Yasmin and depression

I have a 16 year old daughter that has always been extremely healthy, very out going, very happy and energetic...until YAZ! My daughter was put on Yaz for irregular periods, it was nice that it helped her (very) mild acne. The first couple of months were fine, but then she started having a lot of symptoms...hair falling out, heart palpitations, bloating, depression, anger, crying, down mood all the time, I have rarely seen her smile in months, leg/joint pain, anxiety/nervousness, I can see her shake a lot, wanting to be by herself (which is totally not like her at all.) This medicine has helped her acne and period cramps, but totally destroyed her personality and her happiness! Is it worth the price...absolute NOT! I AM TAKING MY DAUGHTER OFF YAZ TODAY!!! Honestly, I do fear what this medicine could do to her life if she is not taken off of it ASAP. How sad this medication is even available, much less being prescribed to 16 year old! I only wish I would have known about this before my daughter took this evil pill! I am so sorry for those of you that have gone through all of this as well.

Hi Guys

I am taking Yasmin since May 2006. I have been suffering from chronic daily headaches since March 2006 and wondered if Yasmin could be a factor in this? For my headaches I have tried so many different things and not been successful and hadn't looked at the possibility that Yasmin could be a problem until I started to google it. What do you guys think? Could Yasmin be adding to my problem of chronic daily headaches? Cos I have the headaches all the time.

Any responses would be greatly appreciated!

Regards
Warda

I've been on Yasmin for maybe 2 cycles, before I went to my doctor yesterday to see if I could stop it mid cycle.

side effects that I noticed (or had pointed out to me).
-severe mood swings, severe decrease in libido, general fatigue and depression, vaginal dryness, soreness, itchiness, it feels almost painfully tight?, my tits became monsters that increased at least a cup size that wanted to escape my shirt (my boyfriend appreciated this part, but they were very painful), general bloatiness/weight gain, binge eating (I normally don't have much of an appetite for anything, and forget to eat in between, school and work)

I'm a 30 year old woman and I've been taking Yasmin for 4 months now. I've been reading what people have been posting here and I'm wondering if I'm alone in having the following symptoms:
-severe breast pain for one day in the middle of my cycle, followed by mild breast pain until I get my period,
-painful cramps in the middle of my cycle,
-weird sharp internal vaginal pain, (sorry for the graphics, but especially during climax),
-acne problems,
-depression
The last two, I did see that people wrote about on here. I called my doctor today and I'm requesting a new pill. I thought that after a couple of months the symptoms would equalize, but after this last month, I decided I couldn't live with it. The breast pain especially has been very painful.

i'm a 21 year old girl, i've been on YASMIN for about 3/4 years, i have been through almost every pill you can think of. I was put on Yasmin because i had cysts on my ovaries, heavy bleeding and migraines.... ok in the beginning it was hunky dorry, but now its become really terrible. we have a heart condition in the family so last night talking to my dad explaining to him what i was feeling thought i was having a heart attack i had such bad heart palpitations, i had sharp shooting pains which felt like they were going through my heart, my chest closed up and i couldn't breath... my hair is falling out by the hand fulls, my moods are terrible my family doesn't even want to be around me, i'm paranoid i lost my boyfriend because i was so paranoid.... i have depression, i wake up every morning feeling nauseous, i have had the flu 23 times this year it has effected my immune system very badly. at least 3 times a month i have a migraine which keeps me in bed for about 3 days. out of all the pills i have ever tried this is the worst. i have never felt so rotten in my life i cant wait to come off after seeing all of your comments, i'm going to the gyne today. if i can help anyone PLEASE come off this pill it will cause more damage than anything else.

I am so glad i saw all these other comments or else I would have thought I was going crazy!! I decided this wk end to come off of Yasmin, i've had nothing but a rollercoaster of emotions for the last 5 months and I really didn't think it could be possible for it to be down to just one small pill!!

I know they say you have to try a lot of different pills but i think I'm put off now!!

The symptoms I had were weight gain about 10lbs, I was always hungry, mood swings like no other, crying for no reason, stressing, depression paranoia, dry skin and headache!!

The main reason I'm stopping it is just my mental state I was never the calmest person in the world but I found it impossible to control to control my emotions and temper. The paranoia was the worst. My personality completely changed!

I'm off it now for 4 days and hopefully I'll come back to normal!! I didn't feel right from the start but I decided to give it a few months to level out, now i wished I'd stopped back then!!

Oh! And Furthermore, Lest I forget to register MY formal COMPLAINTS about Yasmin...
i was a healthy 160 pounds when i started taking Yasmin 6 years ago (about) I now weigh about 218. 60 pounds in 6 years for me =( I attribute some of that to Yasmin...
also~ signature heart palpitations, depression, moodiness. exhaustion crept up on me over time, worrying about everything, being tired but not being able to sleep, (these all contributed to my lask of ability to exercise overly much....palpitations during exertion are very scary....
horrible overall experience. Just got off, going back to condoms as a 31
year old woman! (tells you how bad the pills are) Will never take ANY pills ever again in my life and really think these pills should be taken off the market. in this site alone you will find over 4000 threads on the topic of bad Yasmin side effects....google it and Im sure you will find tons more, Get off this pill if you value your heart and your hair! and spread the word.... I wish you all the best and pray this isn't something even worse than we realize, or that the damage is not irreparable. =(

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'm 21 and have been on Yasmin for 3 and a half months for bad acne. I was originally on Dianette but experience such severe side effects I honestly thought I'd be hospitalized, so I asked my doctor for Yasmin. All was fine for the first 2 months, but I'm now getting horrible pain in my right leg which won't go away no matter what, coupled with a pins and needles type feeling in my feet. I'm also developing spider veins on my legs, It's got to the point where I'm scared to look at my legs now in case any more have shown up! I've decided I'll come off it in a month or so, but don't know what to do to keep my acne at bay. Does anyone know of any natural remedies? I don't wanna keep messing around with drugs and hormones in case I cause long term damage!
Also, has anyone else gone to their doctor about these side effects, only to find the doctor says 'its nothing to do with the pill' when clearly it is! I saw 3 different doctors about my dianette problems, none of them believed it was down to the pill, but when I stopped taking it, my problems disappeared :/

I have depression and take medication for it, after taking Yasmin in combination with these drugs it was like i was not treating my depression at all. I became emotional, crying, I started to cut myself again, extremely tired, hopeless, I just felt horrible. My mother suggested It was the birth control and I came across this web page, thank you so much! it mentions briefly as a side effect but i was under the assumption it would be good for my PPMD, not make me worse
i also have god awful headaches

This contraceptive means that I will never go on the pill again. I was on Jasmine for a year, lost my boyfriend, lost a lot of weight through been sick every morning, and through depression. I didn't have sex for the entire time I was on it. Couldn't bare anyone touching me, including close friends just for a friendly hug. I was paranoid, had panic attacks and was in a constant state of nervousness. I cannot believe that this drug has not been taken off the market, that it is still recommended to people as the "wonder" contraceptive pill is completely baffaling.

I have been on birth control since I was 16 due to severe cramps during that time of the month. I have been on several different kinds. They placed me on Yasmin about 3 yrs ago. I thought that was the best one that I had ever been on until I went off of it. I have been off of Yasmin for about 2 1/2 months, since then I have developed anxiety, panic attacks, depression, with racing thoughts. I have contacted my OBGYN who said that this would not be a side effect. I have to say that everyone's body is different. I would like to know if anyone else has experienced any of these symptoms and if so how long will I feel like this?

Lately my wife has been experiencing of depression, lack of energy, muscle cramps, nausea, enlarged and soar breasts (nipples are hot also), headaches, insomnia, vaginal discomfort and sourness with and without physical contact, constipation, and other symptoms, which I cannot as a male, properly describe. Is this accumulation of symptoms normal or should we look in another direction for birth control (besides condoms)? A concerned husband, Kenny...

I cannot recall off the top of my head how long I've been on Yasmin, but its been at least 3 years. I feel very tired a lot of the time, and I have little to no energy, except for a few days before my period starts, then I feel great and happy go lucky. My brother died over 10 years ago, and I was using an anti-depressant, so I kept thinking my depression was from my grief of losing my brother. Now, reading some of these posts and other women's experiences with Yasmin, I'm starting to think maybe Yasmin is the cause of my depression. I'm usually an energetic person, and love to be outside and enjoy being around people. Most of the time now, I'd rather be sleeping or being by myself. Thanks, everyone, for your experience of using Yasmin. I think I have a valid reason for seeing my doctor, to get off of Yasmin. I am not in any relationship, and the only reason my doctor put me on Yasmin was to regulate my periods, though they are usually fairly light to normal, and always have been.

My daughter has been on Yasmin for a year and a half - it was prescribed for irregular periods and spotty skin. She is 15 and has had a year of nausea, leg cramps, hair loss, headaches, elevated heart rate,fatigue , irritation,angry outbursts ,dehydration severe moodiness and depression and lately- uncontrolled crying for no reason. She also sees black dots after exercising. She has gone from a happy girl who loved exercise to a grumpy couch potato! The doctor diagnosed it as a viral infection and suspected glandular fever - she missed a lot of school!
Today she had a day from hell - fought with a teacher and cried for hours. She also takes Ritalin as she is ADD- so I thought it was that - I decided to look up Yasmin and am so glad I did! What a great website! She has just taken a multivitamin and mag.phos - NO MORE YASMIN!!! Any advice on what she can use for her skin? and irregular periods?
A million thanks
Caron

I went on Yasmin after the birth of my third child because I was having all of these symptoms that everyone is describing...mood swings, anxiety, depression, crying all the time, heart palpitations and so much more...once I went on the Yasmin I felt like a whole new person and it worked really great. I went off of it to have my fourth child. After having my son I started having terrible bleeding and irregular periods but NO other problems like I was having before. I started the Yasmin to try and regulate my periods and now...I am having all of the Anxiety, mood swings, up at night, mind can't stop spinning, tired and depression, everything you girls are describing. It is as if my hormones have switched and now the Yasmin is causing all the side effects. I have to get off this stuff...sad thing is I had a tubal after having my son...so I don't need hormones for "birth Control" but the heaviness of my period was so bad that I can't go anywhere for two days...but at this point...I will deal with the irregularity then all the side effects that this drug causes.

I first started taking birth control pills about a year ago, and my doctor started me on Yaz, I continued to have an increase in headaches, nausea, and break-through bleeding, so she eventually switched me to Yasmin. To be honest for the first six months or so that I was on it, I was great, my headaches that I normally got decreased, and I didn't have any real side effects other then the expected break through bleeding the first months after starting it. Now I feel awful, my headaches come back with such increased severity I can't think and any medication I take for it doesn't work, during random times of the day I get waves of depression for no reason, I go through episodes of extreme emotion and the thought of even being close to my boyfriend at times sickens me. I didn't take any other drugs that could have interacted with the pill or increased the side effects as I know some people have implied. But I've never felt so horrible before in my life and I'm only twenty years old, I'm trying to get off the pill and find a different one, has anyone gotten off Yasmin and found a better alternative?

After trying two other birth control pills and the patch, I was put on Yasmin three years ago, because my doctor said it wouldn't give me mood swings.
Lately I've been having really bad anxiety attacks and depression. I've noticed a change for the worst in my moods while I've been on Yasmin, but I kind of ignored it because I hate condoms and don't want to get pregnant.
But I'm going to stop taking it because if there's a chance my anxiety will go away, it's definitely worth it.
If Yasmin is the cause of my panic attacks (and it seems like it might be), I definitely wouldn't recommend it.

Hello: I am so sorry that all of us are suffering since taking this pill. My experience with Yasmin was brutal and 3 years later I know am told that I have developed b12 deficiency or a very serious, but treatable condition called pernicious anemia. I never had it before then pill. I took Yasmin for only 5 months and felt sick the whole time. Headaches, strange moods, even a popping sound in my head some times, bizarre symptoms. I called my OBGYN and told he I was stopping. She said the pill did not cause this, but if I felt it was related to stop. AND IT WAS! She now admits to feeling bad for this. She did not mean it. Doctors only know what they read from the literature of a drug. I stopped taking it and was in the hospital within three days. I was in shock. Night sweats, tingling skin, no energy, stomach problems of every kind. Severe pain in my left ovary, suicidal depression and on and on. The worst part is that I began to get sicker and sicker. 3 years later of still being sick. The only thing that has helped my system is acupuncture and a serious diet change to aid my system, I find out that I have a serious b12 deficiency, which I never had. They call it an autoimmune disease which impedes you from processing b12 and all this starts in the tummy! I lost a baby during this time while pregnant, now we know it was this! The Yasmin pill has been pulled off the social medicine of some European countries due to such severe side effects. Their is a girl on this blog getting names together to start a class action suit. I am in. No one can get me my three years of suffering back, or my lost baby or my lost work. I am a professional flamenco dancer and let me tell you it is not easy to perform with a serious b12 deficiency which affects nerve endings, heart tissue and neurology! And the cure for this is b12 injections for life! If you want me to forward your name to the girl with the attorney you can write me at:****** Well I am going to keep trying to be well. I am young and have a whole life ahead of me.

These reviews are pretty scary to me ... I've been taking Yasmin for about 5 years. Late last year, I started getting what seemed like a full period (not just spotting) almost exactly two weeks into my pill pack. Then I'd get another full period when I got to the end of the pack, and I went ahead and took the sugar pills because I didn't want to mess around with my cycle (which I've done in the past, with negative results). My doc switched me to reclipsen for a month (which I've read bad things about too, but not as bad as Yasmin!). I've had NO sex drive for years now, which I've blamed on myself, but it's really affected my relationship w/ my fiance. It's hard because I just can't get excited. I loved Yasmin and recommended it to all my friends because it kept my water weight down. Last month when I went off of it, I gained about 8lb in just a few weeks. I attributed it to going on vacation and not exercising for a week (I normally eat very well and never miss a workout). But since then, the weight has stayed and is very slowly coming off. I'm a personal trainer and I never usually struggle like this. I've also been bloated and it seems like I have an excessive amount of abdominal bloating.
Anyway, after a month on reclipsen, I decided to switch back to Yasmin to see if the month on another drug "tricked" my cycle back into following Yasmin (wishful thinking!). Sure enough, got my period two weeks in. Also got lots of bloating, constipation (never normally a problem for me), and moodiness/ depression. I've had "stomach issues" for years, and I've even had a colonoscopy with no real diagnosis. My abdomen is always tender to the touch. I never would've thought Yasmin could be a cause, but now I really wonder. Also, in the last couple weeks that I took Yasmin again, I noticed days where it felt hard to breathe, and I just blamed myself and my weight, figuring it was the few extra things I ate that made me bloat. But now reading other experiences, I realize how unusual my recent experiences are for me. Now I'm not sure what to do -- I don't think reclipsen is a good answer. I want to go off pills completely for a while, but I'm really afraid of weight gain (Yasmin is addictive that way -- I love how it's kept my water weight down and I've been afraid to go off of it). Fortunately, I haven't had the blood clotting (to my knowledge) or acne. But I do have overuse injuries that never seem to heal -- now I wonder how much those relate to Yasmin. I won't be taking it anymore!

I don't have a side effect to report, but I have spent the past 3 hours reading all of your responses. Over all they are 95% negative. The only thing I am wondering, is WHY you chose Yasmin to begin with.

I have been thinking about taking Yaz to help with my severe PMDD. If you don't know what that is, basically it's like the moodiness side of PMS times 10. I am euphorically happy normally, lol, kind of like how happy a cocker spaniel is when their family gets home... except I don't piddle on the floor. About 5 days before my period starts I go into a very deep depression, I bloat, I am irritable, and my entire life suffers. I cry (wail is more like it) for absolutely NO reason... blah blah blah. But once I am about 2 or 3 days into my cycle it all passes and I am back to chipper me.

Long story short, I heard Yaz is supposed to be amazing to help stabilize people like me. How many of you started Yaz just as birth control, or as an acne control? How many of you took it for PMDD and it STILL didn't help?

I've been on Yasmin for four months. With all of the side affects from Yasmin it is the only pill that makes me feel somewhat normal. Just to name a couple I've been on Levlen, Tricyclen and they all caused major infections, depression and mood swings. I am only on the pill because I have a cyst on my ovary and the doctors will not operate because it is not big enough to remove but big enough to cause a lot of discomfort. Every month when I start Yasmin the first couple of days I am very moody and then I am okay until the week before my period thats when i am depressed and grouchy. Now I've started losing my hair, not cool. I'm sure it's Yasmin because i am not on any other medications and I take really good care of my hair. I just hoping it will pass.

Apart from the mood swings and terrible irritability (which I have experienced with most contraceptive pills I have tried) Yasmin gave me uncontrollable, incurable THRUSH. It first started about three months after starting Yasmin and I had it for 8 months straight until I went off Yasmin. Within weeks the thrush subsided. It was HELL. I was at the doctor every month, using creams, taking oral anti fungals. But within a week of ceasing treatment, I would get that dry, irritated feeling for a day followed by the itch and every other depressing symptom of thrush. Each time I would be in tears. I was swabbed for EVERY STD imaginable just in case, but (thankfully) all clear. It was horrendous and I am disappointed that neither my GP or Gyno could identify Yasmin as the problem. I also asked my Gyno if Yasmin could be causing the depression I was experiencing and he said not likely that it was probably some other underlying issue which baffled me as I have a wonderful life in all aspects. I have just started using the NuvaRing after not being on hormonal contraceptives for over 3 years. I am about to rip that out too! I cannot use hormonal contraceptives, not if I, and the people around me want to live a happy and harmonious life. Poor husband will have to wear the trusty old condom until we've had all our kids and he goes in for the snip!

hi guys. Im 18 years old and I started taking Yasmin about 3 and a half months ago .. i think. Anyways, I got on the pill because my boyfriend and I really wanted to take our relationship farther. It went farther alright ... We have always been so considerate of each other and so loving. He still was, I was horrible. Yasmin has caused me to be in such horrid conditions. I was /am (im in the middle of coming off of it right now) so irritable and depression was overcoming me. I was/am so snappy and completely not me. He even asked me where Chasity went (thats my name). Everything was hurting my feelings and I was crying about everything and I thought/think my life is falling apart. I have also been very suicidal during my trial with Yasmin. My calfs hurt really bad also, mainly my left one. I'm not sure if its caused my back to hurt simply because I have an overwhelming job in which I have to lift a lot. Also I noticed here recently right before I was coming off Yasmin that I was getting some horrible migraines, and I have never had problems with headaches or migraines in all my life. I'm simply just not a complainer. I know stomach pains are sometimes symptoms of Yasmin but I cant really recall any of those. Being on Yasmin I just took everything to the extreme and thought everything was falling apart, i even lost hope on all ambitions. Needless to say, Yasmin and I aren't together anymore, lo0ol. If you need to talk to me any farther about this medication please feel free to contact me at ***

I just started taking Yasmin last Week, so April 23rd and am already experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms. I am having trouble sleeping and my boyfriend and I have started fighting which is a rare thing. I stopped taking it as of today and hope that it works as i cannot imaging feeling like this for long.

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.

Oh my god, I googled 'Yasmin depression' and was so shocked by the results! I too have been feeling terrible since I started taking Yasmin 5 months ago, and just thought I'd check to see if there was a link... I am amazed and kinda relieved to see that you girls have all been going through the same things as me!
I'm going to stop taking it tomorrow and will report back in a few months!

I had been on Yasmin for about a year, then switched to Loestrin, and then back to Yasmin the past 3 months. I've never felt more anxious, depressed and suicidal. Not to mention the cramps are just as bad as they were before. I have never had problems before with anxiety attacks or depression but the past 3 months I have just not felt like myself. I stress over the dumbest things and work myself up into a frenzy over things I should not even worry about. Went to my dr. today and my nurse agreed with me and said she had the same side effects when she was on Yasmin. I am not off it as of this morning and will be starting a new birth control pill. She also now has me looking into anti anxiety meds

I started taking Yasmine in 2005 and almost imeemdiatley I started to have severe anxiety, depression, no sex drive at all and worse of all extremely bad migranes especially a few days before getting my period and during. My life had to be put on hold when I had my period because of the migranes. I stopped taking the Yasmine 3 weeks ago because I just couldn't take the migranes anymore. I have noticed I have gained some weight, my skin and hair feels alot oilier, and my hair has been falling out more than usual which is kind of freaking me out, don't have mood swings. My sex drive has gotten better which is a relief. I still don't know if my migranes will have gone away during my period. I'm just curious can anyone tell me if these side effects (hair loss, weight gain, oily skin) will go away after a few months.
When I went off another type of pill I actually lost weight, why is this one different?

Well, I'll share my story with you, and feel free to comment or ask any questions. I had been taking Yasmin for about 3 years. For the majority that time, I was in college (UCLA) while my long term boyfriend and family were back in the Bay Area. I was extremely depressed, which I presumed to be because I missed my boyfriend, and school was very difficult, etc. However, I had terrible anxiety, to where whenever I went to class, walked the campus, etc, I would have trouble looking up, for fear of making eye contact with others. To ask a question in class made my heart race. I would get terrible lumps in my throat that I could not get rid of. I used to be really outgoing, friends with everyone. But at UCLA for two years, I barely made new friends (maybe 3-5), blaming it on being too busy with my studies. Pretty extreme anxiety. As a child, I was a gymnast and suffered from OCD at one point, probably due to the anxieties of a very strict, mature schedule at such a young age. I guess I've been anxious in some way or another during my whole life, however I feel it was WAY worse during the course of being on Yasmin. I have also suffered from depression in my life, but the worst times were during high school, and during the past few years while on Yasmin. I am not saying I blame Yasmin for these things, but I definitely think it made them worse. I also have been having terrible mood swings, crying spells (to where I felt like I was going crazy), and not feeling like “myself”. I did take a break from the pill after I broke up with my boyfriend, and felt WONDERUL, woke up in a great mood, ready to take on the day, instead of forcing myself to try to start the day happy (which rarely worked). It has been a CHORE to be happy and grateful for my wonderful life (family, friends, good job, own apt., dog) for the past few years.

I stopped taking Yasmin 3 days ago (Sunday the 13th was my first day off of it) and already feel more normal, balanced and myself. Happy, hopeful, more relaxed. Of course this could be “placebo effects”, but I now myself really well, am very in tune with my emotions, etc., and I definitely feel different. I am not rhuminating either, which was another effect.

Does anyone have a similar story? Thanks! -Cassie

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?

Hi
After reading this forum, I found my answers!!
I was diagnosed with endometriosis about 7 years ago and have been on a provera tablet which my doctor recently advised that I need to come off. We have been talking about a IUD but until then I decided I would start taking a pill to see how I go. I have started to get adult acne so my doctor thought Yasmin would be the best pill for me. So I started taking yasmin about 3 weeks ago.
I have slipped into a massive pit of depression, thoughts about death, not eating, vomiting, crying all the time (i recently had to leave work early because I couldn't stop crying), , headaches, fighting with my friends and family, being completly irrational.
All this happened so fast I didn't know what was wrong. I honestly thought I was going crazy and yesterday I ready to check myself into a clinic. I've never been on a pill before and a friend of mine came to my rescue yesterday and suggested it could be my pill. After reading all these, I know now it is my pill. I have never been like this before in my life and I hate feeling like this. I am coming off it today! No more.

Hi
im 16 and was on yasmin for a month
about a week ago, i started going downhill really fast
just into a wierd kind of depression, which for me is so not normal, im always happy, but im having obsessive thoughts, anxiety attacks, ive lost all my energy and i cant get excited about doing things with my friends. My obsessive thoughts are mainly about death, and i cant do anything without thinking what's the point.
I hate this pill, and would rather give birth to a chair than be on it any longer. Im starting to feel a little better now, but I'm still not back to my normal self.
I wouldnt support anyones decision to go on this pill ever.

I am so relieved to come across this forum. I have been on Yasmin for about 3 years. After reading several postings here to my husband, we were both horrified to hear that I wasn't the only one having strange issues without a clear cause. I too have had heart palpitations, anxiety attacks, uncontrollable mood swings, inability to concentrate at work or deal with normal work stress, back pain, trouble falling asleep, low sex drive, and most recently, horrible depression. I have been to psychiatrists, allergists, chiropractors and physical therapy - all to try to find the cause. I have just gone off the pill, and have noticed improvement so far, and am very excited to see it hopefully improve. Hopefully I will be able to find a hormone-free birth control, instead of dealing with this. I can't believe doctors do not discuss these possible symptoms with their patients. I never would have thought bc pills would cause anxiety, depression, etc. A huge thanks to all of you for your candid comments... and helping me find an answer to my life-altering side affects!!!

Okay, i am a 28 year old healthy woman. I have had a few anxiety attacks due to moving, new job, being a single momma and etc. But they are under control.
However, last month i started Yaz to help with mild PMDD which had developed after i had my daughter ( who is 2 now and awesome!!!). Well I thought it was okay at first then 2 weeks into it i started my period and bled for 2 weeks!!!! i have never had a period that long, i thought my blood would be low by then end of it. Well, i also had migraines, which i have never had before. Every morning when i woke up my head pounded. So, i have started the second pack and it has been awful, my lower back is hurting so bad, my anxiety is peaked and i am all shakey. Not to mention i feel like crying my eyes out. Oh and i have eaten 2 pieces of bacon today due to nausea. I couldn't believe it was the BC. When i was young i had taken Triphasil and ortho tricyclen. And i remember them being okay. But not this one.
So tomorrow my gyn. is putting me on Ortho-lo so hopefully it will work. I hate we all have to go through these side effects, but i guess that's how it goes. God bless everyone i hope we find some answers! :o)

Hi, I just wanted to say that I was on Yasmin for one month a couple of years ago and I had a lot of symptoms people have been describing. The anxiety, depression, uncontrollable crying at random times, the soreness, etc. When I stopped taking Yasmin it all went away. There are many other brands of birth control out there that have different hormone combinations, but are still just as effective (99.9%+). If you still want to be on BC you don't have to take Yasmin. After that I switched to orthotricyclin-lo for about 6 months and my only side effect was a little bit of breast tenderness. You have to try different ones before you find the BC pill that works for you. So if you are having those symptoms, get off the Yasmin! You will feel so much better. Many doctors are not aware of these side-effects of Yasmin, and actually think that its the BC pill with the least cases of harmful side-effects. I took a printout of a forum similar to this one to my doctor and let her know. You would probably be doing your doctor a favor if you did the same.

oh my god!! I have ALL of the same side effects as you do! The only strange thing is that I've been on this pill for 2 1/2 years now and I loved it up until this past week. I missed a pill on Fri so I took two on Saturday night...within 2 hours I was crying hysterically and having a full blow anxiety attack. it was so strange and scary. It came out of nowhere! then i woke up Sunday morning and cried every hour...I've never been like that in my entire life!!!! Now 4 days later my heart keeps "fluttering" (i don't know how else to describe it), I feel like i've been living in a fog...I thought i was going crazy! I am a 23 year old, healthy, active woman so none of my symptoms made sense!! My dr. keeps telling me that I have major anxiety problems (even though i live a very stress-free life and am very upbeat, outgoing and optimistic!) and prescribed me Lexapro. I have had a panic attack in the past, but it feels NOTHING like this. I am also having some inner ear problems, like I maybe have a sinus infection-it kind of pops in and out. anyone else have that? the heart thing and the fog is my biggest concern, should I switch pills or should I just get off BC completely? Any suggestions would help. I have a call into my obgyn right now.

I'm 23 and I got prescribed Yasmin because I have PCOS, where I only got my period every 3-9 months (very irregular) where I suffered severe period pain and my period would go for about 8 days. The doctor thought regulating my period would decrease the pain, which it did. My period is around 3-4 days, very light and no pain since starting Yasmin. But I have had migraines weekly, constant headaches, usually starting with my vision going blurry and seeing flashing white light. I also lost my appetite for the first month, but have gained weight. I was going to the gym and exercising everyday and now I have no motivation to exercise at all, but feel bloated ALL the time. I have had trouble sleeping since taking it. I suffered from depression and anxiety attacks about 2 years ago, but since taking Yasmin I have been feeling very depressed and had several anxiety attacks, although the anxiety has only started after being on it for 4 months. After having another migraine this week and having to leave work for teh second time in 2 weeks, I decided I was going to stop taking it. (I had also had 3 anxiety attacks this week) since stopping I have instantly felt relaxed, no anxiety, and I no longer feel depressed.

After suffering all of this for 4 months, 8 day periods and 4 days of being in pain doesn't seem so bad. The depression and Anxiety is the scaries part as I haven't experienced it for so long, and don't want to!

Does anyone know how long it takes to be fully out of your system? I just want to get back to normal weight, moods, energy levels etc as soon as possible!

Doing an article on Yasmin, INFO WANTED on Side Effects that occur after you stop taking the pill

Hey okay so I'm doing an article on Yasmin, the side effects that occur when you stop taking the pill, and would like more information on it. I would like to interview ex users of the pills that have experienced either hair loss, lack of period, severe headaches, and just about anything that resulted. I need to write this article ASAP! All experiences are helpful. I too used to be on the pill, and ever since I stopped taking it my cycle has been out of whack. Please contact me either via email gator924@ufl.edu or through AIM: lipsfullbittin or via phone: 786-239-8751.

While most people know some of the side effects of taking the pill, few know the side effects that occur when you stop taking it. It would be a helpful article to any users or future users of the pill, don't you agree?

I think It is wonderful...I don't understand why everyone can blame a little birth control pill. Come on now, is everyone honestly reading what they wrote it sounds ridiculous. My acne has cleared up and I haven't gained any weight except for the weight i put on myself not because of the pill. That whole weight gain thing all depends on you. I have headaches...but they are just headaches I had them before I started birth control -their not gonna disappear. Mood swings -we're woman like I said about the headaches- had mood swings before- their not gonna disappear... Thats all I got--- think about what your saying before you write it.

I am 22 and have been taking Yasmin for 3 1/2 years. Everything was great and then all of a sudden i started getting the same symptoms of all of you. depression, stomach cramps, zero sex drive, extreme dryness and almost all the others. my relationship is suffering but I'm not willing to go off a pill bc completely. Can someone please suggest a pill that is good with less bad side effects? I'm desperate!

I'm 15 and I've been taking yaz for about a month.
the side affects just aren't worth it, i didn't know my depression and tiredness was from the pill because my doctor told me there are NO SIDE EFFECTS.
well everyday i come home and i cant get out of bed, my boyfriend thinks I'm going crazy cause ill start getting mad for no reason and that usually doesn't happen. i play soccer and have been noticing extreme muscle aches and shortness of breath, which doesn't help at all. helppp! any other pills that are worth taking? thanks

I have been on Yasmin for about 2-3 years or so... but i remember thinking i was the luckiest girl because i found a pill i thought was great and made my periods only 2 days i loved it.... but lately for the past year i have been very depressed i realized something was different when i laughed i wasn't laughing i was just doing cause i knew i should laugh, i just didn't find myself happy and i should be I'm getting married to a wonderful guy who has put up with my loss of sex drive and being dry which makes it hurt so it makes it that much worse and my loss of exercising i feel fatigue over taking a walk or doing nothing i thought it was laziness or lack of motivation... then i have a bad knee and within the past year and half i have had severe neck issues with my muscles
i talked to my doctor she told me to see a psychologist for my depression, i have yet to do so but now realizing many other people are feeling this way on this site makes me happy I'm not really a depressed person and I'm just really messed up over this pill
I'm calling my doctor now to see if i can get my pill switched i cant last like this for much longer ill go insane and so will my fiance!!!

took Yasmin for four years (taken 4-5 different types of bc in just less than 20 years). I had previously suffered from migraines and the Yasmin did not make these worse. I did not gain weight on Yasmin. My severe pms, cramping, and bloating was much better on Yasmin. My face was less prone to acne on Yasmin. If anything I might say that I had IBS symptoms on Yasmin, but have really had them before and after as well and can't really say they were worse on Yasmin. I went off Yasmin because after a move the doctor/pharmacy I now use didn't carry them. I know have a headache with almost every period, cramping, bloating, pms, depression with each period. My face is a wreck and I feel like I am back in Junior high. I was considering trying to get back on Yasmin... then I found this sight and despite my good experience with it I am now wondering.

About a year ago I started taking birth control. I don't remember what it was called but it was a generic brand. It made me very anxious right off of the bat. It got bad enough that my husband and I even spoke of getting divorced because I was questioning my love for him. Needless to say, I got off of the pills. During this time, I told my OBGYN what was happening and he looked at me like I was some psycho. It took my about 3 months to get back to my normal self.

About 5 months ago I saw the commercial for YAZ and I really wanted to try it. So, last month I talked to my family doctor about it and he prescribed it to me. When I first started, I had my period for 3 weeks! I feel sick to my stomach all the time and I have a headache, but the worst part of all is that I am back to being depressed and anxious. It took me so long to get back to myself after the last pill. I didn't think I was going to have to go through this again! But after what my last doctor did, I am scared to tell my family physician because I think he will do the same thing.

Is anybody else experiencing these side effects or are my doctors right?!

Ladies!
When my mum pointed out this website, and blogs bout Yasmin,
and after reading just a few,
i bursted out crying.

after just 3 months on Yasmin
i was completely, utterly depressed.
being a 15 year old then, it was the worst thing
in the world.
i am a highly trained athlete,
and this pill made me gain over 7 kgs.

training 8 times a week, and 3 dryland,
and STILL packing on the kgs was
unimaginable.
i became completely self conscious,
and stopped eating for days on end.
training suffered, but my muscles and body
suffered more.
all my muscles got completely fatigued and
i lost most of my fast-twitch muscle fibers.

apart from this i obtained a COMPLETE
Fluid retention in every part of my body.
thighs and face the worst.
i couldnt move my joints very freely,
and nothing would let this go.

the absolute worst part was the depression
and anxiety that came from this all.
i remember having 2 weeks off school,
and all i did, was stay home, in bed and cry.
i broke up with my boyfriend, and didn't want
a n y o n e to care about me, i even made a list,
of everyones names and crossed them
off as they hated me.
i cut myself, and hurt myself, especially on my legs
where my mind just hated seeing them,
and feeling this way.
could NOT stand being in my swim-wear during training,
i would run out, and cry if i saw someone look at me.
paranoia.

to feel this out of control with your own body,
is the worst feeling in the world.

i would cry.
everyday. every night.
and i couldnt stop.
i would be moody, and angry, and hopeless,
and start verbal fights everywhere i went.

and i didn't even know why.

after reading this all,
suddenly, everything made sense.
my doctor, told me, in specific words

"they call this the 'luxury pill' its the most expensive,
and has least side effects than any of the others."

i showed her this website.

after i went off it, i had the three day blues,
mum said, just like after pregnancy.
i cried, and cried and cried.
would be sitting in class, and bursted out in tears.
things were horrible.

its now about 6 months later, of not being on anything,
my periods just began back after not having them
for 4 months, and my body, is no where
near how it was before i went on pill,
but its getting there :)

one day I'm going to be an amazing swimmer.
and on the Australian team.

i guess, if i had not had this experience
i would never be this determined now.

I Would NEVER Recommend This Pill
To Any Girl Or Woman.

EVER.

Its Amazing What One
TINY Little Pill Can Actually Do To You.

stay strong girls,
x x x

contact:***
for any other questions. :)

I took Yasmin for 2 years and about 6 months after starting Yasmin I started getting migraines at least 3 x per week and sometimes 5 x per week (before not even really getting many normal headaches). I thought it might be my birth control and saw my OB who referred me to a Neurologist who put me on a medicine for migraines. About another 5 months later I noticed I had a small bald spot in my hair line. Saw a Dermatologist who diagnosed it is alopecia. I immediately stopped Yasmin and migraine meds and decided to get an IUD (GREAT CHOICE!) My migraines stopped almost immediately, however my hair loss continues to progress. I now have 3 additionally bald spots on my head and areas on my scalp that are very thin. I feel great otherwise, no headaches, no depression (other than losing my hair), no anxiety, appetite is normal. I'm so desperate to find someone else that has had this specific problem as no one believes the hair loss is connected to Yasmin. I just pray after awhile the hair will grow back. Please if anyone has experienced this same situation please post what might have helped you get through it and if it does ease up! One more thing - I have scalp pain, like burning on the front and top and back part of my scalp, wide spread, not only in the bald areas.

I have been on Yasmin for about four and a half years now. I just stopped taking it because my husband and I want to start having children. I have noticed some horrible side effects. I am SEVERELY bloated, irritated at everything, and even more depressed. I also have headaches all the time. My mind races and I can't control my thoughts. Has anyone else experienced this? I am so glad I found this site. I was really getting down on myself over the past few years because of my depression and anxiety. I even had to go on medication. I have never been like this before so I was so confused as to what was going on. Now I see that it may have been linked to Yasmin. My doctor always asked me how I was doing on it and I never made the correlation between Yasmin and my downward spiral of health. About four months ago I started to get migraines about everyday. I went to the doctor and they did an MRI on my brain. They found lumps in my brain. Not cancer but just lumps. They just come and go. And when they come I can tell because of the debilitating migraines. I wonder if someone else has had this? I don't know if there is a connection but I am not ever going to take Yasmin again in fear of the cause. My doctor said that BC can be linked to migraines. Thank you for making me feel that I am not alone. I should make my husband read the comments on this site so he can see it isn't all my fault that I get moody!!!

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 talked to my gyno's nurse twice today. She told me when she first talked to me that she would have to talk to my doctorr and get back to me. Well, I just got off the phone with her and I'm pretty infuriated. She said that since I have been on the pill for almost a year, the pill has no direct connection with the depression spell. She didn't explain the sex drive thing & when I told her about other physical symptoms I had been experiencing, she did not back up any of it. She said that they will not change me to another pill until I see a family physician about the depression and am evaluated or go through a counselor. Too bad I saw a counselor all last semester for testing anxiety and I was never diagnosed with depression. I told her that it is now hard for me to evaluate my past on the pill, because how do I not know that the pill has been causing these symptoms all along & I merely found some sort of reason for everything that occurred. I also told her about this message board and she said that nothing on her goes along with scientific fact. I'm extremely frustrated right now.