Yasmin and drop of a hat

I took Yasmin for about two years, and never felt great on it. The first year, I was about 45 pounds heavier than the second, and the second, I started developing terrible side effects (depression, weepiness, paranoia, mood swings, general lethargy, extreme fatigue). I had the worst abdominal bloating (remember, all diuretics have a rebound effect) and most annoying, my nails started shredding and about 1/4 of my (lucky it was thick to begin with) hair fell out! Turns out Yasmin can affect the follicular cycle. THEN, my doctor pushed Yaz on me, though I expressly did not want to take it knowing it was simply a lower dose of Yasmin. She made me stick with it for four long, horrible months--it ruined my life!! It make me cry at the drop of a hat, practically suicidal, extremely moody, gave me TERRIBLE PMS like I hadn't had since I was 17 (I'm 33) and nausea, dizziness, and a spaced-out feeling. I became paranoid about all my friends, and have been jumping on my dear boyfriend for everything and overreacting to the slightest thing. From other stuff I have read, Yaz only works for people with terrible PMS already, or who have acne--I had neither. Whatever chemical is in this pill should be taken off the market--I am furious I was subjected to this, and horrified and so sorry to hear of the losses of loved ones above. Yas is terrible! I just finally switched to Loestrin, and am crossing my fingers. Yaz also gave me terrible bloating, gas and digestive problems.

I am so happy to be reading these posts. I am finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel for my mood swings and extreme anxiety. I was put on Yasmin after my daughter was born in 05 and last year switched to Yaz thinking it would help. After all, the ads say it reduces PMDD symptoms and that's what I thought I had. I am no better. My husband is about to leave me because as he says he does not know what wife he is coming home to. I cry at the drop of a hat and am all around miserable.
I don't see my doctor until September and was going to wait until then to switch but now after reading all of this I am going to call tomorrow and try to get a new prescription. I can't remember what I was on before getting pregnant but I want it back. I don't remember EVER feeling this out of control in my life.

I just started taking Yasmin last month. Throughout the month I couldn't realise why I wasn't my self at all. I was extremely anti-social, which is extremely out of my character. I was waking up feeling depressed not even wanting to get out of bed. I would cry at the drop of a hat! I was in the grocery store getting some vitaman B12, which just so you know does help with your mood and temprorarily was the only thing that would. I would also CONSTANTLY feel hungry, to the point of eating double the amount I regularly could. In the past month I have gained about 5 pounds, and I am very active.
This past week I haven't been taking them because I have been on my period, and I notice I actually wake up in a good mood, and feel so much happier. My appetite is back to normal after a few days, i guess cause I wasnt on the pill that long. I'm defintly going to try something else because I just didn't feel my self at all. What you guys are describing is exactly how I would feel... and I was afraid it would cause problems between friendships, and my relationship with my boyfriend. Defintly don't recommend this pill at all.

I first started taking Yasmin about a year and a half ago. I was only on it for about 2 months. I got off because me and my husband decided to have a baby. I felt awkward for those 2 months I was on it, but I had also just moved to another country and just chalked it up to stress. I just started taking it again about 2 weeks ago and today was the last straw. My breasts are so sore, I'm nauseated, and I've had crazy cramping and it's not even that time of the month. I've also been very moody and sad. I cry at the drop of a hat and I got angry really fast. I yelled at my 9 month old today for not letting me wipe her nose! That's what made me get off the pill. I've never yelled at her before! I would not advise anyone to take this pill! It's not worth it!!!

I've been taking Yasmin for 4 months now and in that 4 months I've had 3 bladder infections; before that I had one almost 27 yrs ago when I was very young. I have also found myself crying at the drop of a hat and being really depressed for no reason. I started taking them when I began dating someone seriously so I assumed the UTI's were related to an increase in sexual activity (although UTI's had never been a problem before when I had an increase in sexual activity). I started researching the cause for frequent UTI's and BC is one of the possible causes. I have stopped taking this pill and I'm anxious to see how things change. I'm also going to see a urologist to be on the safe side.

spotting 2nd week into month and heavy bleeding/large clots started 3rd week into pills. This lasted almost 3 weeks. Dr. had to give me additional medication to take along with Yasmine to stop the bleeding cause it had caused mild anemia. Since starting the pill have had horrible nausea, dehydration, breast and lower abdominal tenderness, cry at the drop of a hat.and cramps that prevent me from doing anything. Also my bleeding was so heavy that even using tampons and pads together couldn't help for longer than 20 minutes. This is very frustrating because my Dr. refuses to switch my pill even after telling her that the pill I was on before caused me no problems and actually minimized my bleeding and cramps.

well it seems i've become another "casualty" to this drug. i'm to the point of feeling like i'm losing my mind. i've been on yasmin since march 2005 and side effects have been sneaking their way into my life slowly enough that it's taken me this long to attribute them to the yasmin. the first 5 or 6 months were great. since that time, i feel like i've been perpetually sick. last year, i battled bronchitis for 3-4 months. then my allergy symptoms seemed to be worse all spring/summer. i've had probably 8-9 colds since starting the yasmin, when before i had maybe 1 a year. i'm currently battling a nasty ear infection/ruptured eardrum. my eyes are constantly blurry. i've had the muscle spasm/jerks that keep me up all night. i have scoliosis (that was slight) and has now gotten much worse (which after reading all these posts, i attribute to the diuretic sucking out all things good from my body) i have absolutely no energy or desire to do any everyday chores/tasks. i drag myself out of bed, go to work, come home, sit and stare at the tv, go to bed, repeat. i've been extremely irritable and moody, which i attributed to just a distaste for my job. here lately, i cry at the drop of a hat---weep at times to just feel normal again. yesterday, the heart palpitations started. i've had these before for a couple minutes but these have lasted for 2 days. i went to the doctor today for the ear infection and she did an EKG--normal, just PVCs--which i knew that's what they were but you can't help feeling anxious about them when they make you feel like you're going to die. and thusly, the anxiousness leads to them getting worse. she gave me a month supply of lexapro to try. i don't want to. when i told her my thoughts that all of this was the yasmin (through sobs, which probably didn't help my case), she just looked at me and didn't seem too convinced. my ob-gyn seemed even less convinced when i discussed some initial concerns i had back in october. she told me there was absolutely no harm being done while on it and it would be the easiest thing to come off of if i decided to stop taking it. but after reading all of these posts, i'm just as terrified to quit taking it as a i am to keep taking it! i just want to feel alive again. and to think all of this suffering for regular periods and less cramping. my last pill is saturday. i plan for that to be my last. i hope i'm strong enough to get through it.

OMG! I found this site by accident and as I sit here and read the posts my mouth is hanging open. I have been ready to leave my family and never look back. I have been terrified of the "monster" that I've become over the last few months to the point of feeling my family would be better off without me around. I had no idea at all that this drug caused this sort of mental condition. I cry at the drop of a hat and have become a recluse, dropping several classes on my campus because I just don't want to be around anyone anymore. I have an appointment for a pap this Wednesday and I was going to tell the doc that I have been certain I've been going through a nervous breakdown. Something has got to be done. I can't continue to live like this. One of the reasons that I agreed to go on Yasmin was because I have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and was put on this and Metformin to help me regulate my periods and lose some weight. Now that I'm reading how everyone has gained a lot of weight after going off this drug I'm terrified out of my mind! I don't know what I'm going to do now. Any suggestions from anyone?

Hello worried!! Guess what? I have been off and on Yasmin for over 2.5 years and each time I get off, I get very depressed (sort of unreal feeling) and cry at the drop of a hat. I also have ocd symtoms now, but NEVER before Yasmin. I am 43 and not meno at all. (as far as I know!) Perhaps this particular progesterone ( since it is only pill with this type of prog) has a negative effect on some women's neuro system. Might be that we had ocd underlying, but not noticeable until this pill worked it's "magic" and here we are. I do know that for me... time takes care of most of this and if we can identify what doesn't work, change it and drudge through the leftovers of it... (and keep a calm mind in process) our body can recoup. I am getting off Yasmin this month as I am tired of the 10 extra pounds I carry the three weeks on the pill. On the week of my period I literally lose 10 pounds!! I feel much more like myself and happier on the week OF my period. Should be the other way around. That how I know I shouldn't be on this pill.

For the ladies that are suffering severe panic/anxiety after getting off yasmin, according to my research, the drop in progesterone will cause this. My guess is that your body has yet to start ovulating again and isn't making much progesterone. You might want to try some of that natural cream ( just a DAB) each night for two or three weeks of your cycle as it is known for that effect ( it helps you sleep too) Maybe later you will not need it again if you are ovulating.

I am going to supplement my drop ( if needed) in this method and wean off if my body seems to start making it's own progesterone again. If your breasts get swollen and tender with the cream you either don't need it or you are using too much.

If you are feeling way too much anxiety and have a panic attack, I learned a little trick that helps (temporarily), Grab an ICE COLD drink ( coke, sprite etc) and drink a couple of gulps. It immediately slows some of the feelings. If you are too upset to get yourself one, tell someone in advance that you might need one when you panic (or whatever your symptoms) and make sure they know to bring you something cold to drink. Works.. .I promise. ( a dr friend told me of this quickie)

Hope this helps and wish me luck too (prayers might be needed) in my plight to get off this pill. I've done it twice before and lose hair each time. errgggghhhh!!!

See ya!
kurlykat

I can relate to the Yasmin-users who have experienced panic attacks and heightened emotions (crying, moodiness). I am frantically looking online trying to figure out why I feel so wierd. I feel like I am cralling out of my skin. I can cry at the drop of a hat. And- I am really looking toward the dark side of life. Granted, not everyones' system operates the same. Some people can take Yasmin and be perfectly fine. Why else would Yasmin be used by so many people around the world. But, I can testify that it doesn't work for me. I have decided to stop using the pill tomorrow and go back to the Nuva Ring. The Nuva Ring looks like a hair band and is inserted up the vagina. I did not have this creepy feeling and used it for over a year.

I am in my 4th month of taking Yasmin. It was reccommended from a girl that I know at work and also my boyfriend's sister takes it. I have heard lots of good things about it. I started having anxiety problems, hot flashes, headaches, and I even tried to wear my new contacts, but I can't...it's like my eyes rejected them or something, and this is a side effect listed in the information packet that comes with a new package of Yasmin...about 2 months ago. I was taking Nexium for the first 2 months while on the pill and I assumed that it was the combination of both. Well, I started feeling better with my indegestion and stopped taking the Nexium. My hot flashes went down by half. (I would normally have about 3 or 4 a day.) Now, it's about 1 or 2 day, or every other day. After stopping the Nexium, I started getting antsy, depressed, crying at the drop of a hat, crying because I lost a dern poker hand with my boyfrend, anything and everything made me upset. I haven't experienced that for about 2 weeks now. Now, in the 4th month of taking Yasmin, my breast have become tender...very tender. Even my nipples hurt. I have this pulling sensation in my abdomen. I don't know whether I'm pregnant or what. I've never been before, so I don't know what I should feel like. I also have Fybroid Cysts Disease. I've experienced that for about 5 years now, but I haven't had any problems with new ones for about a year or so. Anyway, I was reading the other ladies' postings and I'm wondering if my side effects are from this pill. I'll probably go to the doctor next week if my breasts are still tender and if I have this pulling sensation in my abdomen. I will post again and give an update on what the doctor about all of the above and y'all's postings, too. Thanks and I hope everyone gets back to normal! -Melissa

Like majority of the people writing in this forum, I am SO EXTREMELY happy that I found this website. I switched over to Yasmin from Estrostep about 4 months ago now. Only 3 weeks into taking my first Yasmin pack I experienced my first ever full-blown panic attack and at all places, while taking off on an airplane. Ever since this attack I had multiple people telling me that I was acting "different" than normal. Since this I experienced 1 other anxiety attack along with almost everyday experiencing irrational thoughts and constant anxiety. I do not think one day went by where I thought I was going to die from some outside source. Also in these last 4 months, my fiance has told me that he's noticed that I'm not the same and that I cry at least once a day and become very defensive and aggitated with him at the drop of a hat. While running a couple of times I began experiencing what felt like pin pricks starting from my left arm all the way down into my left leg. My heart seemed to be beating abnormally and my breathing became shallow. I recently have also began having the WORST indigestion.
Until I found this website I thought my constant anxiety, panic attacks, irrational thoughts, moodiness and other physical symptoms were just something I had actually became as a person. I thought I would never be the same person because I thought I had become this horrible, crazy person that no one would want to be around. Just yesterday I called my doctor to request trying my old birth control to see if these effects could possibly be coming from Yasmin. After reading the postings here I KNOW that they are from Yasmin! It makes me angry that I have been subjected to these kinds of symptoms. I am a cautious consumer and did research on Yasmin before even beginning on the pill. However, I did not find this website soon enough. Since taking Yasmin I have been under the impression that my life would always be anxiety-ridden and it could only get worse! Tomorrow I will be calling my doctor again to find out more information about starting my Estrostep as soon as possible and getting off Yasmin FOREVER!
My question is for anyone who has/had only been taking Yasmin for about 4-5 months or less and how long after that the symptoms finally started fading away. I really am afraid that my anxiety will continue with me for awhile and I HATE this feeling!!
Thank you for everyone who has contributed to this forum. I would have continued thinking I was the only one and that I was crazy. In fact, the people who are crazy are those who do not inform consumers of these side effects! These are SEVERE side effects that we are not even warned about...and why aren't we?
Once again thank you for posting! And for those of you who have not experienced these symptoms I realize that every body is different and reacts in different ways, but please realize that these symptoms that people like myself have experienced because of this pill are almost debilitating. I would not wish this on my worst enemy!

First, let me thank all of you for posting your own experiences. It helps me and others realize we are not crazy about what's going on!

I've been on Yasmin for almost 3 months. After reading this website, I just made an appointment with my doctor to switch to another birch control...for three months, I have been feeling exhausted, over-anxious, depressed, and emotional! I have noticed periods of time when my heart feels like it is going to beat out of my chest, and I get night sweats even in the AC! I have been to my normal physician 2 times within this period of time thinking there was something wrong with me...I am now more apt to believe it was the Yasmin causing all these problems for me.

Don't get me wrong, I have tendencies towards being anxious, etc, but I cry at the drop of a hat, and I take things extremely personally that I know I normally wouldn't!

I can't say I've had all the side effects listed (bigger breasts? Nope!)...and I sure hope I don't start gaining weight going off this "wonder-drug".

Hi ladies,
Well it has been 4.5 months since I took my last Yasmin pill and I am finally starting to notice a real difference in my anxiety level. Within a month of starting Yasmin, I developed panic attacks, generalized anxiety, depression, severe mood swings, and an array of physical symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight gain, joint aches and pains, headaches, and blurred vision. After stopping Yasmin, I noticed the physical symptoms disappeared within a month, but I was left with the emotional symptoms, particularly anxiety. I would cry at the drop of a hat and I became hypersensitive to everything. I became very insecure, started taking everything personally, and the anxiety and panic attacks created a lot of self doubt which I am still dealing with. Only now, 4.5 months later, am I starting to have more normal days similar to the old me, but the anxiety is still there (at a much lower level though) and I do deal with irrational thoughts at different points in my cycle. All I can say is this is probably the worst thing I have ever put in my body and it is pure poison. If it weren't for this website and having friends that I e-mail who are going through the same thing, I probably would have lost everything and been in some mental institution. These have been some of the worst months of my life when they could have been the best because I have so much to be thankful for and I really have a great life. Yasmin has made me question everything about myself and every aspect of my life including personal relationships and my job. Somewhere along the way, I kind of forgot who I was because of the constant anxiety and living in fear. Now that I am finally starting to feel better, I am trying to re-claim what was lost and build things back up, but it is a slow and emotionally difficult process because I am having a hard time trusting myself and others. To all of you who are still on Yasmin, I strongly advise you to quit if you are developing symptoms such as mine. I wouldn't wish this experience on my worst enemy. Good luck to all of you in Yasmin recovery--it does get better, but it takes time and patience.

ALL WHO HAVE RECENTLY STOPPED YASMIN, LETS KEEP EACH OTHER POSTED FOR SUPPORT!

Thank you for your feedback VOICE. I have been really scared about how I have been feeling lately. I can get over not having a period and the acne, but the hair loss (since stopping Yasmin 8 weeks ago) and anxiety/depression it has caused is HORRIBLE! I have never felt this bad for this long in my entire life. I keep trying to tell myself that each month will get better, but each time I see a clump of hair fall out, I start panicking and getting depressed again. I don't know if the hormones are just making me more emotional, but I have been crying at the drop of a hat lately. I have always wondered if I had PCOS. I asked about that, but my GYN said I may or may not have it and that there is no real diagnosis and that it's just based on symptoms. Well...HELLO...then wouldn't you think she would have asked about my symptoms to see if I fit the CRITERIA! I am definitely switching GYNs. I think I'll go back to a male GYN I have seen in the past. My sister and mom love him (and my mom works for the health plan I have and says he's the best). I should have just stayed with him, but I thought I would feel more comfortable with a woman. I know a lot of women think that female doctors are better, but my history has always been that they tend to minimize my problems/symptoms more. I have found male doctors to be more thorough and sympathetic. I have a male GI, have recently switched to a male PCP and they have really done the most for me. The female docs have all told me my problems are from stress/anxiety and that I need to see a therapist.

Thank you all for your experiences about the side effects of Yasmin. I have been taking the pill for 5 months now and changed from a happy, chilled, enjoying life type of person to the bitch from hell, crying excessively at the drop of a hat for no real reason and constantly loosing the plot and taking everything out of proportion. I have been extremely negative when I have always been positive and now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have previously tried over 10 different types of pill and never been happy with any them due to weight gain, eczema, acne etc but the doctor recommended Yasmin and said that this one had very limited side effects. How wrong was he?? I was totally stressed all the time, gave my boyfriend a hard time about everything/anything/nothing was short with my work colleagues and distanced myself from my friends. Reading all of your stories has really changed everything. I thought it was me and it isn't. My boyfriend read your experiences and understood why I cried so much with relief when I read them and he understood what has been happening the last few months. Today I have taken my last pill. I was considering trying another but I would like to be myself rather than pump hormones into my body and never quite know if it was really me or the pill. Now I shall investigate alternatives more seriously and look after No. 1.

I started Yasmine 1 week ago yesterday. I vomited on Wednesday night and have been nauseous ever since. I can't eat and I have to stay close to the bathroom since as well because the diahrrea won't stop. I have lost all motivation to do anything. I lost sex drive as well which hasn't ever happened. I am exhausted all the time. I am very easily irritable and have snapped at my husband for dumb things all week. I cry at the drop of a hat. Does anyone know the tv show Scrubs? I started crying at the end of that. I get entire body aches. I am going to call my doctor tomorrow to get off this. I feel a bit better towards night, then I take my pill right before bed and then by morning I feel terrible again. My arms have been extremely dry. I knew immediatley that it was Yasmin because of the immediate extreme side effects. I switched because of the weight gain from the last pill. I'll take a few extra pounds over what I'm getting now. My husband immediately googled the side effects of Yasmine and I'm so grateful to know this is the pill and that I'm not psycho and falling apart.

After reading all these posts it finally makes sense. DO NOT take this pill. I have been headachy and nautious and extremely depressed for the 3 months Ive been on it. I cry at the drop of a hat and I cant remember the last time I was happy. Ive had a migraine every day and feel like puking. I thought it was just me! I am so glad I found this site. I was on Ortho Tri Cyclen before and besides a little weight gain I NEVER felt this awful. Dont take Yasmin!

I have been on Yasmin for over a year. At first I thought it was a wonder drug. For the first six months there weren't any cramps...no bloating. Since then I seem to gain weight at the drop of a hat although my diet and exercise hasn't changed. Also, as I near the end of my pack every month, I seem to develop an itching comparable to a yeast infection except its external and not a yeast infection. I know this because I work in a medical lab and can test myself. It only happens at the end of each pill pack, but is not an acceptable side effect. I finish my last pill this week and am going to have my doctor switch me to a different pill. Am glad you had this site. Now I know that it isn't just me having problems with this wonder drug!

I have been on and off Yasmin for the past year and a half. After reading this website, I realize I am not completely insane. I have had so many of the symptoms you have listed including shortness of breath, extreme moodiness, crying at the drop of a hat, and a lack of sex drive. But the worst symptom of all is the panic attacks I have been experiencing in the last few weeks. They make me want to jump out of my own skin. I will never take this pill again!

I have been on yasmin for one full week now. Since I started I've been nauseas, my boobs are huge, and I cry at the drop of a hat for no reason what so ever. I feel like this is so soon for these things to be happening. Is this normal???

I'm in the middle of my second week on yasmin. I've had trouble getting to sleep before 3 or 4 AM. When I do sleep I have extremely vivid dreams, and during the day I'm tired, and can nap at the drop of a hat. Also, I'm experiencing severe tension/ teeth grinding such that the left side of my jaw has become very tender. I've read about the dreams/sleep problems. Has anyone experienced the jaw tension?

I have been on Yasmin for about 5 months. Until I read the different postings regarding Yasmin, I didn't realize that the way I was feeling could be related to my pills. I have weight gain, blurred vision, dizzines, extreme exhaustion, major mood swings (I will cry at the drop of a hat)! The dizziness, exhaustion and mood swings are making me crazy. I cannot walk across the lobby of my office without swaying! Does anyone know if there is a way to confirm this is being caused by the Yasmin? Anyone experiencing my symptoms?