Yasmin and dizzy spells

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

Thank god for the internet-I don't know what I would have done if I had to feel the way I did from taking Yasmin any longer without knowing why. I took Yasmin for two months. In the third week of my second month I suffered from severe anxiety and panic attacks along with irrational fears and obsessing on random thoughts that wouldn't normally bother me. When I would somewhat calm down, I would then feel so depresses because I didn't know why I just couldn't go back to feeling like myself. I am a worry-er, I admit, but never to this extreme. I was so nervous, I had no appetite and the anxiety really began to take its toll on me physically. Now that I look back on it, I was more nervous than usual in my first month, I have lost my sex drive, I have had small dizzy spells and blurred vision, random pains in my left lower abdomen area, but I never put these all together. When I found not only this website, but tons others with women writing about all of these side effects, I already started feeling like myself again. It's been 4 days off the pill and I still get a little anxious, but nothing like it was last week. I can't wait for this stuff to get out of my system. I did take the pill at 7:45 every night and I do notice I'm more nervous in the morning when I get up and by late afternoon, I start to relax and feel more like myself. Synthetic hormones are not natural and I really feel like we shouldn't put this stuff in our bodies. We are messing with scary stuff. God only knows what would have happened if I had to endure any more of that physical and mental pain!

I can't even describe how this website is making me feel. How could I be so stupid as not to consider my birth control as having large effects on my body. I was on Ortho Cyclen before and it was fine but I wanted to switch to something else because I gained weight on it. I switched to Yasmin and didn't notice much of a difference besides the annoying thing that I still get severe cramps and back pain during my period. In probably the last almost 2 years I have been suffering from depression and OCD symptoms that are very bad. I was not sure what was wrong with me! I have also developed IBS symptoms to the point that I can't even go out and eat dinner with my boyfriend or family without being anxious about having stomach pain, nausea, and having to run to the bathroom. I was tested for an ulcer (it's genetic in my family) but it has been confirmed otherwise. I am on Omeprazole (to decrease stomach acid) and feel at lest functional on it but still get severe stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea. No one seems to understand!!! I also get dizzy spells and feel faint and weak frequently. I was diagnosed with a thyroid disease but have been on medication for that and never really felt many side-effects from that anyway. I am going to request a different medication the next time I see my gyno and hopefully I'll be back to the fun-loving spontaneous person I once was.

(SIGH) well, with great relief i can say i'm not alone in the war against BC pills and side effects. the weirdest things started happening to me when i began taking yasmin - the 1st night i got my period after taking it i has THE WORST period pain EVER!!! so bad that i popped a mersyndol and no lie, within 30mins my sister was driving me to the emergency ward - i literally thought i was dieing. Anyway, turns out i had a MONSTER of an anxiety attack and a (viral) ear infection at the same time... GREAT!

at the time i had no idea what was causing my 'so called' spazo attacks - i just thought i had some horrid ear virus which would last a couple of months and clear up (the docs agreed). when it didn't start clearing up i started seeing docs on a regular basis, paying thousands for all sorts of tests even did the whole allergy testing thing thinking i'm seriously intolerant to something but to no avail... 4 years later and i'm still struggling with the following symptoms: dizziness (and i mean ALL the time), it's more like being lightheaded not so much dizzy spells, nausea, bloating, sore throat, tired/no motivation, weight gain 8 kgs in 3-4 yrs, i'm 29 (female) so i guess my body thinks it about to have babies... pressure headaches, ear ringing, my sex drive has packed up and left town, blah blah blah, i could go on... anyway, last month i went off yasmin (only cos i ran out) and spent 4 weeks al'natural. i got my period only a couple of days last and last sun i went back to the doc for gen exam and thought while i'm here i'll get a script for yasmin again... took my 1st pill on mon just gone - i can't tell you how rotten i've felt this week, i just thought it's prob pms or something no joke, everything has come back new and improved - now the dizziness is worse 10 fold, the bloating horrid... i've had a headache for 3-4 days now, constantly running to the loo. i feel like a TOTAL wreck!!! my husband thinks it's just women's stuff... pfffffft!!! he noticed i've been edgy all week and keeps asking 'what's up with you' and me thinking it's pms or something kept saying 'nothing honey' - well thanks to everyone who posted here i now know better!

oh, forgot to mention, after having my HUGE panic attack, the doc prescribed by 5mgs of lexapro daily and i've been taking that for almost 3 yrs - not sure if that's even good for my poor body...? helps with anxiety but purely masks the symptoms, hasn't cleared up - even the psychologist gave up cos she couldn't work out what was causing the anxiety... PFFFFT doctors... honestly!

good luck to everyone and head up guys, i know it's a painful process but eliminating the cause can take FOREVER and still i may neveer know what caused it...

Hello,
I am soooooo happy to have found this post!!! I have been on Yasmin for approximately six months for very irregular or non-existent periods. About four months ago I began having dizzy spells where I could not walk or move my head without vommitting. I have now had one each month, this last one occuring for three days. I have also experience nausea, stomach aches, vommitting, etc... intermitent from the other symtoms. Long long story short I was referred to an ENT specialist and was diagnosed with Meniere's Disease (Inner Ear.) I didn't buy it so I began searching for side effects of Yasmin - I am stopping it today! I have my fingers crossed this is the problem>

I started Yasmin three years ago. It was great, lighter periods, fewer cramps, less acne. About a year ago, I noticed my left arm would kind of be numb. Then two months ago, I started getting light-headed and dizzy. I went to the emergency room, they couldn't find anything wrong. They said I had a panic attack, but I knew that it wasn't that. I'm a very calm, happy person. I went to a doctor, said I had fluid in my ear, prescribed Antivert, didn't help. Went to another doctor, did an ecg, glucose test, nothing. Said I should go to a neurologist. I didn't because I don't have insurance and I suspected that it was probably the Yasmin. In fact, I asked each doctor if it could be the pill, since this was the only thing I was taking and they said no. Went to an ENT, found nothing. Finally, I just decided to go off the pill, got better, but still having dizzy spells and migraines. It's driving me crazy. Missing work, social engagements. I had the brown spots and vaginal discharge. That I could deal with, but this is ridiculous!

Hey-lo,

I have been on Yasmin for almost a month now, and the side-effects at the beginning were almost unbearable - dizziness, leg aches and moodiness, plus my skin, which was always acne-prone, broke out something fierce.

As the weeks wore on, all these seemed to subside somewhat. There's no more physical soreness and the dizzy spells are gone. Still a little on the mean side - hoping that will work itself out.

I am hoping, since you who frequent seem so kind, someone might respond to a rather... interesting if not disturbing side-effect I've noticed since starting my period. This is my first menstration since going on the pill, so I can only assume it's related... my menstral blood has an extremely strong, extremely unpleasant odor. It's almost fish-like. Really, it's disgusting and I'm a little worried about it. Has anyone had a similar change?

Other than that, I must say that this period is a cause for celebration. Ever since I was twelve, my menstration has been painful - writhing in my bed, crying and screaming, the pain was so intense. It's kind of a given that I would call in sick to work/stay home from school one day out of the month (my "bad day"). But this month, on the day I usually would have been dead on the bed, I was up, I went to work, it all went smoothly. This is not to say I still didn't feel fatigued and irritable, but the fact that I was able to function was amazing.

I hope it's always like this.

- Elfie

Hi Ladies

I just thought I would update you all.

I stopped YASMIN in July last year, as I am sure you have all experienced I started to get Panic attacks, terrible anxiety I thought I had a brain tumour, I was convinced.
I did not feel right, dizzy spells,pins and needles in my hands and arms, Insomnia, etc, etc.
It did not go and lasted months non stop, I could not eat and the fear inside me was terrible, with two young children to look after I was going through hell.
I found out it was due to stopping YASMIN that was giving me these sypmptons, even though its hard to beleive you try to convince your self of this because you want to get better.

Every day and night I would come on this website and read non stop all the posts you ladies were putting in, it made me feel better, I was not going mad it was also happening to you.

I went back and forth to the doctors and drove them mad, unfortunately they have never agreed it was the YASMIN that had done this to me, but we know it is, I don't know what is in this horrible drug but to change your life iupside down it should not be on the market.

I have been going to a councillor for 6 months now and I would like to let all you ladies know it will and does get better, I have a panic attack and anxiety very very rarely now, and when I think back to how bad I was I can't beleive I went through such a horrible time, there is light at the end of the tunnell and when this horrible drug is out of your system you WILL start returning to normal.

I feel well now and just wanted to let all you ladies know, I desperately needed this site when I was at my worst and thought I would give you all a bit of hope.

Take Care
Joanne

Hi Ladies

I just thought I would update you all.

I stopped YASMIN in July last year, as I am sure you have all experienced I started to get Panic attacks, terrible anxiety I thought I had a brain tumour, I was convinced.
I did not feel right, dizzy spells,pins and needles in my hands and arms, Insomnia, etc, etc.
It did not go and lasted months non stop, I could not eat and the fear inside me was terrible, with two young children to look after I was going through hell.
I found out it was due to stopping YASMIN that was giving me these sypmptons, even though its hard to beleive you try to convince your self of this because you want to get better.

Every day and night I would come on this website and read non stop all the posts you ladies were putting in, it made me feel better, I was not going mad it was also happening to you.

I went back and forth to the doctors and drove them mad, unfortunately they have never agreed it was the YASMIN that had done this to me, but we know it is, I don't know what is in this horrible drug but to change your life iupside down it should not be on the market.

I have been going to a councillor for 6 months now and I would like to let all you ladies know it will and does get better, I have a panic attack and anxiety very very rarely now, and when I think back to how bad I was I can't beleive I went through such a horrible time, there is light at the end of the tunnell and when this horrible drug is out of your system you WILL start returning to normal.

I feel well now and just wanted to let all you ladies know, I desperately needed this site when I was at my worst and thought I would give you all a bit of hope.

Take Care
Joanne.

Little Aussie Battler having issues with YASMIN

Let me start by saying how happy I am to have found this website and to find that I am not alone and other people are going through the same hell as me!

I have been taking Yasmine for about 12months and have experienced really bad anxiety/panic attacks. I really thought I was going nuts and it wasnt until I was referred to the webpage. I have been off Yasmin for about 7 days and boy do I feel sick, dizzy spells and bad mood swings. I was on Dianne 35 ED before this (it is excellent for problem skin) however I stacked on the weight which I hated so the Doc put me on Yasmin.

Does anyone actully know how long I will be feeling like this for? IF so how long? I heard you can get a patch now any news on that?

Let me know guys

Cheers from Down Under :)

2 Day's after Yasmin!

Feeling terrible, everyting you listed.
Still have legg cramps.
Very, very thirsty!
Bad anxiety, severe depression.
Migrane's.
heart racing.
Dizzy spells and always tired.

I am so glad I came across this!

I have posted my side effects earlier, but I have a question, someone mention leg pain, but what about severe spasms in the legs? I have had bad ones at night and when I stopped the Yasmin last Thursday, they don't seem to be as bad, as have dizzy spells and nausea.
I am so grateful for this site.
perrythorobred

Hello,
I have been reading the forum for a couple weeks now. I am a former Yasmin user. I was on the birth control pill for 2-3 years and stopped it 3 months ago.
While on the pill I started experiencing horrible anxiety and panic attacks. I had dizzy spells and was always tired. My ankles and wrists would swell for no reason, it didn't matter what time of the month it was. I also had high cholesterol and I have never had high cholesterol before in my life. I am a dedicated runner with a petite figure, no family history of high cholesterol, and maintain a healthy diet low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables.
Now since I have stopped the pill I have a bit more energy and no more dizzy spells. I am still experiencing anxiety and panic attacks, sometimes worse. And happy to say that I just got my cholesterol checked and it is within normal limits.
But my questions to you all:
-Did anyone have any issues with hair loss after they stopped the pill? I seem to be having a moderate amount of hair loss, can anyone agree?
-Since I have stopped the pill I have failed in getting my period and I'm not pregnant, can anyone relate?
-How long does it take to get my body back to normal?
Thanks for your time
Desperate for Answers

I was on Yasmin for approx. 6 months. After missing a pill this month and doubling up, I abruptly stopped taking the pill. I am now dealing with a very heavy period, shakiness, blurred vision, and extreme fatigue along with dizzy spells. I am so happy to have found this website. I suffered from anxiety and very mild depression alond with terrible insomnia and dreams for the past 5 months and now I think I know why... Yasmin!

Hi ladies. Chrissy, I wanted to see how you were feeling since we went off the pill about the same time. I'm definitely feeling better, however, I have been having constant attacks, which I think is anxiety. I've never really had it before so I'm not sure.
When you say you guys have anxiety, does it just come on for no reason? For me it's like I just start to get tingling, or numbing in my face and arm and leg, (sometimes stomach) and then it happens for about 15 minutes, I'm dizzy and off balance and quite foggy. I try to breathe slowly and it eventually goes away. It's definitely scaring me, especially when it happens while I'm driving. I just wanted to see if this is what you guys are considering anxiety. Since I've been off the pill, I've had this happen about 5 times. I have been taking an aspirin every morning just in case.

I'm feeling a lot less lethargic, and am able to actually not just sit around all day, I have a lot more energy which is good. But I still get dizzy spells and I'm weak every so often.

Also, how long do or did you guys have your period after you went off it? I was Ok for the first few days, but now I've had it about 5 days.

And I'm also wondering how long until I feel normal again? Like I said it's only been 8 days post Yasmin, but I am still freaking out that something else is wrong with me even though the doctors said I'm fine, since I'm not feeling back to normal yet!

Thanks everyone for your posts, they are really helping a lot.

Hill-

I had the same chest pains. Sometimes it felt like it was in my lungs, sometimes, it felt like it was my heart, and sometimes I couldn't tell where it was coming from it just hurt. Everyone kept telling me it was panic attacks. I'm sure I had a few of those too as I have had an amazing amount of anxiety since starting Yasmin, but I knew it was something more. I take a baby asprin everyday to make sure I don't get clots. I have had ekg's and chest x-rays and nobody has found anything. I have had major fatigue, dizzy spells(almost blacked out), stomach pains...the list goes on. Just wanted to let you know you're not alone. I will tell you that I have been off the pill for about 5 days now and I still have a lot of anxiety but some of the chest pain has gone away. I'm hoping it continues to get better and fast!

Chrissy-

I too had the heart race thing. Although my heart only got up to 120 bpm. At first it would just pound really hard and feel like it was going to jump out of my body. Then it would get faster and faster. When it seemed to subside the chest pain would come. It really freaked me out. I've been really afraid of blood clots. I had some weird sensations in my legs.

Guest-

I have had the worst hot flashes that have not gone away yet. One minute I'm cold the next minute I am so hot and I am stripping off sweatshirts and things trying to cool down. It's the worst! I did also gain weight, but not sure how much of it was the pill and how much was me not working out anymore because I have been so fatigued.

Hope this helps all! Five days off the pill and counting! :)

chest pain, stomach ache, dizzy spells, headache, nausea, pains in arms and legs, sore throat, fatigue, sore breasts, aggression, decreased sex drive, moody, and weight gain.

Denise,
Thank you for your update after the RE. I find it amazing that no doctor will correlate Yasmin and the side effects that we are experiencing. I too was exactly like you before Yasmin, happy & energetic.
I am having such dizzy spells and anxiety attacks that I too am on Xanax and now Paxil. Never in a million years would I believe that this is happening to me. I am actually seeing a therapist! SCARY for me considering I cannot associate anything else but the BCP with feeling the way I am. I never felt stressed with the kids prior to the last few months of Yasmin.
The yoga (M/B/S) class is an excellent first step. The stress of the kids is alot for me right now so a yoga class might be what I need. I am about 12 days post-yasmin and on my 6th day of Paxil. I look forward to being rid of all of the prescriptions soon.
Take care of yourself!

antiyasmin-

I took Yasmin in October, Nuvaring in November, then switched back to Yasmin because of all the awful side effects I had with the nuvaring. The first week on it was ok, then I got this headache that was pretty severe, almost to the point it was hard to function. Nothing at all would take the headache away. It lasted for 3 full weeks. In that time I also had dizzy spells and chest pains. I took myself off it and decided to go on yasmin because the only side effect at the time was that I was more emotional than usual, I did not have any headaches with Yasmin and that was a plus for me!
after just two more months on Yasmin it felt like all hell broke loose. I felt I was losing my mind. Every moment of every day I felt like something was wrong with me (tumor, cancer, etc...) I also had these syptoms:

severe pain on the left side of my back below my ribcage
tender stomach with everything I ate
abdominal cramps
headaches
blurry vision
constant need to urinate, with slight occasional burning
shakiness
lightheadedness
extreme night sweats (had to change clothes once or twice)
muscle weakness
earaches
tight chest
when breathing it felt like I was in the cold and had to cough
mood swings, feeling in a numb state of mind with a low sex drive then switching to being very hyper with a high sex drive
the list goes on....

I went of Yasmin January 21st and so far things are good, I have a mild headache in the mornings but after working out it goes away, I get little dizzy spells once and a while, and really short panic attacks like I am forgetting to do something. Overall everything seems to be going back to normal. I'm going to the gyno tomorrow to see what other options I have for BC. I may just have to stick with the rubbers!

I started yasmin a year ago, thought it was good, but i have felt so depressed and down and anxious, thought it was just me going mad, but i have always been such an upbeat person, lately i have had dizzy spells, this morning i thought i was going to pass out so i had to lay on the floor for ages, which scared my 3 and 4 year old boys, later that day i went to the pharmacy as i felt much better apart from a tigh feeling in my chest the pharmacist checked my blood pressure ( i couldn't get into my doctor as she was ill) anyway the pharmacist said my blood pressure was high, which i have never had before not even during pregnancy, he said i need to see a doctor, i stumbled on this site accidentally and i know i am going to go off yasmin for sure now, I am a healthy 32 year old who isn't overweigth i eat a good diet and have never been unhealthy so i can only think this is the only medicine i take, and i have never felt so crappy, thank you all for making me realise i am not going nuts

i have been on yasmin for nearly 2 years, i get dizzy spells and i have just been diagnosed with chronic IBS which i am now thinkin might have something to do with yasmin, my stomach bloats and is rock hard! i cant eat certain foods as the thought of them makes me physically sick. i have resorted to eating potatoes and white bread as that is the only thing that i can stomach. my gp changed me to cerazzette but the thought of not being protected from pregnancy scared me and as a result i went back to yasmin. i am considering the contraceptive injections, anyone know anything about them as i still want to be protected from pregnancy but i dont want the dizziness, mood swing, tiredness etc etc anymore.

I was going to list all the side effects I have had while taking Yasmin but it looks as though I have the same side effects as everyone else. I took Yasmin for one year and I regret it. During this time I had extreme anxiety (I even started fearing going into stores because I had "dizzy spells" from the anxiety), heart palputations, vision problems, headaches, and so on. I starting seeing counselors and doctors. They all thought I had an anxiety disorder. Thanks to this site, I stopped taking Yasmin about 3 weeks ago and I feel so much better. All the symptoms have not completly gone away but for the most part they have. Good luck to all of you and thanks for your postings!

Hello ladies, it's Joodles with an update.....I am on day 48 of stopping this pill!

To date I have had 2 periods. I had gained 8 pounds in the first 30 days and also had swollen ankles (water retention) and a bloated stomach with a lot of gas.

As of today I have lost 5 of the 8 pounds, the ankles are back to normal but I do still have stomach issues.

In response to a lot of you asking about hair loss and acne, I too experienced hair loss, dull and lifeless hair. I have had a few pimples but nothing like when I was a teen ( I am 46 )
The hair is slowly growing back and I can actually see a bit of shine coming back.

My heart rate is back to normal, no more racing; the blood pressure is back in the normal range. My dizzy spells are almost gone and the headaches too!

The most important thing I have noticed is that my knees do not hurt anymore and I am not getting calf cramps at night in bed.

Ladies, it DOES get better. I had been on Yasmin for 1 year and I am so glad that me GYN told me to stop because my blood pressure was getting too high!

Hang in there and let's use this forum as a means to support and inform each other!

God Bless,

Joodles

To Kay who just recently posted, HANG IN THERE....I was on Yasmin for nearly 2 years and suffered from depression, rapid heart rate and severe anxiety for the last couple of months of taking it before realising it was due to Yasmin and getting off it. I have now been off it for 4 months and everything has been getting better each month...however, the main symptom that has lingered has been ANXIETY. Prior to Yasmin, I have never in my life had an issue with anxiety and each month (mainly around ovulation and period time) I get obsessive/irrational/negative thoughts and become more panicky and anxious. Each month has gotten better, but I am aware of it taking anywhere up to 7 months for some women for these effects to completely go. Be sure to cut out any caffiene as this only makes it worse. Also, I tried magnesium supplements as I heard it can lessen anxiety but it only made me worse so I stopped. It DOES get better but it takes a while. I think we almost need a website for those who have STOPPED taking Yasmin as much as those suffering whilst on it. GOODLUCK and take care.

WARNING to the guest who posted a reply to desperate boyfriend about the fact that you are now on Yasmin and feeling great...I too thought Yasmin was great for a year and a half until I was completely taken over with depression, dizzy spells, rapid heart rate and anxiety. Please watch how you're feeling as I would not recommend Yasmin to anyone, and would not wish my experience on my worst enemy. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security cause it seems to be ok at the moment. If I had been warned of the possible effects of this pill I could have saved myself and my family a whole lot of heartache.

Lots of hugs out there to those getting off this awful drug. It takes time, but you will get better and get back to your 'old self'!!!

Hi all,
Just an update as I have written in before. I took my last Yasmin pill on Febrary 22nd this year and am slowly getting back to my baseline. While on Yasmin I experienced severe anxiety, panic attacks, depression, irrational thoughts along with physical side effects like nausea, vomiting, dizzy spells, diarrhea, leg pains, joint aches, overwhelming fatigue, and weight gain. It has been a rough ride and I still deal with anxiety, irrational thoughts, and depression. The anxiety particularly hits at ovulation (midcycle) and the mood swings and depression hit in conjunction with the anxiety just before my period. It has been so hard going though this knowing I have not been myself--I was not this way before Yasmin. I seem to be more prone to anxiety now and I am scared to take medication of any kind now. I am so freaked out about having a bad reaction like I did to Yasmin. Fortunately, each month seems to be just a bit better, but it is a slow process. The physical symptoms are much better, but shaking the psychological ones seems to be taking much longer. I cannot wait 'till the day I feel 100% me again--I'm counting on it happening by the 6 month mark hopefully. Good luck to all you in Yasmin recovery out there. Best wishes.

I am 24 years old and was on Yasmin for two months. I have had negative experiences with BCPs in the past (tried Mircette, Alesse, Ortho-Tri, Desogen) but nothing was as bad as my experience with Yasmin. I stopped taking Yasmin almost two months ago d/t experiencing the listed side effects:
-severe anxiety attacks
-depression
-crazy mood swings (I cry for no reason at all sometimes)
-joint aches
-weight gain
-blurred vision
-diarrhea
-nausea/dry heaving
-paranoia
-dizzy spells
-constant worrying and self doubt
-headaches
and there's more...
After being off Yasmin for almost two months, I expected things to be back to normal, but I'm not quite there yet. I still experience anxiety attacks, depression, mood swings, nausea, and this strange sense of self doubt. I have never felt this bad in my entire life and I totally regret taking this pill. I want to be my old self again and feel normal because this sucks and it has caused a strain on my ability to do my job as well as a strain on my personal relationships with my boyfriend and friends. E-mail me if any of you are experiencing the same side effects (especially the anxiey, depression, and mood swings) so I know I'm not just going crazy for no reason. Best wishes to you all.

I would advise any woman to not take yasmin. I am in college and getting my work done has been a challenge. I have struggled trying to study and keep my grades up in the midst of all this pain. This birth control pill from hell almost ruined my life. I began taking this pill back in November. By December, I was rushed to the emergency room with chest pain so bad I thought I was going to die. I was given a steroid, and it went away....for a while. Meanwhile I started haveing dizzy spells so bad that I was scared to drive. I became very emotional and often wondered why I could not stop thinking about certain things. It was like I could not control my own mind!!!! This was the anxiety kicking in. Later, I began to have panic attacks, but it wasn't until this month that I knew what they were. Life for me had become hell. Things that used to make me happy did not anymore, and I could feel on top of the world one minute and like hell the next. The reason it took me so long to link these things to yasmin is because there were so many factors such as college, etc. that I thought could take a toll on me. I was ignorant to the fact that bcp could do this to me...until now. Now, I will never take another bcp in my life! It's not for me. I can't speak for all women, but I personally have thought I was going insane or losing my mind. Even when I had no physical pain, I still felt sick on Yasmin. Since december, I have been to the doctor more than 10 times, mostly trying to find the source of my severe chest pain and heartburn. I have had an echocardiogram, EKG, Chest CT Scan, Upper GI endosopy, blood drawn, and two chest x-rays. Every doctor tells me I am perfectly healthy, even though I feel like death is around the corner. From my first doctor's visit in december, I asked if Yasmin could cause my pain, and I was convinced by every doctor since then, appox 6 doctor, that Yasmin could not be the source of my issues. Three doctors have tried to put me on anti-depressants such as Prozac, paxil, and zoloft, but after reading the horrors of these drugs I decided not to. You cannot solve a problem with a problem. If you find yourself on an antidepressant, stop the birthcontrol, give it three or four months and see what happens. Many of the anti-depressants have side effects similar to the ones we are complaining of. Don't let a doctor convince you that you're crazy if you know in your heart of hearts that you are not. I have been off of Yasmin for three days now in addition to seven days of the white pill, and I have began to notice that not only do I have chest pains, but I have random aches and pains all over my body. They are very sharp and move quickly. Sometimes they tingle. Mentally, I feel so much better. My life is mine again. Now I just have to get rid of the physical symptoms. So far women have had strokes, blood clots, parts of their lung removed, gallbladder removed, and contemplated suicide. What will it take for us to see that man-made hormones don't mix well with most women's bodies. I, for one, am ready to be free. Before Yasmin, I was stressed, but I am now a different person. I can't wait to get back to normal. Don't listen to doctors if it doesn't coincide with your heart. Also, if you are taking this just for acne, look in the mirror, I am sure there is a beautiful face there. Don't go through all this hell on the inside just to look good on the outside. I am taking my life back one day at a time, and I hope you do too. To decrease my anxiety I have drastically cut my sugar intake and my caffeine intake as well, this may help you. Also, exercising regularly will help you destress when anxiety/depression seems to set in. A friend of mine also recommended that I not eat over-processed foods. She said that simpler foods are easier on your digestive system, and they don't have that draining effect on you. So far I have lost approx 5 months of my life. Good Luck ladies.

I am so glad that I found this website. I have been going to doctor after doctor trying to figure out whats wrong with me. I have the worst dizzy spells, I feel faint, and just not normal. I had the symptoms of a "Panic Attack". I have never had this before. I then just kept getting them EVERYDAY! I said this isn't normal so I wanted to find out what was wrong. I had a cat scan done, and was just about to get a MRI and brain test done. My mom then said "I think this all started when you took Yasmin" Turns out it was!!! Then I find this website and I see that other people have the same exact problems as me. I felt like crying becuase I thought I had a really bad illness. I am now off the pill! I would get numb in my legs, really hot, sweating, and then feel like like I was going to faint. This pill is so bad and should be taken off the market because it can really cause life changes.

Hi everyone
I just wanted to say thank you for all of the posts you have put up. They are the only thing that have kept me sane in the last month. I have been on Yasmin for a year already and had almost no noticeable symptoms with the exception of shortness of breath from time to time. It did clear up my skin and increase my breast size as well.

It seems like every negative side effect of the drug has just hit me recently. It all started after my first pill of this pill pack with nausea and an odd tingling in my breasts, something that I have never experienced before. Then it progressed into the worst cramps I have ever felt that came on 1 1/2 weeks before my period was due to start, complete with lower back pain and a weird chunky white discharge. Then the dizzy spells started. I could hardly go to work. I felt I was in a fog the entire day. In addition to this all I was extremely depressed and had odd leg cramps.

The whole time I thought I was pregnant because I had never felt this way before and pregancy seemed like the only explanation. I went to the doctor and had a blood pregnancy test which came out negative. After reading this site one sleepless night, I found out it may actually be Yasmin that was causing me so much pain. When I called my gynecologist, and mentioned to her that I thought my symptoms might be from Yasmin, she told me I was crazy because no way would it start to affect me after a year of being on it.

Well, I am on my placebo pills now and I feel MUCH better. I am not sure what to do next. I do not want to go on and off birth control. I am thinking of trying something new, but am a little scared. I want to let you know that the symptoms may strike at any time regardless of the length of time you have been on the pill. Good luck everyone!

Wow, I can hardly believe all that I'm reading. The realization that I have so many of the same symptoms as all of you has brought me more comfort than I have had in months since taking this wretched pill. I am CONSTANTLY tired, though oddlyl I have difficulty sleeping at night. I am paranoid, moody, and depressed. To think I actually was discussing my need to consider anti-depressants with my boyfriend and friends recently makes me sick. My sex drive is definitely not what it used to be and I often get dizzy spells. I seriously cry at LEAST 5 times a day. NO ONE reading this should ever think these things are normal...that is what I have taken with me from this message board. The things we are feeling are completely unnatural and abnormal & we should all talk to our gynocologists.

Unfortunately, I just started a new pack so there's no turning back this month. Is there anyone out there who is experiencing significant fatigue and can give me suggestions on relief they may have found? Is my only relief going to be when I stop this pill next month or is there SOMETHING I can do in the meantime?

My most sincere thanks and best wishes go out to all of you who have posted on this website.

I can't believe all the women who have experienced these awful side effects of Yasmin. I went to my OBG-YN last week and told her how terrible I have felt for the past two months I have bee on Yasmin. I asked her if this was normal and she said she was pretty sure it was due to the Yasmin. She took me off the pill, and actually told me to stop taking the pills a week early. She prescribed Ortho-tricyclin Lo for me. I hope this pill is better, because I can't handle feeling so tired and out of it all the time. I am always tired, my face breaks out more than usual, and I have been getting calf cramps. I also get dizzy spells when I am driving, in public places and even at home. I have been very moody and not feeling like hanging out with my friends anymore. I stopped the pill two days a go and I can't wait to get my period and get on with my life. Has anyone else tried ortho tricyclin LO? I am scared to try a new BC pill because of the terrible side effects of Yasmin.

I am 36 years old and have been on Yasmin for almost 2 years. My dr. switched me from ortho-cept because of terrible mood swings and said this was a much lower dose bc pill. When I first started, I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread!! Over the last year, however, I started with all types of aches and joint pain and major fatigue. Only being in my mid 30's, I felt as though I was in my 70's. Over the last year, I have been through tests for thyroid, lyme disease, etc. I have even been to a rheumotologist. Within the last 2-3 months, I have started with break through bleeding which I never had before. Also, I am getting severe headaches which seem to be more prominent when I am on the placebo pills. They subside after about the 3rd pill of a new pack. Some headaches have been at the migraine level with my vision also being affected. I have noticed severe dizzy spells, nausea and the cramps has returned with a bang. I have contacted my dr. and they have told me to stop when I finish the next pack and they will put me on another pill. I realize everyone's body is different and there are those that this may be the mriacle pill. But after this roller coaster ride, I think I am going to take a couple of months off and see if my body can or will recoupe and I may feel better.