained weight and had anxiety after quitting...could it be possible that I won't experience that because I've had such a bad experience while ON the pill? Now I'm having a panic attack thinking about the withdrawal!

I'm sitting here praying daily that it's the darn Yasmin causing me my grief (putting it mildly). I was on it for almost 2 years. In that time I went through a divorce and then some time later, a nasty long term relationship. I went on and off antidepressants and nothing seemed to help. My side effects? Which ones DIDN'T I have? Depression, severe anxiety, incredible mood swings, break-outs, IBS, headaches... But the only thing that really caused any problems for me was the anxiety and depression. No matter what I did, who I was with, my life (on the insde) was a living hell. I worried about EVERYTHING. My heart races constantly. I shake and tremble with fear when I really hit my low points. I was beginning to think that I was really going crazy. Then it dawned on me (one day recently) that a girlfriend mentioned she couldn't take Yasmin cuz it "made her crazy" and I thought, "Could it be that this pill has been making me feel this way for the past couple years?" sure did. Why do I know this? Cuz there was a period of time when I went off it for 2 months and I felt better than I had felt in years. I was happy. Nothing bothered me. I could concentrate. I had energy and motivation. I wanted to exercise. I was simply my good ol' self! But, then I got into a new relationship and thought I better go back on the pill. Well, we've been together for a month now. I've been on the pill for a little over a month and guess what? In my mind, my life is back to being a living hell. And it just didn't make sense cuz everything was going so wonderfully with me and my new beaux. I lay awake one night, ALL night long while I was with him, just feeling so ANGRY at everything and anything.. and at him. So, has my thoughts wondered, they wondered onto the possibility that my pill was making me feel this way AGAIN. So, the next morning, I woke up and immediately got online and typed in "Yasmin side effects" and this is the first site that pops up. THANK GOD!! I am NOT CRAZY!! Now, I've been off the terrible pill for a week now. I am still suffering from most of the side effects but I am trying everything and anything to get through these next couple of weeks before I do something stupid and ruin this wonderful relationship I am in. I want to be my ol' self again so I can ENJOY my new beaux... cuz he really is good to me!

My thoughts and prayers are with all of you ladies that are experiencing these same "wonderful" side effects of Yasmin. No one, not even your worst enemy, deserves to feel this way! Best of luck!