Yasmin and bcp

Wow you are all a bunch of complainers who try and blame XYZ on Yasmin which probably have ABSOLUTELY nothing to do with the pills. I have bee diagnosed with PCOS and have been on hormone therapy since age 15, first zovia, which worked well enough but did not get rid of a lot of my symptoms, only lessened them somewhat, so now I am on yaz. My depression has completely subsided, I feel GREAT and only had some nausea which almost EVERYONE gets when taking a hormone therapy birth control pill. Trust me, if you are going to have SIDE EFFECTS it is not going to happen 4 YEARS LATER, please.... grow up and take responsibility for yourselves, rather than trying to blame a pill

I have been reading all these posts and now I am unsure if I should try Yasmin or not....I was on cyclen but I had been having midcycle spotting so I have a prescription for Yasmin that I was going to pick up today to start this Sunday and now I don't know what to do. My friends pointed out that these kind of sites only cater to people who want to complain but those that are happy with the product don't usually post which may be a majority of the users which I suppose is true, but there is just so many complaints!! I am very confused now.

Wow, I am so shocked to read all your ladies' comments!

I just started using YASMIN about a week ago and suddenly I started feeling very anxious and depressed, at first I thought that it was because I recently moved to my current apartment and had a lot of stress.

Then the more I thought about it the more I realized that whatever was happening was not normal because that's now who I am. I felt it had something to do with the pill, but I didn't think the side effects could be so awful. I have breast tenderness right now.

I just went to my GYN today and let her know what was happening and all she said was that it was too early for me to be having those side effects and gave be a paper to go and get a blood pregnancy test done.

I am 27 yrs old and I had been off BC for a long time, but the pills I used years ago did not give me any of those side effects.

I plan on going back to the DR ASAP and let her know that I want a different BCP.

I was taking Yasmin until mid 2007 and took a break until 3 months ago. Since starting with Yasmin again I've been feeling very unwell. Constant nausea, sever fatigue, hair loss which I have never experienced before, stomach cramps, no energy, weight loss, kidney infections. I have been to the doctor twice in the last week presenting with these symptoms. I have 5 pills left in my third pack of Yasmin and I'm stopping today. Yasmin should be taken off the market- there must have some change to the manufacturing process since I last took Yasmin last year.

Thank God for this website because it confirms my feelings that Yasmin was causing very negative side effects. I gained 15 pounds in about 2 months, feel very agitated most of the time, very sore breast most of the month, decreased sex drive, oversentitivity to touch, and sometimes feel shakey and have dizzy spells. I have broken out in a rash on now several spots on my arms, and have had little bumps all over my back almost since the beginning of taking Yasmin. Today, because of reading these postings, I have realized all this negative crap has come around since I started taking this pill. The rash on my arms didn't start until 3 months after being on the pill and it is at its worst right after I take the pill in the morning. By bedtime it is very light, and by the next morning it is almost gone. I understand that all drugs effect people differently, but from my experience, this is a very scarey bcp and everyone should think really hard before trying it.

Hi ,
I am 16 years old and I'm taking Yasmin for a month without my mom knowing it.
She just found out that I was taking it so she got really pissed off .
And I hate to see her like that because it makes me really sad.
The first week I hadn't have any side effects but after reading all this it makes me scared.
Does it depend on the person or does it takes time to develop these side effects ?
PLEASE I NEED A REPLY ASAP !! :)
Because I need to know if I should stop it...

I started on Yasmin about 3 years ago and about 4-6 months on it- I started experiencing ringing in my ears. The ringing started with just 6 hours at a time maybe every other month- very minor in the beginning. Gradually the ringing would last longer and would occur more frequently. I saw an ENT Dr., hearing tests, MRI, you name it... There was nothing that came up and then I started doing some investigating in trying to make connections with the pill and the ringing. The pamphlet that it came with said that you could experience a deficiency in Vitamin B, B12.. whatever. So, I thought that I could start taking the B Vitamin and perhaps that would help.. I haven't gone off of it yet, because this pill has been amazing for me.. I don't have mood swings, heavy periods, bad cramps on it.. I love it compared to Ortho and the generic.. I felt like I was going insane on those! I think I just need to get off Yasmin altogether because of this ringing in my ear.. I really am trying to search for some answers!! If anyone has experienced ringing in their ears with Yasmin and never had it before- please email me... My doctors say that there is no connection and if everything else is great with the pill to stay on it; they say I have Meniere's Disease.. Also, I started getting a rash on the front of both of my calf's.. nothing to serious.. they say that it shouldn't appeared right away, instead of half a year later.. I'm at a loss.. like I said this pill has been great...

Like so many others, I am happy that I found this website. I was convinced that I was pregnant, because I was bloated, gaining weight and had 'odd' sensations in my breasts, similar to that of 'milk let-down' while breast-feeding, very tired, terrible gas. I have been on Yasmin for almost 2 months, as my previous bcp is now off the market. After I read the posts here, I called my Ob-Gyn to ask her to recommend something else. She told me that she has been getting a lot of complaints about Yasmin and was able to recommend a change. I have not experienced the depression and anxiety that others mentioned, but I am sure those may have started and if I had not read the posts, I would not have made the connection.

I am 17 years old and before I started taking Yaz my periods were heavy and my cramps were so painful I could barely move, but it only lasted 3-4 days. I am on my second pack of Yaz and my period was a week late, when it did finally start I was glad that it was light, and my cramps are not as painful, but it has lasted 12 days and is still going. ( I am going to ask my doctor about that at my next appointment.) I don't know about loss of sex drive cause I am still a virgin and am only taking Yaz for fewer and lighter periods. I haven't smelled anything odd yet and I hope I never do. But I did get headaches when on my period and I was hoping Yaz would help that too, but it hasn't worked so far. Reading what other people have wrote has scared me a little cause right now my only problem is the length of my period. I hope I don't get anymore bad symptoms. Is there another kind of BCP I can take that doesn't cause so many problems? Cause I don't want to wait for these problems to happen to me, I want to prevent them!

I'm soo glad I found this site!! Now I know I am not really crazy... I was on ortho tri cyclen for 6 months then started Yasmin and have been taking it for 3 years to help regulate my period and since starting it my side effects just keep getting worse and worse. I'm 21 years old, very active, outgoing...but I will have SEVERE depression, feelings of hopelessness, bloating, crazy appetite (one day I won't eat at all, the next I'm eating everything), and for the past 3 years I easily get yeast infections and the part that really gets me is that I'm not sexually active and have never been, I only went on the pill to regulate my period. ALSO, since starting the pill I have had really bad problems with my contact lenses...so bad I couldn't even wear them and I had to get lasik surgery because glasses are not an option with me being a gymnastics coach. But all of this started when I got on Yasmin. I enjoy having a short, light, and regular period but the side effects have made me look to another because pill YAZ. My doctor said this pill should help with my symptoms of depression, poor appetite, etc. But is it even worth switching, I wish I didn't have to take anything but I'm afraid I will become irregular again. If I didn't have to be on the pill I certainly wouldn't be!!! Do ALL bcp have the same side effects? Should I try the shot, or the ring? This will definitely be my last month on Yasmin but I don't know what else to take!?

I am on my third month of Yasmin, and while my periods have been lighter and shorter, I have had the following side effects: loss of appetite, upset stomach, irregular bowel movements, hair loss, hair texture change, and a couple bouts of inexplicable depression/anger/hopelessness. I plan to change to another bcp as soon as possible.

My daughter has been taking Yasmin for about 3 months now and is a totally different person. She is moody, negative, hurtful, argumentative, and basically very angry. I have never seen her like this and was wondering if it could be caused by this pill or is it just a normal 16 year old growing up stage. I have been targeted and feel very lost as how to help her. Has anyone else had these types of side effects? I thought the pill was supposed to help PMT not aggravate it. Please help me help my daughter!

WOW!!!. I'm in my 40s.. Ive been on various Bcp for about 10yrs due to a fibroid that causes me to bleed too much and I got anemic. I have been on Yasmin for a year-- and didn't like it so the Dr, suggested I try Yaz. So I did for 6 months.WHOA!! Major muscle tightness that got progressively worse-so much that I couldn't even bend over to tie my shoes. I ached all over, headaches and tired. I also had muscle cramps at the least provocation. I notice that the weeks I had my period and wasn't taking the pill daily, I felt much better. IM very athletic and as a former dancer was very flexible. Ive been of about a week and a half and really feel a difference already. I think Ill Detox and see what my body does. This is crazy.. Anyone else have this???

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??

i am on my last pack of pills for yasmin. my gyn put me on loestrin starting next month. i hope i have a better experience with that than yasmin. at first i didnt notice any side effects at all. then within the past couple of months (ive been on yasmin for about 6 months) i have noticed so many problems.
i am prone to migraines, but i am getting migraines at least twice a week which has severely effected my work and school life.
i had an ear infection.
ive gained close to 20 lbs (!!!!!) when in the past few months my lifestyle has been healthier and more active than it was when i started this pill. it just doesnt make sense to gain so much when i have improved my lifestyle..
i find i am moody and depressed, if something bad happens, even if its something little, i either get so uncontrollably angry or sad and i cry all the time. im not normally this emotional, ive even cried at work. its so embarrassing.
ive also noticed that after any meal i feel like i am extremely bloated and my stomach starts hurting. it doesnt matter what kind of food, it could be healthy, greasy, veggies, or cereal..no matter what my stomach always hurts to much afterwards.
i am also getting night sweats and horrible back pain, especially when i go to bed.
i am gassy, and my cramps last for my whole period. none of those things ever happened before i was on this pill.
my libido went down, however i think this is due to the weight gain. i have never felt so disgusting in my whole life.
i have gone through many pills, and the nuvaring as well. none of them have had side effects on me as yasmin.
does anyone have any suggestions for other pills for me to try? i am willing to give loestrin a chance, especially because it is a lo dose pill..and i know that everyones bodies are different. i just feel so lost..i hope this new pill works out better.

I have had bad skin since my teens (I am 30 now) and started taking Yaz (a lighter form of Yasmine) in February. I noticed I had gained a small amount of weight (5 pounds) but Yaz didn't do a whole lot for my acne. I got onto Yasmine in June and there are both pros and cons to this bcp. Pros: clear skin that makes me feel attractive and confident, regulated moods, lighter & shorter periods. Cons: I gained 10 pounds that I cannot lose, severe bloating, water retention, gas, night sweats & I cannot sleep through the night anymore. The worst is the weight gain. I work out 5 days a week & do an hour of cardio each time & it does nothing. In this case, though I love my clear skin, the cons outweigh the pros and I have discontinued my use of Yasmine. My sister is on Yasmine, has very very few side effects and loves it. Just goes to show that every woman's body, even in the same family, is different.

I took Yaz for 7 days. In that amount of time, I began experience the most horrific symptoms I have experienced in my life. They included: chest pains, nausea, vomiting, arm pain, and the feeling of imminent death (these caused me to go to the emergency room since they are classic heart attack symptoms for a woman); leg and arm weakness; lethargy; migrane; panic attacks; severe insomnia, diarrhea, and vision problems that caused my contact lens perscription to change and night time vision had profound halos when driving, etc. I was literally unable to stomach any normal food portions I was so nauseous. I normally run 3 miles and could not even make it to the gym for weeks. I was afraid to stay home alone with my 4 year-old and 17 month-old for fear something would happen to me while they were in my care. At the ER they found low potassium levels (which makes no sense given Yaz has a potassium sparring diuretic component). In another blood test, I had elevated iron, which I have never had previously.

I am 35 and have been on bcp's periodically for 12-15 years. I have never had any of these symptoms prior to this experience. I have never had anxiety, depression, or any other underlying health condition. I immediately stopped taking the pills once I made the connection. So far, my recovery has been slow, but at least it is improving. I resent that my ob/gyn and internist both said that the pill would be out of my system in 24 hours. The effects are clearly long lasting (I am approximately 7 weeks off of Yaz).

Finally, my eye doctor, of all people, said that he has seen and heard of people having problems similar to mine and that it was understandable that I would have anxiety when I felt like I was dying from a heart attack. No one perscribing this medication bothered to tell me of the diuretic component or any component that was going to affect depression. I am attorney and have always thrived under pressure, not turned into a panic attack ridden mess like this medication caused.

As for the previous post who stated these are common symptoms described by women, at 35, I know the difference between my normal body function and the hell that began when I started taking Yaz. Unless you have experienced this, then you clearly would not understand. I appreciate that Yaz and Yasmin have worked well for some, but that clearly has not been my personal experience. So, I write this not to discourage someone who has had a positive experience, but to provide support for anyone else who has suffered like I have.

Oh my goodness, you'd think this stuff was evil in a pill. ALL birth control pills, and hormonal methods of birth control (and medication for that matter) has side effects. Everyone's body is different. I have severe migraines, but taking a pill with a higher estrogen level makes it much worse. Not to mention Yasmin was my fourth try before I was comfortable on the pill again after a long time BCP free. I suffered through break-through bleeding, constant bleeding, turning into satan, constant PMS symptoms, infections, migraines, you name it. Finally, I found Yasmin and I lost a little weight and my periods remained the same (sometimes too long, sometimes too painful, but that never changed with any of them -- and I hear the same thing with the new "miracle" pill Yaz), and I was fine. I have spent time off of Yasmin, simply because I was ill and on antibiotics so I didn't fill a couple of months worth, and I noticed no difference in the before and after (other than having to use condoms in the meantime).

I've been on Yasmin for three years, absent two months. Everyone's body is different, everyone reacts differently, and this site is NOT this place to get the information you need to make a decision about medication. A starting point maybe, then go off the pill, see how you fill (talk to your doctor first). What's not being taken into consideration is other medications these users are on, ages, individual physical illnesses or situations, or other things that could be reasons or interferences with the pill. Good luck ladies. :)

Oh, and an acne tip... rather than putting more chemicals into your bodies, try Proactive. I had AWFUL skin in areas that nothing worked for, from cheapest to most expensive to prescribed. I started using it in 1996 or so and my skin is perfect. I use it now because it keeps my face clear and makes it radiant, and I don't even have to use it every day. I don't have to wear ANY make up on my skin at all. Something to think about instead of putting worrying about trying to find a BCP that works for you and for your skin. :]

Hi, reading all of this is so freaking me out!!! IV been on YASMIN for about a month now and was meant to get my 1st period on it yesterday, but it never arrived!! Also last week Monday I came to know of BREAK THROUGH BLEEDING!! It was the worst WEEK of my life, I thought I was going to die, I have never bled so much, EVER, It made my whole body lame, every one who saw me thought I was seriously sick. The cramps are back pain didn’t help either, it last for about 4- 5 days and then just suddenly stopped. So I can’t say I am eagerly awaiting my period this week, if it comes… I don’t know what’s up with that.
My face hasn’t really improved much I have had 2 huge mountains that left like it was under my skin, extremely painful! But other than that, I believe everything is ok. My sex drive has sky rocketing, in fact it’s almost embarrassing, ha ha ha ha. My moods have also really changed, but unlike a lot of you, mine has improved and so has my weight, I feel and look so slim!! I think I’m happy. BUT very scared after reading all of this now… keeping my fingers X

I thought I was alone in all this. I have been on Yasmin for about 2 years now. I have severe endometriosis and tend to get ovarian cysts and my doctor suggested I try it because she said the progesterin in this pill helps to inhibit cyst formation. Reading all the postings makes me feel relieved about how I have been feeling because maybe it IS the pill, but also makes me feel like what should I do or take instead? All the mental anguish described by others here is what I too have been experiencing. The depression, sometimes extreme anxiety, not wanting to go out or even be around others, the weight gain and lethargy. Well, I think I need to do more research and/or just take my chances and go back to my other BCP. Thanks everyone for sharing!!

I was originally put on Yasmin because of my PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). I was taking it for about 2-3 years and just stopped about a month and 1/2 ago and I am experiencing horrific headaches. They are sudden and on the left side behind my eye. There is no warning. They are like migraines but they are piercing pain not throbbing. Could the cessation of taking Yasmin be the cause? I hurt almost daily and I'm so sick of it. Also I haven't had a period yet.

My experience with Yasmin was teriible. I am 22 years old and this is my first BCP. I am in the military and have a very jumpy period. I skip months at a time. My doctor put me on progesterone pills for 10 days to boost my estrogen so that my period would come. Talk about an emotional ten days. After my cycle was over I started Yasmin. I was only taking these pills for a week and I was always tired, lethargic, depressed, had horrible mood swings and no sex drive. I didnt want to do anything but sleep. I felt bloated and desgusting. Between the estrogen and these pills I felt a significant change in my personality and didint like it at all. I threw out a six month supply and after only being off of them a few days I am much happier and getting back to normal. STAY AWAY FROM YASMIN!!!

All I can say is WOW!!!! I started taking Yasmin to lighten my menstrual cycle. I was severely anemic and had heavy cycles due to fibroid tumors. I was not sexually active but my doctor decided to have me start taking BCP's to regulate my cycle. Everything went fine for the first few months. But the last two months I've been feeling depressed and crying and I had no idea depression was a side effect. Also, I am starting my actual flow on day 18 of the pill pack. My past experience with BCP was Ortho Novum and my flow started about 2 days after the last active pill. Now it's before I finish the pills and last for about eight days. This just started during the last two months.

The last two months as well I've been feeling depressed, and crying....which I never do. When I researched yasmin, I didn't see depression as a side effect. If I did, I ignored it because I have taken meds without any problems in the past. I wonder if anyone has had a problem with the "irregular" menstrual cycle.

When a class action lawsuit is filed, let me know....this drug should be taken of off the market immediately. We started all of this with an OB/GYN that prescribed this “miracle pill” and now have had to go not only to our primary doctor, but also a psychiatrist, gastrenologist, college campus counselors, psychologists, psychiatrist, and the campus medical doctors; All the while, accumulating enormous doctor bills. All the doctors say, "No, Yasmin won't cause those problems" (except the college campus doctors..wonder why? Hmm.. could it be that they are not in private practice?)....well, I beg to differ. Everyone needs to give this website to their doctor so the doctors can hear from the patients that have taken this drug, and not listen to the pharmaceutical companies that are pushing this drug to be the "miracle pill". Maybe if enough people complain and go to the media, we can get rid of this drug!
My daughter who is 18 was put on Yasmin because of irregular periods, hormonal imbalance, etc. We were told it was the new “miracle pill”. It will make you loose weight, regulate your periods, clear up acne, you name it, it will fix it. Yeah, right.
She started taking this pill in March 2007. She was off at college but called to tell me she was experiencing horrible headaches, behind the eyes. She complained about her stomach hurting, but we just figured it was the stress of freshman year at college. Then she said she got where she couldn’t eat when she went to a restaurant. When she came home in May for the summer, I noticed a total personality change. For example, she was always a neat freak, and now she wouldn’t clean her room. The first day when she drove home, she started crying she was so mad about the traffic. Yes, she has always had a little road rage, but this was ridiculous.
By June, not only could she not be in crowds, like at a restaurant, but now she is having full blown panic attacks and IBS. We called the OBGYN and they said, “Yasmin won’t cause this, go see your primary doctor”. I knew that the only thing that had changed with her was taking the YASMINE. I knew it had something to do with all of this so I “Googled Yasmin” and this website (http://www.medications.com/se/yasmin) was the first one I looked at. All of her symptoms matched everyone else’s! I am so glad we found this website, it explained everything and I had her to stop Yasmin immediately.
So we went to the primary doctor, explained about the Yasmin and how we thought it was the culprit of everything. Of course this doctor also says, “Yasmin won’t cause that”. We told him to look it up on the internet and see how there are over 3000 complaints on this drug, more than any of the other drugs on the market.
Besides the emotional problems she starting having, her pulse and blood pressure was sky high, so he puts her on medicine for that, and puts her on an anxiety medicine and sends her to a psychiatrist. She is very thirsty all the time, and develops IBS. She can’t eat without having pains in her stomach. So, now we’ve have gone from having just irregular periods, to all of the above, plus a psychiatrist.
The psychiatrist doubles her medicine (and puts her Pamine for the IBS) because the panic attacks are gone, but she still is having a lot of nervousness, anxiety, can’t sleep at night, crazy thoughts, worrying all the time, etc. A month later he changes her medicine again, to Effexor. The first 2 weeks, she does okay, but the packet doubles the strength after 2 weeks. It takes 4 weeks for it to take full effect. Right after she doubles this medicine, it is like her senses are on hyper-mode. She can taste everything that is in her food (chili powder, seasonings, etc…), taste the metal in water, and she can hear someone’s phone vibrating, in another room.
Then she goes back to college at the end of August 2007, and it’s horrible. The Effexor is having bad, bad side effects. We called the psychiatrist that she was using at home and he doubled the dose. That was the worse thing they could’ve done. The side effects were worse than ever. I had her to immediately go to a psychiatrist on campus. She told him the whole story and he believed her! Needless to say we switched doctors. He then lowered her dose back down to ½ a dose and hopefully can slowly get her off of all this medicine.
The newest thing she has developed is being hypoglycemic. The campus psychiatrist sent her to a campus medical doctor and he told her that they would get to the bottom of this. He tested her for everything under the sun. Low blood sugar is the only thing they found. But, she hasn’t taken the Yasmin since May. No telling what the results would have came back like if it was done at the time she was taking Yasmin.
Thank goodness she has counselors and doctors there at the campus that believes that Yasmin can cause all of these problems, and are working with her. From what I have read from the people that have used this medicine, although most doctors do not agree, Yasmin takes like 6 months to get out of your system. I think I am going to believe the testimonials of the people who take this medicine, over a doctor who prescribes it.
If everyone goes to the media, their doctors, the FDA, congressmen, and make them aware of these horrible effects, surely we can get this drug off of the market! Does anyone know a class action lawyer that would pursue this? For my child to have to go through all of this is ridiculous, not to mention costly. What do we know of the long term effects this drug will have if it is doing all of this when you first start taking it?
If you have the same concerns as me about this drug, and would be interested in looking into a class action lawsuit, please email: ****** I would be interested to see how many would want to pursue this.

Like many ladies here, I'm finding it a HUGE relief to come across this web site. Makes me feel sorry for all the people who haven't yet realized that physical and mental problems are being caused by Yaz. I was on the verge of tears at any given moment from my first cycle of Yaz. I was waking up at night and worrying about the most inane things, which I'd never done before I started this particular BCP. I'm really excited to get back to myself. Condoms are looking better than they ever did before; I'll miss the feeling of security from BCPs, but they're not worth this one bit.

I've been taking Yasmin for almost 2 years now. I was first put on it after being diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome). In the passed few months, I have found myself so tired, restless, having insomnia, anxiety, acute panick attacks, hives all over from the anxiety. I thought I was losing it. My only dilemma now is that if I do go off the BCP, I am at risk again for no periods, high blood pressure, weight gain, diabetes, cancer...alot of stuff. So, anyone else out there with PCOS who has had these symptoms, and gone of the BCP..what did you have to do in order to keep your horomones in balance?

I have been on Yaz for a few weeks. The side effects are awful. I am 31 and haven't been on BCP's since 1999. I sat down with my NP to explore different options for dealing with my terrible periods and she thought Yaz was the answer.
Well I have averaged about 4 hours of sleep a night since starting it. Because Yaz is like a diuertic I am up peeing all night as well.I feel anxious and panicky. Normally I am very laid back but feel like I am going nuts.The thing that drives me the most crazy is having restless legs while lying in bed. Time to get my potassium checked? I will be stopping this med as nothing should make you feel this bad. Not worth it.As a nurse I would never tell my patients to take this. I feel like an idiot for starting a pill that 1000's of women on the internet are complaining about.Of course you would never see the positive comments. But this pill sucks!

Thank you Ladies! I was up in the middle of the night last night researching YAZ because I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I woke up shaky, heart racing, sweating. It just wouldn't go away. Almost got my daughter and husband up to take me to ER. Then I read all the entries in this blog and was convinced it was the BCP. I got into see a doc in the am. She wasn't my normal doctor, so all I wanted was an overall check. She did EKG, blood and just an overall check -Normal. However, I did have a high pulse. That fluctuates throughout the day anyway, but again it was fast even at rest into the next day. I asked her if YAZ was the cause for this and she said probably not because I was only on it for 1 week. I had switched from being on OrthoTriCyclen. I switched because of depression, long periods, bloating, cramping... I might as well had been on no BCP than OTC. The strange thing was I had been on OTC for 5 years prior to having my first child (3 years ago) and loved it! Which makes me think your body chemistry is always changing. Anyway, my first week on Yaz was MISERABLE! I had constipation, dry mouth, exessive urnation, deydrated eventhough drinking 8 glasses of H2O a day, shaky muscles, muscle fatigue, muscle cramping, low libido, sweating, hot at night, loss of appetite, feeling cloudy in the head- like I hadn't slept for a couple of days, but not tired and then finally the heart issue. I went off of it and I slept like a champ last night. I think I still must have some residual hormones in my body but am convinced it will go away in the next week or so. I wanted to mention at the doc's office when I asked her about the potassium increase that could happen with YAZ, she had no idea that was a side effect. So, she wanted to find out more and had a little book, like a mini phone book, full of all the drugs and their side effects. She got to the page and was astounded by the number of side effects for a BCP. It took up a whole page of the book. She told me she had not seen so many side effects for a BCP ever! I got my potassium checked and it turned out fine. But, if you do have muscle issues go get that checked, b/c potassium is a big component to muscle health. What is odd is sister is on YASMIN and loves it! as well as many of her friends. She told me I would have really sore breasts the first couple of months, but that was about it.

I have been on yasmin for about 14 months. the first 6-9 months were great. Now i have terrible pains "inside" it feels like a knife stabbing with no rhyme or reasin for when they occur. OB says its adhesions..which I have had before...but not like this. Last month I bled 1 week after my period and bleed for 2 weeks. Went to the OB she said its just a side effect. Well I am tired, sore breasts, stomach pains, no sex drive. My husband is so upset he thinks its him. We argued terribly. Well I went back to OB yesterday becuase I was still bleeding. She did an exam, and an ultrasound. No looks for cancer, no endometriosis. She said that the birth control cause cells that are normally in the uterus to grow outside on my cervix and they were bleeding. She recommended that I come off BC and see if the bleeding stops. If it doesnt then I have to go back in Jan for her to cauterize my cervix ( essentially burning off those cells) which I am not too keen on. Please let me know if you hav these side effect. I can give u my home email address

There are a lot of negative experiences on here, so I thought I should share my positive one. I have been on birth control off and on for about 6 years. I was on orthotricyclin for the majority of the time-off and on. After getting horrible near migraine headaches on orthotricylin every Friday before my period for about 5 months in a row my doctor and I decided to try a different pill. I was on trilevelin (sp) for 4 months and gained a few pounds and felt easily irritated and emotionally different-just cried easily and not myself. I've been on Yasmin for a month and have had a great experience. I lost the water weight I'd gained and just verified with my boyfriend that my PMS was hardly even there. Everyone is different and has different hormone levels, but so far I am very happy with Yasmin. I've been migraine free tthe whole month!

I have been on Yasmin for about a month and a half, and the last three weeks have been awful. I have migraines, am tired, finding myself short of breath (while sitting down) and completely frustrated with my day to day life. I have extreme mood swings and the littlest things will set me off. I have gotten into fights with my bf and family, and I start crying because I am so frustrated. I never though BCP would have such severe side effects. I am very glad I found this website as I wasn’t too sure what was causing such frustration. The funny thing is that I started taking these pills to control my PMDD right before my period. And now I am moody all the time. I am going to stop taking these pills and see my doc

I am so happy to have found this website. I started taking Yasmin 2 months ago and was only on it for 1 month. I began a round of Prednisone at the same time due to hurting my back. Well, while tapering off of the pred (going into my 3rd week of Yasmin) I had one night of NO SLEEP. In the morning my muscles were so tight and painful I could barely walk. My heart was racing, I was so dehydrated I could barely speak, my vision was blurry, I couldn't form sentences clearly my head was in such a fog and I had lost 5lbs literally overnight ( I am already extremely thin naturally, so this is not a good thing for me) I was skin and bones. My normally thick, shiny hair became dry, thin and brittle and my skin broke out horribly and I had painful diarrhea. This is just the physical symptoms. The mental symptoms were out of control. I was crying all the time, yelling at everyone and just being completely irrational. I truly thought I was dying. My doctor thought maybe I was having withdrawal from the pred. This continued for a week until I started researching about Yasmin. I immediately stopped taking it after reading the side effects people were having as they were the same as mine. Strangely, they were also the same as prednisone withdrawal, the only problem was that I was off the pred and still having symptoms. Over the following 2 weeks, they slowly got better. Then, it all started again for my next cycle just to a much lesser degree since I was off the BCP. This makes me certain that my symptoms were absolutely from the BCP and not the Pred. I am reaching the end of my period today and my weight has gone back up and I am again starting to feel better. I just hope next month will be normal again. The thing that makes me the most angry is that my doctor refuses to believe that any of it had to due with the BCP. I have been on plenty of BCP's and NEVER experienced anything like this. This stuff needs to be pulled from the shelves or doctors need to be more aware of it's potential side effects and quit discounting our intelligence. Thank you everyone for your posts.

Hi, I'm 23 and have been on Yaz since the middle of May and i've been crazy ever since. Im in the middle of my 4th pack and i'm only getting worse. I've had crying fits, days of depression, feeling like I want to die, no libido, mood swings, irritability, snapping at loved ones, anxiety (which i've NEVER experienced before in my life), and restlessness. My gyn isn't in until tomorrow, but I may just call the office today and see if I can talk to someone else. I dont know if it's ok to just stop your pack mid-cycle, but i'm about to just to keep my sanity. Seriously, having "no-worries" sex a few times a week isn't worth feeling like you're gonna go nuts the majority of the time. Birth control pills are such a great invention, too bad they have to make women miserable!!!

Okay, I recently made a post on July 26th about how I loved Yasmin and have not had a problem with it. I would now like to revoke that post. Since I wrote that I have been feeling totally crazy! I snap at my 2 year old son, my fiance and my coworkers. That is not me! I do not do things like that. I'm usually a very happy person and very strong emotionally. Lately the most stupid stuff has me crying my eyes out. I seem to pick fights with my fiance, which I don't do. We never fight. And it was only last night that I sat down with him and told him that I feel like I'm going insane. We thought about it and the only thing that has really changed in the past 6 months is the fact that I started taking Yasmin. We discussed it and I have decided to stop taking this BCP for at least a month to see what happens with my mood. I'm hoping it works. If anyone has any suggestions about how to do this smoothly, please let me know. And good luck to you all!

UPDATE:
I went to my gyn on Monday and told the nurse how I was feeling and that I wanted to switch BCPs. She spoke to the dr. and he refused to switch me. He said if I didn't like it to just stop it but that he wasn't going to give me a prescription for another BCP. That it was too soon to see any side affects and to give it another two cycles. She later said it might be the sudden surge of horomones that might make me feel that way. I told her I don't know but i felt really mad and not myself although it was two weeks everybody else noticed a huge negative change in me as well. Mind you I am a brand new patient and this was the first prescription this dr gave me. I had not take BCP for alomst 10 years so I don't know what his problem was. Now the only thing I can think of is I am very overweight... ... but aside from that I don't have any other health problems. so is this the only pill that can be prescribed to obese women?????? I am so disappointed in my dr, I was excited that he was only 2 blocks from me but I am switching.

I am still trying to figure out all this yasmin stuff. I am the one whose 13 yr old daughter was given yasmin as sorta a favor because she was having long periods. It seem to me that yes, yasmin or yaz whatever the difference is works well for lots of people. Thats great i'm glad to hear that. What about the handful of women/girls that it does not work well for even potentially dangerous. I am starting to thinkl that the ones that have had bad reactions to this are the ones that didn't have good followup with thier obgyn. It seems to me that there is sometimes no association made with bcp and some of these adverse reactions. I mean when my daughter started to get sick and stuff I took her to the pediat. not the ob/soccer mom. I just happened to stumble upon this site in my own desperation to figure out why my daughter has been and is so chronically tired all the time. I do wish when I recieved these sample packs of strong hormones that i would have been told of things to look for. Honestly ,I don't think this doctor knew of these side effects. I will say they stopped the bleeding she hasn't been on yasmin since the end of march and still hasn't had a period. I was told this should be out of her system by now. I don't believe that though.

Wow, reading all these postings has affirmed my suspicion that Yasmin is the source for my insane PMS. I'm 21 years old now; I went on the pill when I was 15. Everything started out alright. I had never noticed any problems until recently. I would occasionally get depressed, but it never seemed to last too long. Over the past few years my PMS has gotten increasingly out of control. I don't really have many physical side effects, just emotional ones. Exactly one week before I start the white placebo pills I become EXTREMELY irritable, moody, and depressed. I will have occasional anxiety attacks where I feel like I'm going out of my mind. Also, the bouts of depression during this week bring about horrible suicidal thoughts. It's become very clear that this is the only time this every really happens. I can't believe it took me so long to realize it was the BCP's. Before that 14th day pill, I am a happy, upbeat person who would never even dream of harming myself. Then when that week hits, I become so overly dramatic, depressed, and cry a lot.
Another thing I've noticed is that the only time I have any libido is during my period (the one week that I am not taking these synthetic hormones!). This, of course, is quite inconvenient, as I'm sure you can imagine. Out of despair and internet searching, I found this website:
http://www.pmscure.com/?gclid=CLvdzYrdxI0CFRlmWAod-GbvLQ
At first it sounded kind of goofy, but then I read all of it, and was completely shocked! I just downloaded it, and intend to read "What Nobody Told Women About Birth Control Pills" first! Apparently, the longer you take these synthetic hormones (BCP's), the more damage they do to your body, and the less likely you are to regain your normal, natural production of hormones. This doctor's right- hormones are EXTREMELY important to your body, and messing with them can cause serious, long lasting effects all over your body. Condoms may be a nuisance, but at least I'll have my sex drive, health, and SANITY!!!

All I can say is that this posting has made me feel a bit less crazy... At first I loved Yasmin. I lost a sugnifficant amount of weight and felt very good about my body... 3 or 4 months into it I started having severe panic attacks. I had never had a panic attack before so it scared me even more because I did not know what was going on. I was having panic attacks on the subway ride to work. Many times people would move and sit me down and offer me water because I would turn white and start sweating. I thought maybe it was stress so I began to see a therapist... Which helped a bit but I did not want to take any other medicines that the doctor kept pushing on me so I stopped going. The attacks stopped but the emotional rollercoaster continued very much. I cry ALL THE TIME and get mad very easily. My boyfriend is very supportive of me and helps me get through the depressions and anxiety-- but I don't think it is fair for him to have to do that. More recently I have been getting "brain zaps" that make me a bit dizzy for a moment and then go away. It is very odd... I've also gone and been tested for every allergy ever because everything I eat gives me a stomach ache. I thought it was maybe because I was having too much caffiene but I stopped drinking that and the attacks stopped-- but not the depression and anxiety in general. I never really pointed to the BC until my best friend said she and another friend were having the same symptoms and we were all on the same BC... That said, I'm currently looking for one that doesn't make me insane!!! And doesn't make me gain weight... I can't gain weight or I will stop taking it. So if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!!!!!

I have been on Yasmin a little over 2 years now. I have been on other BCP, such as Tri-cycline, Alesse, Diane 35. Yasmin was great in the beginning, no major side affects, except for the breast tenderness. This past year, the breast tenderness has increased and I cannot even touch my breasts. They are larger and very sensitive. I am very moodie, very emotional. Every month now, for the past 4-5 months, I have been having yeast infections. I went to see my gyno and did tests and nothing is wrong. He has no idea why the yeast infection is reoccuring. I've done some research and read other postings and some other women have had the same issue. It's very frustrating and I cannot take having yeast infections every month. I take Yasmin to help with my cramps, and primarily the endometriosis. I have had surgery (5years ago) to remove endometriosis and my gyno mentioned to say on the BCP to decrease the spreading of endometriosis. Although, Yasmin has been a pretty good BCP, I just can't take the breast tenderness and most of all the yeast infections every month. I will be going off Yasmin next month.

I started taking Yaz in January or this year, I was on it for 2 months when I called my doctor and said that my appetite changed so much I had practically stopped eating. I couldn't finish a meal and sometimes I'd have the feeling of being really hungry, but then when I sat down to eat, I'd become so nauseated I was afraid I'd get sick right at the table. My doctor then switched me to Yasmin and it was a world of difference. My only side effects would be interrupted sleep (very minimal), periods of tiredness, leg cramps and strangest of all, an increase in sex drive. I can probably right off the side effects as being contributed to my mild case of sleep apnea, working 40+ hours a week and being young and in love. They aren't bothersome enough to stop taking the medication. As like all medicines, its not for everyone. I think the benefits I'm receiving far out weight the small amounts of side effects I do experience, my skin has cleared up, my periods are now regulated and not so severe and best of all.. I'm not pregnant. Hopefully the other women here will find a BCP that suits them and new hopefuls looking for answers wont be too afraid to try Yasmin. Its changed my life for the better... like all medicine, its trail and error, don't rule it out before you try it. Good luck.

I was on Yasmin for about 8 months then I got off of it for about 2 months. Then I decided to get back on it 2 weeks ago and I was overloaded with side effects this time around. I never got any before now I have weight gain, breast tenderness, fatigue, my sex drive is gone, I have mood swings like no other and I am just not feeling myself. So as I was reading what everyone else is experiencing and realize I am not alone with these symptoms. So I am guessing it is probably not healthy being on them and I don't want to just wait for the side effects to go away because my husband isn't very happy with me right now. Does anyone know of another pill that is better? Or should I just stop BCP's all together??

I am a 34 year old and have been taking Yaz for almost a year.

I had some minor side effects until this past month when everything came apart at the seams. I do not know if yaz is the culprit - but the number of women with the EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS as me listed here SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME.

My "minor" sude effects were the following:

* No period for 5 months
* No sex drive (was not the case before taking Yaz)
* Panic attacks / anxiety (no history fo this. My doc has now put me on Zoloft.)
* Bloating / weight gain
* Brown blotches (like age spots) on one side of my face

This is NOTHING compared to the last month of my life. Basically my life has sucked for the last month. Roughly a month ago my symptoms started with a red rash on the left side of my face and pain in my left ear that led to a migraine that has not gone away at all. (The pain level goes between a 5 and 10, but never lower than a 5.) The rash went away in 2 days, but my ear still hurts today (a month later).

My vertigo began roughly 5 days after the onset of my rash and ear pain and has been non-stop since. I've taken phenergan, valium, etc. - but they are not working. I get spinning/dizzy every time my head moves (up, down, left, right) and with up and down eye movement. It seems like my migraine pain intensifies when my vertigo hits me. If I lie completely still - I have no vertigo - but my migraine is still there. To make matters worse, I have become very disoriented, like I am in a fog all of the time. I am only 34 years old and feel like I am losing my mind. I cannot remember simple words at times and have a tough time completing sentences.

All of these symptoms coincide exactly to the day I began a new packet of the birth control pill called YAZ (Yasmin). I had taken this brand of pill for a year, and though it has worked (not pregnant) I have had some minor side effects up until the last month. The biggest side effect is that I have not had any period at all for the last 5 months. I have also had anxiety (no past history) and have no sex drive (not my normal self.) I stopped taking the pill about a week ago - after reading literally thousands of people with the same side effects I am experiencing on a website called medications.com (My neurologist also told me to stop taking it.)

I am NOT having ringing in my ears or loss of hearing. I mention this because I know other ailments have these as symptoms.

I have already been seen by my dentist, physical therapist, ENT, 2 neurologists and a gyn. So far - they are not helping. I have even been hospitalized for 5 days and all they really did was try and dope me up to sleep and had me take a very potent anti-migraine drug called DHE that must be administered over a 36 hour period via IV. Guess what? It did not work.

The most scary thing is that even though I get severe vertigo any time I move my head (even to the point of waking me up while I sleep) - NOT A SINGLE DOCTOR EVEN MENTIONED I MIGHT HAVE BPPV ( BENIGN PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO) and they did not test for it at all. They were all interested in treating my month-long migraine with anti-migraine drugs. They all swore up and down that my vertigo was related to my migraine. They also said my fogginess was because I was "tired and sick" and many migraine sufferers are that way.

After my husband and I searched the internet and found dozens of websites, we are pretty much convinced that I have BPPV. We are going to get in front of a vestibular specialist ASAP.

So you know, I have been through a CT scan, two different MRIs, basic blood work on my white cell counts, thyroid levels, potassium, etc.

They have ruled out a sinus infection, brain tumor, pituitary tumor, stroke, blood clots, etc. They have simply treated me with anti-migraine medication - and it has been worthless. I have taken Topomax, Frova and DHE (the drug mentioned above) and my migraine is still there. These drugs have not helped one bit. My neurologist swore that the DHE would do the trick. Guess what? He was wrong.

I discharged myself from the hospital yesterday and am now at home.

I just want my normal life back. I cannot drive, work, take care of my family, etc.

My two biggest questions are:

DOES ANYONE KNOW IF BPPV CAN CAUSE MY MIGRAINE? The reason I ask is that the doctors all think that the migraine is causing my vertigo. All along they have been treating my migraine (with zero success) and have been giving me valium and antivert to simply mask my vertigo (no success there either.) No one has tried to really diagnose and treat my vertigo. Is it possible if I get my vertigo fixed my migraines will disappear?

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL PILLLS CAUSING BPPV? I saw woman after woman on medications.com have the same symptoms of vertigo, migraines and brain fog while taking the birth control pill Yasmin. I also know that my avalanche of symptoms eerily coincided with my first pill from a new pack. If they are related, I am most interested in what to do to get my hormones back on track in an effort to stop my vertigo.

This is all driving me crazy. A month ago I was absolutely normal. Now I am 100% disabled. I just want my life back.

Please help!

I,as of almost two weeks ago, went off Yasmin. I have been on several different birth controls over the past 7 years. Yasmin being the latest. Overall, I think the pill is not healthy!!! I have had side effects from most pills I have been on, nothing major, but a definite lack in sex drive (which of course drives my husband CRAZY)...We are not planning on having kids so I do think it is imp. to find an alternative method, though I never intend to get back on any hormone related drug. My breasts have undoubtedly grown, which wasn't a bad thing @ first but now really is somewhat frustrating...going from a small C to a DD.
I guess I just miss being what I know of as my old self, and want my body to be back to normal. Recently, a woman in my building and I were talking about BCP's. She has been on them for just as long as I, and is studying to be a doctor. In her opinion, after going through 2 years of med. school thus far, BCP's are NOT a good thing. So I obviously have taken her opinion into account.
I do, however, take daily supplements, which I hope bring somewhat of a balance to my body. All I know is that being on the Pill makes it hard for your body to digest and absorb all the nutrients it should, which to me is pretty scary!!!

I was proscribed Yasmin for acne problems but straight away, I experienced nausea. I didn't take a liking to it at all because it constantly made me want to vomit all the time. But still, I was willing to trial it to treat my acne. After about a month of using it, the vomiting sensation didn't go away. Does anyone else experience the same problem? Finally, I gave it up altogether and switched to Diane35. I found Diane35 a much better treatment for acne without the vomiting side affects.

I have been on Yaz for almost 2yrs. and having an issue a week or so before my period of my lower back being tight and extremely stiff where I sleep on my floor at night aroung this time. My Dr. gave me water pills to alleviate the pain. (doesn't work) Anyone else experiencing this?.

Dear Guest 43038,

Stop taking the Yasmin.

Itchy skin is a sign of an allergic reaction which many women have had to this pill and to Yaz.

If your period also hasn't stopped, it is due to the change in hormones (Yasmin has extremely low doses of artificial/synthetic hormones -as are birth control pills are not natural, and they suppress your own natural hormones. Not good that your period has not stopped. Again, another sign that you should stop taking the Yasmin.

The feeling down and moody again direct connection to the loss of iron having your period for 14 days, the extremely low hormones that have replaced your own natural hormones.

Leg cramps are also not good-and could be a risk for thrombosis (common report and risk of taking Yasmin as well as other bcp's-Yasmin has a higher risk of this-clotting).

You know what to do. Just listen to what your body is telling you. You don't need a doctor to let you know that. There are many risks associated with this pill-just see all the notes on this site in the forum and posted side effects. There is also another site-Yasmin Survivors (link posted throughout this site) with many women that will support your coming off of it.

Jasmine

I've been on Yaz for 1 year now. I've been in a deep depression since September ( 6 months on Yaz) for which I've had to seek treatment. It took 4 months to get me straightened out on medications and still daily I struggle with it.

Also I've noticed right shoulder pain, weight gain (60 pounds), no libido, chronic fatigue, bloating with horrible gas.Is all of this from the Yaz or is it my depression or what? I'm having a really hard time sorting thru all of this.

I am taking Yaz on my first pack I havent been able to tolerate ANY bcp's they all gave me stomach cramping diarrehea and mood swings. I havent taken a bcp in over 2 years for this reason. I have PMDD and it s pretty severe. I am taking this in hope that it will tame my mood swings. I'm coming to the ending of my second week of this pill on Sunday and after reading all these forums I am terrified to take another pill. I have these symptoms...

_ Crying over eveything

_ Bloated weight gain

_ Tired No energy

_ Yeast infection

Please if you are taking Yaz and stopped what can I expect?Should I wait till I get my period and then stop?

Hello again, I also wanted to let everyone know that I as far as I can remember, I haven't ever noticed any side effects from Yasmin before! I wasn't sure if side effects can suddenly appear like this or if I need to check into other possible problems. Also, this may seem like a ignorant question coming from a 23 year old, but would anyone suggest that my boyfriend and I use an extra form of protection in addition to the Yasmin? I had never thought one was necessary, as the reason people begin taking BCP is to protect themselves from pregnancy and that another form of protection shouldn't be necessary. Anyways, thanks for your time in reading this!

I was really disheartened to see so many people having bad side effects with their Pill. I have been on Yasmin for 2 years and have not had any really bad side effects. I had a loss of appetite at first, but I didn't mind it too much as I needed to lose weight, but after a few months, my appetite came back. I never had an issue with my sex drive, never had any mood swings, or any of the other issues that some of you are having. One consistency I did notice was that women with the worse side effects were taking Yaz, the low hormonal version of Yasmin.

Also ladies, keep in mind that a lot of the side effects listed by the company as well as the ones you have experienced are common with many other BCP's. Hell, I took ortho try cyclen and the most horrible experience. And let's not talk about the many women who took Ortho Evra, which just came out recently. There is now a lawsuit against the company who produced it because of the side effects.

Everyone reacts differently to different medications and to different pills. There are many women who have had nothing but wonderful experiences, others have had horrible experiences. But again, it is like that with every pill.