Yasmin and chest pains

I have been on the Yasmin now for nearly three months. I have no energy, chest pains, shortness of breath, tenderness of my breast, ribs and I feel REALLY TIRED even after having a nights rest. I thought this was perhaps after having a toddler and using my energy up during the day from lifting him and swinging him. I feel slightly anxious about different things in my life, sometimes depressed. I though my headaches and chest pains were stress/work related and so was the fatigue. I am popping vitamin tablets like it is an addiction thinking that if I don't have them I am going to feel WORSE( anxious/depressed). I also could not understand why I was feeling so nauseous and having stabbing pains in my stomach. - thought again this was just stress related - acid build up. I am going to see my Doctor today and get off this tablet!!!! I would rather have the odd pimple on my face than feel like this.

I have been on Yasmin for over 5 years, and just thought that I was a hypochondriac. After starting Yasmin I experienced severe nausea and unrelieved hunger pains. I saw a gastroenterologist who performed an EGD and Colonoscopy at the age of 20. It was normal and I was placed on Protonix to help with the GI issues. Also I have severe joint pains in my knees, hips, elbows and shoulders. I have been tested for everything from Lupus to Rheumatoid Arthritis, and it was all negative. I get headaches, have little sex drive if any, my skin is not clearer than usual and nor has it been since starting Yasmin. Thanks to all those people who have voiced their concerns and shared their stories, it makes us feel less crazy. I threw out all my birth control pills last night and I am going to try another form of contraceptive. I mean my headaches and chest pains have gotten so bad that they have forced me to go to the ER on several occasions. I DO NOT THINK THE BENEFITS OF YASMIN OUTWEIGH THE RISKS ASSOCIATED.

I was on Yasmin for 1.5 years. Ended up with chest pains, severe Vitamin D deficiency, B12/Folic Acid deficiency, elevated potassium and unbelievable fatigue/exhaustion along with muscle loss. I have now been off for almost 3 years and do not feel completely recovered. I'd encourage folks to google Yasmin/Yaz lawsuits as they are just beginning and I expect will eventually come off of the market due to finally, recognized increased risk of these pills with pulmonary embolisms, stroke, heart attack and blood clots. Also, if you google Yasmin Survivors, there is an international forum of women who have been sharing and contributing now for last 3 years as well.

I have been on Yasmin for 2 years now. It is the only BC I have ever been on and have LOVED it up until about 3 months ago. All of a sudden I started having heart palpitations, sever chest pains, extreme fatigue, very bloated in my stomach, low sex drive, pain and tingling in my arms and legs,dizziness, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, weight gain and major mood swings! I went to the DR and they did an EKG (which was normal) Tested my blood (I now have a thyroid problem that I have never had before) and they did an ultrasound (Dr that I may have a murmur) on my heart and the results came back fine. So the DR prescribed me Synthroid for the thyroid problem and the DR said that should help me gain my energy back, loose some weight and would take care of the heart palpitations. The other symptoms he contributed to Stress (Panic Attacks) I have been on Synthroid for 5 weeks now and I don't feel any better in fact I feel worse!

This morning I seen a commercial for a lawsuit against Yaz or Yasmin. Well since I am non Yasmin I immediately did a search and came across this site. I have literally been sitting here all night reading all the comments from different women and now know what my problem is. My problem is YASMIN! I am not taking this anymore and have an appt with my Dr tomorrow to have them do whatever they need to do to see if I have any blockage or any other damage from using this pill. My chest pains and the tightness in my chest are so severe that it takes my breath away and I am only 24! I am not ready for children and don't want to deal with bad periods like I had before getting on the pill but I can not take this rise. PLEASE if you are on Yasmin please stop taking it immediately and call your doctor Your life could depend on it!! I am hoping like other people who have commented that after a few weeks of being off the pill that I will feel so much better. I hope I am getting off of it in time before I have done any further damage.

I am a Registered Nurse and feel foolish that I wasn't able to connect the dots sooner. Yasmin's effects for me were insidious thereby slipping under the radar as the culprit responsible for all of the side effects I was experiencing. On Yasmin for 3 years:

- feelings of shortness of breath
- heart palpitations
- horrible anxiety and feelings of panic (not good when you're a nurse in the
ICU)
- insomnia (never had trouble sleeping before)
- varicose veins on my stomach??!!
- strange weight gain around my abdomen I could not lose despite my best
efforts
- ear popping and a feeling of fullness in my head
- constant runny nose requiring new prescriptions for nasal sprays and
allergy pills that did not work
- new abdominal bloating (ultrasound was negative)
- UTI (never had one of those before)
- strange colored periods
- agoraphobia (previously outgoing)
- depressed--lost interest in things I previously enjoyed, moody & angry,
- horrible fatigue (unable to jog anymore without becoming drained for days
- sharp debilitating headaches (CT negative)
- breast pain
- cellulite I've never had before
- and last but not least, compromised circulation to my right arm causing it
to go numb and change in color (Doppler showed partial arterial
obstruction that has since improved since quitting Yasmin)

Quit Yasmin 2 1/2 months ago and everything is resolving itself slowly. A big price to pay for good skin.

I am not on it for BC, but to help with my severe cramping during my period. I had only been taking this for one week when I started experiencing chest pains, horrible cramping as if I have my period, extreme breast tenderness, sinus problems (nose is constantly running - almost instantly after I take the pill), lack of lubrication and drive, extreme fatigue, vision problems and leg cramping. I'm glad that I now realize that it must have been Yasmin, as everyone is experiencing the same problems. I stuck with it for 2 more weeks thinking it would subside, but it has only gotten worse. I am calling my doctor today to get something else.

I am 23 years old and have been on Yasmin for approx 9 months now...at first I experienced the most horrific migraine - I felt as if my head was literally exploding. I informed my doctor who just instructed the nurse to check my blood pressure regularly. The readings were fine and I didn't have that side effect again.

This past week though I have been uncontrollably tired..going to visit family etc and heading straight for the bedroom to sleep. I thought perhaps i've just been working too hard. Then I woke up with swollen, itchy eyes and a rash on my eyelids which i put down to the weather. A few nights ago I started having chest pains. Every time I took a breath I could feel it deep in my lungs and it was so painful. It felt like my chest was tightening and I couldn't breathe. This morning I am still in pain and it hurts when I breathe - I thought perhaps I was developing asthma!

I decided to check the internet for my symptoms and came across this site...now I am stopping this Yasmin immediately. I probably should have been more weary after my migraine experience but the doctor made me feel as if it was all okay and not directly linked to Yasmin. I was only put on Yasmin to help with my irregular, heavy and extremely painful periods, but for me it is not worth it at all.

Thank you to all for sharing as it has helped me to identify what is causing me problems.

hi everybody. i started using Yasmin about 3 months ago as i was told i had cysts. but since a month into taking it i am having really sharp headaches chest pains and mood swings. i am also experiencing hair loss. i am only 20 so i cant think what else could be wrong.can anybody help me out here as im getting really paranoid and getting about 4 hours sleep every night with pain and worry!!!! thanks x x x

I've been on Ocella -- a generic form of Yasmin -- since late March/early April. I only started taking it because I was on a different birth control pill in another country (no side effects there) and then moved to the US in December and when the other pill ran out (not available in the US) my doctor in the US prescribed Ocella (Yasmin).

About ten days ago I went to the ER -- I discovered I have Supra Vesicular Tachycardia (SVT) -- apparently a condition a person is born with but doesn't discover until their 20s, 30s, later or never.

Then last night I went to the ER because I was having pressure across my chest. They did EKGs, blood work and then even admitted me to the hospital for the night and did a stress test the next day. Everything came back normal, yet the cardiology nurse prescribed (as a precaution??) an aspirin regimen (this would be to prevent stroke, blood clots I suppose) as well as 0.4 nitroglycerin only in case of chest pains. On the discharge papers it says I should go back to the ER if, after three doses of nitro, the pressure does not subside.

I read the medical insert for Ocella tonight. It mentions "pectoral angina" (chest pain) as well as stroke, blood clots, etc. as possible side effects of Ocella. I'm inclined to stop taking it.

I've also had some bowel issues but I don't know whether those might be caused by the pill as well?

I have been on Yasmin for over a year and a bit and I have recently started getting major head aches, eye pain, chest pain, and I have high blood pressure to top it all off. My mom has told me that she experienced the same thing when she was on the pill (I dunno what kind) when she was my age and had to start taking high blood pressure pills at the age of 20 I am 19 at the moment and it looks like I am following in her footsteps. My advise for everyone on this pill is to watch your symptoms and if you develop head aches that you think are caused by your eyes (gets worse while reading or watching tv) THINK again it might be from Yasmin! So be careful ladies and watch out and get your eyes checked and your blood pressure checked the moment you start feeling symptoms. Its for the best and I hope no one has to go through the pain I have been feeling for the past month. Also watch out for shortness of breathe and tightness in chest.

I made an appointment today to see whats going on.I have been on yaz for about 3 weeks..yes i too have all the same symptoms however i also have a horrible pain right in between my breast..it feels like someone is standing on me.i wake in the night in tears cause i cant roll over i cant pick my 3 kids up cause the pain is always there.... maybe its something else but at the same time im thinking it might be this pill.. as of today im off it.. and when i find out what my doctor says i will let everyone know.. i personally think out of the blue im seeing all these commercials on this pill and doctors are pushing it like crazy so im feeling a little like a ginny puig and no one will tell us this pill is causing all this crap in our lives! so im off to
the docs to see whats hes going to say not too hopeful...

I just spent the night in th ER for chest pains due to Yasmin.

I had been on it for a month and since the beginning I felt something was wrong.. My leg started to spasm and I got these sharp pains in my chest that moved to the back between my shoulder blades. Was told that it was acid reflux and to take tums. Didn't help. Eventually the spasms moved to my upper body (back, arms and head). My EKG, blood test and chest x rays were normal, but I still feel headaches and a weird tingling in my arms and ears are painful sometimes. All these things pains come and go so I have no clue what it can be. Stopped taking it 2 days ago and I'm hoping that it will go away on it's own without doing permanent damage.

Has anyone had similar problems that resolved on it own after stopping?

my experience with Yasmin has not been the best. and for once, i actually gave this birth control a try. but, over time, i've been getting chest pains, very bad headaches, and the worst mood swings. i get so anxious, i have to yawn all the time to get my breath. sure, i do drink caffeine drinks, and that might intensify the anxiety, but i do not trust this birth control, or any others really. i mean, who honestly knows what the hell they put in this stuff? no one. fake hormones are bad for you, no if ands or buts about it. i guess it might help acne and all that stuff, but whats more important? your well being, or your little acne problem, or acess hair problems? i'm pretty sure a good state of mind is better than that. i quit taking this stuff a few days ago, and i know it's not going to be completely out of my system for a while. i am never taking Yasmin again. the headaches, and unbearable mood swings, to the point to where i can't stop crying. nope. not doing it anymore. and more power to you if it works for you, that's a good thing. everyone's different, therefore it'll effect everyone differently, but i see a lot of the same symptoms in a lot of women on here. so, something must not be right.

I am glad to have found this information after deciding to google Yasmin and heart palpitations. I started having palpitations last night (I had them years ago when I was having anxiety attacks but not since and I am not under any stress right now). I just started taking Yasmin less than two weeks ago and will not be taking it any more (I started it for PMDD). I have also noticed pain in my right breast and I was on the verge of a bladder infection a few days ago since I did not drink enough water for a few hours (I have only had one bladder infection in my life and that was after delivering my third child and having a catheter). I have also had blurred vision twice since I started it (I have experienced that before but very, very sporadically - not 2 episodes within days, I have migraines and my dr. thinks the blurred vision is somehow related). I had chest pain for 2 days, granted, it happened after a tough workout, but that is still unusual for me. I've always had pluses and minuses with any form of bcp, but these cons don't outweigh the pros (which I have not experienced yet anyway).

Since been taking Yasmin for 6 days, i've been getting uncomfortable feelings in my chest, chest pains numbness in my chest and legs. sometimes i think i'm gonna die because of it, i've lost a lot of hair.. less sleep, and just horrible feelings thru my body i hate it

Hi My name is Daniela, and I just checked my spam box and saw an e-mail about Yasmin dangerous side effects, I guess it is organized by lawyers that wants you to sign up for a law suit..anyway, that made me really think about it ,and I googled to read more about the Yaz birth control. I have been taking Yaz for 16 months, I just stopped taking the drug , because I had to go to the doctor again to prescribe me some more, but since I don't have health insurance anymore I have postponed the visit. It has been two weeks since I stopped the Yaz an for the last 4 days I have had chest pains all around the breast area, my chest and back will hurt at the same time, I got scared thinking I can get a heart atack, or else. I am 32 years old, and It is very scary to me at that early age to have problems like these. But by reading your complains I am realizing the pain is from these pills. The first 4 months I have been taking Yaz, then I switch to Ocella (generic of Yaz) because it is much cheaper.And thinking back then, I started taking Yaz Oct 2007,, In Jan 2008 I went to see my doctor for depression, I got very angry, explode about stuff,and being depressed, and now I am putting all the pieces together, and I can really see all the similar thing that other women has t experienced during the time they took that medicine. Wow, I am glad that I stopped Ocella.And I will go to my doctor for a full exam.
My dad was telling me how a doctor told my brother that his liver look very bad, the doctor thought he is an alcoholic, but he is not, he just takes a lot of pills about anything to get rid of pain, cold, or else. And that info also made me think about myself. And how I should try to avoid pills to take care of minor headache or pain.
Thanks to all the women for sharing their experience, it has really helped me put the pieces together and help myself, by thinking, not by taking pills.THANK YOU

Recently, my sister at 39 years old lost her life to a condition called pulmonary thromboembolism, which was directly caused by the birth control pill she was taking, YAZ. I need to know if there is something that we can do. She left behind three young children, and it is not fair that just because a product has a warning label that gives manufacturers a license to destroy a family and take a life. I believe that warning labels on products are just another example of economics being placed above public safety. Please reach me asap if there is someone who can help.

I started using Yasmin 2 weeks ago & am having serious problems like heaviness in my chest, short breath, nausea, headache, acidity. At one point I felt as if I got an heart attack! My physician sent me for an ECG yesterday & I am worried about the results! I hope to recover from all these side effects soon because my work is getting affected due to discomfort.

i was on Yasmin for about a month and i started to notice chest pains, that seemed really tight and kind of just achy. I also noticed some numbness and tingling in my limbs. I hated being on it. Im scared that it caused a serious problem. I stopped taking it about a week ago and i was just wondering how long it took other people's symptoms to go away. Did most people find that it did just go away or that it was something more serious. I don't think its anything really serious like a PE or anything because my heart rate hasn't really increased and it doesn't hurt any worse when i breathe in. Im just a little freaked out. If any could answer i'd really appreciate it. thanks

Hi
Again just like many of you ladies out there i am so glad i came across this website. I have been taking Yasmin for the last 2.5yrs. I used to have very think long hair, and was always complimented on it. recently my hair has thinned out, and falls out everytime i comb or wash it. I have reecntly started to experience numbness in the tips of my toes, i have just in the past few days experienced knee joint pains. Last year i had very bad chest pains, and i never thought it would be the pill, but i have been complianing to my family about breathing difficulties too. I do feel nauseous most of the time, and i feel tired all the time, i fall asleep anywhere. I am a pretty healthy individual. I have suffered headaches, reduction of vision, pain just under my ribs near the lungs, especially when i wake up in the mornings, i suffer hot flushes, again like others mostly at night... I used to be a pretty calm person, but now looking back i have had my moments of rage !
Thank God i came across this website because luckily im on my 7day break at the moment, and will probably not take them again ! and try lady comp just like another lady has .... hope this helps

I am a new poster & am excited to be a part of this discussion !! I feel to close to this discussion because I have been experiencing the same issues.
I too have been having major chest pain issues for almost 2 months now. I started Yasmin (much to my dismay!) about 6 months ago. I haven't taken any b.c. since I was about 19, I am now 30, I started because my periods were absolutely unbearable anymore, intense cramping, heavy flow & in incapable of work/activity for the first 2 days. My doctor always pushed b.c. on me for the pain relief. Finally I agreed. I started in February, 2008.
Almost 2 months ago (7 months into Yasmin) I was getting a bit of chest pain along the ribs/inside of the side of the breast, mainly the right & sometimes on the left. I wasn't too worried as I am a healthy eating, yoga/work-out doing, average weight, no health issues what-so-ever except for my intense period kinda gal. About a month went by with increasing chest pain & I went to the hospital (up north at my moms when I was visiting, only an hour wait to get in as apposed to the 6 here back home!). My fear was heart problems. They did blood work & (I am not sure what this is called!) they hooked me up with tons of little stickies & monitored my heart. - I mentioned to the doctor I was taking b.c. & he said it wasn't an issue, they usually pose blood clot risk....not my issue here.
They said everything was normal & because of the sensitivity of the chest pain (it is sore to the touch!) he said it was costochondiritis, the inflammation of the chest wall. So I thought that was it, I would just take the Advil the suggested 3 times a day for inflammation & it would go away. I did this for 2 weeks & nothing changed.
I was getting some shooting pains in my chest & went back to my doctor, explained my visit up north & what they concluded it was. She said that the costochondiritis has made me sensitive to acidic foods, prescribed me with previcid for a week. That didn't make any difference at all.
Here I am another month later & my chest pain feels worse, my chest still feels tender to the touch, I am short of breath going up the stairs, heart racing/palpitations, gas (burping & passing gas), some upper back ache, I am feeling helpless & beat down !!
By now I'm sure there is a bit of anxiety mixed in there, I have been so sad, scared & worried!
I went back to my doctor & she sent me for an upper G.I. to rule out acid reflux & it came back normal. I also did some blood work again (which have since came back normal) & am waiting for the results. She said she doesn't think it's costochondiritis now. I am scheduled for an abdominal ultrasound & with a cardiologist (I go tomorrow) for an EKG for my heart.
Last night my hubby & I were talking, my co-worker was really upset to hear I've still been taking the pill, she thinks it's poison. I told my guy that & we got out the information booklet from my Yasmin & there were ALL of my symptoms, there was a list of 12 & I had 8 of them !!! No vision or numbness problems but all of the chest pain/breathing issues.
I took my last pill 2 days ago (it was my last before my period) & I have no plans to start again. I am going to follow through with the scheduled appt.'s just in case but my hubby & I have our money on the pill being the cause for all of this.
1 thing that gets me is when I went to my doctors with this issue in the beginning, not once did she bring up the pill or say to stop the pill. In the booklet under all of the symptoms I've been having it says to immediately stop taking the pill. ;(
After taking my last pill I felt a bit better (it's only been a week/my menstruating week), the sharp pain on the inside/side of my breast/chest has not been as sensitive to the touch. I still have had palpitations (minor, not lasting long - to lasting up to 4 hours until I just go sleep to try to get rid of it) & sparse shooting/dull/aching pain in my chest/armpit.
YASMIN SHOULD BE BANNED !!

My 15year old daughter has just stopped taking Yasmin due to severe depression, anxiety attacks, uncontrollable crying, suicidal thoughts and chest pain with erratic heartbeat. I thank God that we figured out the connection to Yasmin. She has been spiraling down so quickly, I thought I was losing her. While she does not relish the return of heavy, long periods, she is so ready to have her sanity back. Her counselor and gyn confirm the strong likelihood of these being side effects of the Yasmin. I was ready to put her on Prozac and sleeping pills because the situation was so desperate! While I was on Yasmin for years with no adverse effects, there ARE people who are desperate because of this pill! The hundreds of posts are too numerous to ignore the REAL truth. Is is worth it to "just try it out" for a boob inflation? You are taking a serious risk, sweetheart!

Wow. I found this site after looking up causes for lack of sex drive. I've been on Yasmin for 6 years, but never thought for a minute it had anything to do with the problems I've been having. Loss of sex drive, vaginal dryness, hair loss, mood swings (partners always gets the brunt of those), repeated bouts of chest pains (diagnosed with pleurisy recently, don't know if there is a link).

I had got to the point that I thought this is just the way I am, it never occurred to me that something else could be causing this. I can't even remember what it's like to be normal.

I already have 2 kids and don't want any more at the moment so I don't know what the solution is. Well, I haven't wanted sex for the last few years so i suppose the bloody thing has done its job in that way!

I'm just shocked, this has been a real wake up call. I'm stopping taking the evil little things as of now.

I was put on Yasmin as a healthy 31 year old. I noticed severe foot and leg cramps shortly after taking Yasmin but didn't connect the two. At one point, after a severe leg cramp that left me with a sore leg that lasted more than a couple of days, I contacted my OBGYN to inquire about blood clots. The nurse asked me if I noticed any discoloration, swelling or 'hot spots'. When I told her no she said that I would know if I had a blood clot and there was nothing to worry about. The pain subsided after a couple of days and I attributed it to a pulled muscle. Almost a year later I developed severe chest pains and shortness of breath. A trip to the emergency room uncovered a massive pulmonary embolism. I was admitted to the hospital for 5 days and endured months of recovery to get back to good health. I was on a blood thinner for almost 9 months and still take a daily aspirin in combination with fish oil as a precaution. I can't tell you how I wish I had know just how serious the side effects might really be. I would urge all women to seriously consider all options before committing to a daily medication with these possible side effects. Best of luck to you all.

I am a 26 yr old newly married woman and have been using Yasmin for 7 months.

I've experienced really sharp breast pain and sore calves occasionally whilst on the pill, but also have seen benefits of using this contraceptive - lighter, more regular periods, clearer skin and less greasy hair (these use to be big problems for me). I haven't had any severe mood swings either, as some have mentioned of having.

I think with all contraceptives there will be good and bad side effects - just depends which brands you can cope better with.

Just wondering if Yasmin can cause infertility if you take it for too long??

I was on Yasmin for a number of years and had chest pains. I also have 2 red "dots" on my hair line that formed about a year ago. I noticed my hair thinned out too. I never made the connection that it could be related to the Pill. I also had frequent headaches, but would just take some Aleve and be on my way.
Anyways, I went off in February, and it is now June, and I still have no period. I've seen the gyno, tried to take Provera, and nothing is working to help me get my period. I ended up getting some bloodwork done. My estrogen levels are extremely low (like someone that is in menopause). I AM ONLY 25!!!! I am guessing it is related to coming off Yasmin somehow. Please contact me if you have similar things, as I am now getting all the symptoms of menopause (severe hair loss, night sweats, hot flashes, uncontrollable moods).

chest pains,
thrush,
cystitis,
headaches,
loss of sex drive,
and HAIR LOSS

Yasmin should be banned.

Wow..this makes me feel a lot better reading all of this. I have been off of Yasmin for about a year now but am still feeling the side effects. When I was on it I felt fine at first & was extremely excited about finally being on BC. Then about a month into it I started getting extremely bad heart palpitations and tingly body and arms. My heart would race and I thought I was about to have a heart attack everyday. I consulted my gyn/ob about this and she stated it was "normal side effects of the pill." I told her I was concerned that I had a blood clot or something else extremely severe. She convinced me it was all normal & I would be EXTREMELY ill and in the hospital if that was the case. I told her it was interfering with my life on a daily basis but she didn't seem to believe me. My boyfriend had also noticed I had been acting extremely anxious, moody and depressed and became concerned. It got to the point where he couldn't even touch me when I was at home since I was having STABBING chest pains on a daily basis. I couldn't even move & I would have really bad heartburn all the time. I went to the doctor a couple of times because I thought I was seriously having a heart attack...Stabbing pains- tingly arms and legs, extreme anxiety...my heart was pounding so hard I couldn't breath and then my heart felt as if it would pop in and out when I took a breath. My doctor said it was normal side effects as well so I told myself I was just the crazy one once again. I went to the doctor about a month later when things got worse..this whole time thinking that Yasmin had nothing to do with it and found my blood pressure was 160/90!!! My doc said it should have been about 120/70. I started blood pressure medication but the heart palpitations did not stop so eventually I stopped with Yasmin. Things have gotten better but it has still left me with permanent damage. My anxiety is still a problem and my blood pressure is still sky high...even on meds. I never had any problems before any of this...now I have major problems for life because of this drug. I know they warn you of issues prior but NO medication should do this to ANYONE. I also gained about 20 pounds when I was on the pill and when I got off I lost about 15 pounds in 2 days..I lost equilibrium in my body and felt sick with all of the sudden weight loss....Is anyone considering a Class action lawsuit against this company? & why are the doctors covering up the side effects of this drug? I know they get paid for referring people to certain drugs but this is SCARY...keep me updated.

I am 20 yrs old, very healthy and never had a problem until 6 months after being on Yasmin. I never linked being on this BC and my side effects but I have been off of Yasmin for one month and seeing results. My side effects are subsiding, still have some relapses but nothing compared to what I went through. My side effects were nausea, lethary, weakness, irregular periods, chest pains, irregular breathing, weird heart palpitations, and Panic attacks, and depression. I have never been an anxious or depressed person so those last ones really threw me off. Now being off of it, I am returning to normal, still not completely normal which sucks, cause I was full of energy and a happy person. I really hope that I can be normal again and hope all this gets out of my system.

The health care system has failed me and led me to believe that I had many issues "inside my head." I was on yasmin since spring 07 and was fine for half a year until the symptoms one by one crept up. I too was experiencing the fatigue, the vomiting, the mood swings, the depression and anxiety. I've been known to be very laid back, very easy going, so when I had my first panic attack ever, I knew something was off.
Soon after, I started to experience heart palpitations, chest pains, shortness of breath. One day I was so freaked out I went to the E.R. with a standing heart rate of 142. When all the tests turned out clear, they told me that I should visit the psychiatric clinic. When they asked if I was on any medications, I told them I was on yasmin. The doctors looked at eachother with a confused look and asked me "What's yasmin?" Shows how much they know!
I was getting better overall until a few late-nite episodes had me waking up with my heart pounding and my thoughts racing. This happened two nights in a row which disheartened me since I thought I was slowly getting better. Then, I found this website, and everything made sense. I stopped taking the pill that night, and that night, I slept fine. It's been about three weeks since I've been off of yasmin and I'm 80% back to normal. I was at the point that I thought I would never laugh as loud or never smile as much as I did a year ago. The other day I caught myself with a huge smile for no reason at all . . . and that's when I knew I was on track to recovery.
I started to ask around and found out that many women have experienced very negative effects from yasmin. Last week, I told the woman whose office is next to mine and she proclaimed "I had the same thing too! So did my sister!"
The doctors won't believe you. Many of them are buttered up by the drug companies. Even my sister who's an RN told me that sometimes, you need to be your own doctor. And for symptoms of anxiety, depression, I would recommend 5-htp. It's a plant-derived natural supplement that increases the production of your seratonin. It's so easy to get misdiagnosed and placed on some other medication that has other adverse side effects.
Spread the good word, ladies. We must reach out to one another and take care of one another like sisters. Afterall, who else is there who we can rely on?

I just started taking Yasmin again in March. I had taken it back in November but stopped midway through my second pack because I was experiencing severe anxiety, nausea, fatigue... to the point my social life and grades in school were suffering. I went online and found this site and read how there were a lot of women who experienced bad side effects from this pill too. Recently I decided that it was in my best interest to take birth control again and because I did have added stress in my life during the time I took Yasmin before I thought maybe I would be okay this time. I WAS SOOO WRONG. I haven't even been on Yasmin again for a month and my life as I knew it has been turned upside down. In less than a week of starting it I started to have severe chest pains and nausea. I thought I was having a heart attack. I have had panic attacks before and this was nothing like that The tightness and pressure in my chest never has gone away. I've been to three different doctors and have had many tests to figure out whats wrong. They all tell me the same thing that I'm a healthy 22 year old and that if anything I just have inflammation my ribcage. My grades are suffering again because I have missed a lot of class because I feel so awful. Every morning I wake up with the chest pain (that gets worse the more active I am) and nausea. Since all these symptoms have come on my relationship has taken a turn for the worse too. All I want to do is sleep, I don't feel like going out, I get annoyed very easily by everything my boyfriend does so I don't want to be around him. I feel so "out of it" sometimes I get dizzy and feel numb all over. Its so scary (esp. the chest pains) The worse thing is that no one really believes me (i.e. my boyfriend) I never feel good and I'm sure the people around me are tired of me complaining all the time. One more thing... I started my period very early (I still have a week and a half of active pills left) I've never experienced that before... weird. Anyways, I stopped taking Yasmin 2 days ago. I still have all the same symptoms... I really hope they go away soon. I want to get back to my old self and my old life. YASMIN SUCKS!!! I'd rather take the risk of getting pregnant than take Yasmin. At least then I'd have a excuse that ppl would believe for being sick :(

Oh my....I thought I was having a heart attack or something!!! I had no idea that this stupid pill was doing all of this, when I found this page and read through a few of them I was so relieved!!!!!! I have not been on Yasmin very long I started in October and I hadn't even went through my second pack. I stopped taking the pill today because I started these chest pains a few days ago and I told my mom about them tonight it really scared me.So I called and told her and she looked it up and told me so I looked it up and found this page. My side effects didn't start happening until recently I have had pains through out my whole body, chest pains, back pains, stomach pains, leg, arm, etc., I am tired all the time and depression is starting and I have never had that. I thought my tiredness was just from having a two year old but I now know that it should not make me feel like this I am only 19 years old and will never take this stupid pill again or recommend it to any one thanks to all that made me see it was really Yasmin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I noticed I didn't put my side effects. They are "Charlie horses" or leg cramps, I don't eat like I use to, back pain, tingling shoulders, neck pain, bloating out of this world, chest pains, and heart palpations. The bad thing is I called my local health unit and they told me to continue taking the pill. What should I do?

My story is long....I have been taking Yasmin for almost 2.5 years, since having my son. About 8 months after starting the pill we relocated to another state. About 6 months after that I began having shortness of breath and anxiety. I thought it was due to our relo, which was all positive but still those things can be stressful. My doctor thought it was anxiety and prescribed Zanax. I rarely took them...seemed like the anxiety subsided. A few months later I was back at my doctors office with extreme nausea and this crazy burning sensation down my arms and on my chest. I was diagnosed with H Pylori and treated for that and then had an endoscopy and found I had mild chronic gastritis. I was on Prevacid and then finally prescription Zantac for that. I went a few months and then the shortness of breath returned and I began having heart palpations. I then went back to my doctor. My heart rate was elevated so she sent me over to a cardiologist. He said my heart was fine. I then came down with a stomach virus, which is what I thought at the time, and ended up not taking my pill for 2 days and then began menstruating. I stayed off of it for a month and continued to have this terrible burning sensation on my skin. I started a new pill pack the next month and that's when the real hell began. I woke up around 1:30am with severe nausea and heart palpations. My husband took me to the ER - they said it was due to my stomach. I went back to see my GI doc she said that my stomach didn't cause that. I went to see my doctor b/c my GI doc thought it might be my BC pill because it just started happening after taking it again after being off of it for a month. I was sure it was the BC so I immediately stopped taking it. I had yet another period. Since stopping it, now it's been 14 days, I have had one anxiety attack after another, chest pains, shortness of breath, the burning skin, headaches, and major nausea. I can't eat or sleep. I can barely function. All my blood work, adrenal gland and thyroid tests are perfectly normal. No signs of anything wrong with me. I went to see my doctor today for a follow-up, she told me bluntly that I was mental! It was all in my head ! The pill could not cause this and I need to see a physiotherapist. I have never felt so bad physically in my life and then been kicked in the teeth so hard all in one day. I know all this is due to this drug. There is no other explanation. I am not crazy but I have a lot of people who believe I am. I am amazed at how the medical community is so uneducated and have become drug pushers and have forgotten problem solving. Thank you all for reading my story. I pray every minute that I will get through this and be normal again. All I want to do is enjoy the Christmas holidays with my family without being sick. That my friends is my Christmas wish. Best to all of you.

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.

I went on yasmin about 2 years ago, right before I started my current relationship. Everything in my relationship was perfect, we never fought, it was just amazing. About 4 months into the relationship I started to pick fights with him, about everything possible. I was becoming depressed, insecure, and my anxiety level is at a constant high....still, I didn't realize any of this until this month. About 3 months ago I started getting my migrains back before and during my period...this month, my cramps came back. I kicked my boyfriend as hard as I could last week, and I couldn't tell you why, I immidiately started crying and saying sorry, and hugging him. This pill, I've come to realize, has almost completely ruined my life. It's almost ended my wonderful relationship with the love of my life several times. This month was the final straw, I thought maybe I had pmdd, I looked up the symptoms and realized that was not what I had, then I thought to look up side effects of my birth control, and I found this site...many of the girls mention twitching, headaches, crazy mood swings, treating their spouses awful, sleeping all the time and still feeling tired. I have been suffering from all these symptoms for a long time now. I am stopping this pill IMMIDIATELY! It has ruined far too much of my life. I'm so glad I found this website, I now know I'm not crazy. Now I can go back to being the happy, fun, and friendly girl I really am!

I have been using Yasmine for a month. I noticed that I am having extreme fatigue, dehydration, nausea, aches in arms and legs, chest pains, no sex drive, rapid heart beat, hungry pains and anxiety. During this month of using Yasmine I have been to the Emergency Room 3 times. I had several test done and all were normal. Thank God I found this site! At first I thought I was crazy! I have never experieced anxiety at this level.I did take Yasmine in June and stopped the 3rd week because I missed consecutive days. I experienced migraines for a month. Any suggestions of a new forn of birth control? I will not be purchasing another pack of Yasmine!

I took yasmin for a year and a half. Loved it until now. I am 27 and 5'4. Over the last year I have had every test done on me because my weight dropped down to 95lbs, I get really bad chest pains that make me feel like I am having a heart attack,I am really shaky, my hands and feet go to sleep, I cannot concentrate (which is bad since I am a student), having trouble sleeping,extreme fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and the list just goes on and on. Well, the docs couldn't find anything and so when I finished my pack of yasmin last tuesday, I didn't start a new pack. I am pleased to tell you all that this week I have more energy (i also have a husband, a 9 year old, and help run our business), no chest pains, and I have gained weight. I am going to talk to my Doc about a different form of BC. Hope you all get back to feeling normal. and for those you are having great luck with it, Congrats!!!!!!! i Hope I can find one too.

Hi, I have been on Yasmin for 2 years now. I have ALWAYS been a very confident and outgoing person. For the past year i have had panic attacks regularly. I am very hot at night, I have trouble sleeping, yet my period pains are at a minimun and I have few symptons of PMT. (Mind you it is still bad enough to take codeine and paracetamol on the first day of bleeding).

Other side effects that I thought would clear up but which haven't are:- dark patches on my forehead and above my lip (doc said they would go, but seem to 'come' and go) and a very sore throat accompanied by swollen glands, sometimes on the right, sometimes on the left side of my neck. My fingers are tingly and my joints are swollen. The Chest pains could be related to anxiety. I get a migraine 24-72 hours before I bleed, regular as clockwork now.

The worst is the mood swings and the depression, I just really don't recognise myself, tired and teezy all the time.

I was very happy for the first 3-6 months that I took Yasmin, but after that I have known I haven't been 'right', but my anxiety and depression have made me unable to make a decision or be focused why.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed on the site, it's great to know I'm not the only one.

i have been taking Yamine for about a month and a half, after being on a generic pill for a couple years. I didnt know if these symptons i was having was caused by yasmine, but now i think it may be. I have been getting lightheaded, blurry eyes, shakiness, hot flashes..almost like a panic attack, and i have become very dehydrated, even though i have been drinking alot of water. I even went to the doctors for these symptons and they still don't have an answer, so i think it may be yasmine.my newest sympton as of yesterday is chest pain. also i feel like my heart is beating fast all the time, and i feel fatigued way too often, which is causing me to eat more, becauase i am starving way to often, and if i don't eat i feel like i am going to collapse. Also my sex drive has gone to non-existant- is that common? I workout all the time, and eat pretty healthy, so i don't know what else these symptons could be coming from. Is anyone else experiencing these sympons?

I'm so glad I googled side effects of Yasmin and found this site. All of the sudden my mood swings for the past almost YEAR make sense. I started out fine. The pill was great, and I haven't had to worry about acne at all. Of course I gained a few pounds, but not too much. However, I'm a pre medical student trying to study for the MCAT this summer. I've been SO tired and drained and majorly depressed that I just can't seem to concentrate. I feel like I'm always crying over the stupidest stuff (AKA: no reason at ALL), and my grades are starting to suffer. Hopefully now that I've read this, I can stop taking this pill and see an improvement. It's just not worth the depression. I'm 22 right now, and until recently had never had a suicidal thought. I was starting to panic, because I couldn't identify the cause of my depression. I'm a good student, have lots of friends, and have the most amazing boyfriend and family. Life is good, I shouldn't feel this bad. Now that I have a clue as to what this may be, I can fix it.

I have been taking Yasmin for about2 years now. My cramps are less and my period only last like 3 days tops. I used to have to use a super tampon now I only use lites and sometimes a regular. My severe acne is gone and I haven't had any weight gain. Recently my doctor said to try Yaz......Big mistake. Each day after taking it, I was having chest pains. YIKES....went back to Yasmin. If I don't take it with food, I am lightheaded all the next day. Anyone else experiencing this strange side effect? Other than that, it has worked great!

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.

Hi Girls,
I haven't posted in a while, but I was wondering how everyone was doing with the weight gain. I have now been off Yasmin for 1 yr. I am feeling really great, I am now back to being able to run/walk or rollerblade 4-5 miles a day 4-5 times a week. My cycles are more normal than ever. Not exactly 28 days more like 38, but I'm ok with that.

The thing that is still getting me is that I not only can't lose weight, I'm still gaining it. I think I have now gained 40 lbs. I am taking vitamin b as well as women's one a day. Don't really want to take any more drugs though.

I had my thyroid checked when I was on the pill and going through the awful hell, had most of the side effects you have all posted, tingling, chest pains, anxiety, the list goes on. But they said thryoid normal and of course nothing wrong with me. Like most of you went to a zillion doctors about a yr. ago. But decided I was just going to give my body time to get back to normal.

Has anyone had similar problems with their weight. I just don't get it, I couldn't feel healthier, or be any healthier with my activity and lifestyle, but I just feel like I'm getting bigger and bigger, and according to the scale I'm right!

Any thoughts would be great. Silke how are you feeling?
Thanks,
Hill

i just found this site. I went off of yasmin three days ago. My fam. dr. asked to stop taking it immediately when i went in for chest pains. She said she's had others on yasmin come in with chest pains. So i have stopped (against the advice of my gyno ) and i feel so strange! i feel really sick and i just snapped at my kids today like never before, i think i scared them. what is happening? I feel like throwing up every two minutes, ZERO energy, headache and this is after stopping it and i'm bleeding like crazy. Anyone else go thru this? does it get better ? please tell me it does.

This whole past year i felt like crying ALL of the time and i attributed it to stress. Heart palpitations and chest pain almost every day. This is all new to me are there any other sites out there on this? thank you!!

andrea

I'm glad I wandered across this page. I have been on Yasmin for almost two weeks and I finally decided that I couldn't take it any more. I have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and the pill exacerbated the effects. I was barely able to get out of bed and missed several days of class. Yesterday, I experienced some slight vertigo and when I lay down on the bed I experienced a spinning sensation. At times my heart beats fast and at others I get chest pains and it feels like my lungs are burning. My complexion has gone to hell. I have a lot more acne than usual. Also, hot and cold flashes. Yesterday I felt feverish and thought maybe I was getting sick. Sometimes the nausea gets to the point where I think I might vomit.
These symptoms are in no way bad compared the Ortho Evra patch that I tried a couple years ago. It made me paranoid and lethargic. I threw up a lot. I locked myself in my room and had horribly violent dreams. I also developed a severe rage problem that came out of absolutely nowhere! There were times when I thought that I was loosing my mind. I think maybe I was a bit. The paranoia was awful and it fundamentally changed me as a person. I think birth control is sceary. I think I'm going to stick to condoms and spermacide from now on.

Chest pains, severe angina every month for last 9 months
loss of eyesight in right eye-substantial
severe eardrum pain
fatigue
de-hydration-extreme-never enough water and I drink alot
dizziness
foggy head

All related to potential side effects. Read the accompanying pamphlet with yasmin. They are all listed. We just don't read...

I'm another exmple of someone happy to have found this website and now off of Yasmine. I was on Yasmine for a couple of years with no problems or side effects until a couple of weeks ago I ended up in the hospital with chest pains. I'm 47, non-smoker/drinker. No family history of heart problems and not overweight. When the paramedics arrived at my house my bp was 210/189-it's usually 120/69. I spent the night in the hospital underwent multiple tests which all came back negative. I knew and told any doctor that would listen to me that it had to be hormonal, but I heard the same thing it seems they tell all of you with the same complaint. Anxiety attack caused by stress. I knew better, and did the research, found your site and called my gyn to tell her I would be discontinuing the Yasmine that day. We HAVE to be the advocates for our own good health. Thanks again for all of your contributions on this website-it's how I knew my gut feeling was right on.
Barbara

I started taking Yasmin about 3 months ago. About a week ago, I fainted and had to go the ER. There they found that my heart rate was irregular so they put me on a heart monitor. A day later I was back in the ER because of chest pains and a shortness of breath. Two days after that, I was in the ER once again due to my extremely high heart rate and pain in my legs. They told me it was my thyroid levels that were causing this, so I found a different doctor who said it was not my thyroid but had no idea what it was. I ended up going to a cardiologist who just told me I was under a lot of stress. I asked each doctor if my birth control could have anything to do with it, and they all told me no. Well, after finding this website, I can now see that it is Yasmin causing my health problems. Thank you all so much for posting your stories...they really saved me!

I am really getting more and more upset and frusturated reading these women's posts. Just today on teh "forum" post (see above-3 different ways to communciate about Yasmin)a 20 year old who had never been on a bcp got a pulmonary embolism two monhts on Yasmin!!!

Then I read Tricia's post and it makes me angry. How do we stop this stuff and stop the harming of more women!!!

And I got these damn tests back today from an RN who really doesn't know anything about Yasmin, high rates of potassium and suggested I find out an OBGYN and a Doctor! This is making me nuts. I keep finding inofrmation on the web that starts to add up. I know Yasmin increases potassium in the blood-but I went from 4.2 in Dec. 2005 to 5.7 Jan. 2007? One year? And I"ve been off of it for 3 months? The chest pains started in May 2006.

My breasts hurt. I have chest pain and going on 5th month of bronchitis like symptoms every menstruation! What the hell?