Yasmin and fda

Our beloved daughter has just been laid to rest....she was a gorgeous 22 year old Texan beauty......
She died suddenly of a pulmonary embolism just 3 weeks after starting this piece of **** drug called YAZ...
She was misdiagnosed with pleuracy,....
SPREAD THE WORD TO EVERY PERSON YOU KNOW WHO IS ON THIS DRUG THAT YAZ CAN BE A KILLER...OVER 4,000 SIDE EFFECT POSTINGS ON THIS SITE ALONE...SEE HOW MANY DIED OR ALMOST DIED FROM TAKING YAZ AND MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION...

Special thanks to the FDA and the Multi Billion dollar companyYAZ for their contributions to killing Americas young women...
God bless all who have suffered and perished from YAZ...

Hi Everybody, I wrote back in April about my horrible Yasmin experience, and just wanted to update. I've been off Yasmin for almost three cycles now, and although I'm still on blood pressure medication, I've had no headaches, no heart-pounding anxiety attacks, etc. I feel much better all around. Still, it makes me very angry that there are so many women who've had really bad experiences, and this garbage is STILL on the market. I checked the Yaz website, and in the fine print it says you can report your side effects to the FDA by logging on to www.fda.gov/medwatch, or calling 1-800-FDA-1088, SO LET'S DO IT!!!

My daughter has had a very difficult year, with many of the symptoms described in postings related to Yasmin. Please will everyone who has experienced the negative effects of this drug go to the website: www.FDA.gov and file a report. They do not ask for personal identification, but you can describe your symptoms, tests, hospitalizations, etc in great detail. You can also file a report with the drug manufacturer, but this will carry greater weight if your doctor files it on your behalf. Under certain circumstances, related to the severity of your adverse reaction, I believe the manufacturer is required to follow up with the FDA, and respond to your complaint.

Like many of you on this forum, I am glad to have found this site! First though, I would like to say that I understand not every one taking Yasmin experiences the same side effects. I understand that some women probably have wonderful experiences with this medication. However, it frustrates me that while some women might have good experiences with this drug, I think the potential for SEVERE side effects other women could experience should be much more emphasized and researched. The pamphlet inside the Yasmin packaging briefly touches on what they advertise as rare side effects that overall outweigh the benefits of this drug. I think many of the side effects listed on this forum are not even mentioned in the packet. Personally, I believe I have had a horrible experience taking Yasmin for the past 8 months. It is very frustrating to take a medication that advertises itself to help symptoms (such as MOOD SWINGS) and in fact, causes many of these horrible symptoms in some women! I am so sick of the multi-billion dollar prescription drug industry (which seems severely under-regulated by the FDA.) Has anyone seen the fancy Yaz birth control commercial? You know, with the "we're not gonna take it" song? All those skinny models prancing around in a PMS-free world??? OMG PLEASE!!! I can't believe it has taken me this long to realize all of my horrible symptoms have started and only worsened during my time on Yasmin. I thought this pill wasn't related because my skin looks beautiful, I haven't had bad cramps anymore, I've had light periods, and my boobs have gotten bigger. Sounds great, huh? But since taking Yasmin I have also had such horrible mood swings I can't control myself. I feel like a completely different person. I've become extremely impatient, irritated by everyone on this planet, I can't concentrate, and I have looked so bloated at times several people assumed I was pregnant. My self-esteem is ridiculously low, I hate myself, my mirrors, and I accuse my loving boyfriend of the most ridiculous things. I don't see how he even puts up with me! I have become so depressed I rarely want to go out. I'm EASILY offended by the slightest comments and ridiculously paranoid. It is also very hard to go out when many of my clothes (even my "fat pants" do not fit anymore!) I have thought I was crazy, almost quit my job, left my boyfriend, and seriously wanted to kill myself. I'm aware that many of these symptoms could be caused by other things, but honestly, I have contemplated so many other potential causes (such as major depression) and I realize every thing has started during these past months I've been taking Yasmin. I am 21 years old, I do not smoke, and have generally great health. I feel entirely overwhelmed...I honestly don't know what to do.

IF YOU ARE TAKING THIS, STOP NOW. There is hope!! I think after about 3 months it started effecting my activity. I started wanting to do so much but would just brush everything aside and not finish poems, art projects, not do things with people I really wanted to. but my acne went away.......and for a while that made me feel more confident. In late July I started having some mild halluicinations. things would just......seem different, I cannot explain it. In September I completely lost it. I heard and saw things that were not there, I did not know what was going on. but I pressed on with school. I thought I was schizophrenic......I was so scared. but I pressed on, until one night I went completely numb. I felt disassociated. I looked in the mirror just to make sure I was there. I had horrible graphic images come into my head. it was horrifying. I almost took my life one night because I thought there was no hope. I thought if this is my waking life forever, then I do not want to life. but I called the suicidal hotline and then went to my friends' place then the next day we drove 2 hours back home and talked to my gynecologist, and she immediately admitted me to the psych ward. I begged not to go, but it was for the best. I stayed there for 5 nights and it changed my life. I learned a lot of about faith and different walks of life that night. I have chosen to pursue Buddhist philosophies and eastern teachings while learning about more religions. I believe that God is just thought of differently in different countries, and it is not a mission to convert but just help. do what you can. I know many of you are not able as this poison of a pill has shaken you, but I promise you will get better. I honestly was going out of my mind for a few weeks, and I wanted to die one night. Now, each day is a step closer to healing and a step further from that shit. Once you stop taking it you should notice a difference. Seek some therapy or help though, as you may need it. You will learn who your true friends are during all of this, and probably learn a lot about yourself. It was so painful, and I'm still a little shaken by it, but my just being able to type this shows my gained coherence. So just know there is hope! I hope a class action lawsuit gets started and that it gets recalled soon also! Something I have started doing is bouncing a bouncy ball when I feel nervous, scared, paranoid etc. I find it fun and also takes your mind off and also is a much healthier way of relieving stress instead of squeezing a ball! email me at****** if you ever want any encouragement or tips or just want to ask me any question. I check my email everyday.

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

I have been on Yaz for over 2 and 1/2 months, and during this time I have been bloated, gassy, pain in my stomach, vomiting, diarhea, headaches, etc. I have been to the ER once and they said they couldn't find anything wrong. I get well, put some weight back on, and just when I'm better I get all those symptoms again. The only thing that has changed in my life is the addition of Yaz. My son and husband are not getting sick, so its nothing anyone can catch. All my doctor can tell me is to take Nexium. I've never had an acid problem in my life. So today I took matters into my own hands and I've stopped taking the Nexium and the Yaz. I'll update later with how I'm feeling. Thanks for all the posts validating my concerns on Yaz.

Dear Susanella,

Thank you for sharing this post. Please post your daughter's experiences as well on the Forum here as well as on askapatient.com. It will be helpful for other women and their daughters, cousins, nieces and aunties.

If you haven't already done so, also report side effects online to www.fda.gov and call Berlex to report at well 1-888-237-5394. One of their representatives will take all the information.

Hi BitterRN here
Silke, how are you doing? Any results from your test yet. I posted to you earlier (couple of days ago, but I have not heard back from you, maybe you missed it?) I tried to log on to sarahs website but I am having trouble navigating it.
So I am anxious to hear how you are doing and the results of your iron test. Let me know. Ok? I really hope you are doing better.

ALSO I contacted BERLEX about my adverse reaction, I agree we all need to bombard them with calls, those stupid commercials keep airing, I cant believe it. What is the # for the FDA again? Im sorry I know you keep posting it whoever is but I missed it, could you post it again. I have to go for now, I hope everyone is getting better.
BitterRN

Hi Silke, Thank you for the link to the site. I will register and share my story. Has anyone else called Berlex? They are the company that makes Yasmin. They need to be bombarded with calls along with the FDA!
It is so amazing that doctors will not see that there is a correlation with Yasmin and so many incredbily debilitating side effects.
Stay in touch! Thank you for your thoughts and good wishes and all the best to the ladies here.

Metallicat20 - Your story is very similar to mine. I had terrible heart palpitations, leg cramps, short of breath, and my BP was 170/120 - it was 5:00am and it was so scary!!!!
I hope that you are feeling better.

My last entry was under guest 35975.
I don't look at this site very often, because even though that i find it helpful, I also find it frustrating and somewhat depressing. We are all suffering at the hands of greed in the pharmacuetical, and medical worlds. This pill should have never pased the FDA. I myself have spoken to 5 very reputable law firms about a lawsuit, or class action suit. The problem is we need clinical data, or something close to it. I hope to get something set up where we can all check off our side effects during and after Yasmin usage. I will put it on the link site and on this one. When I will do this I can't say. I have been off this pill for 2 years now, and yet I still suffer from physical problems which cause me to have life issues, one being I find it very hard to get anything accomplished. I went from being a very active self suffiecient, busy equine physical therapist, who ran 3 miles a day and worked out at the gym, to someone who has not been able to adequately exercise in 3 years, and who has gained 25 pounds, and who has been unable to resume a rgular work schedule due to the Fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue symptoms, mixed with all the other stuff. I do thank God everyday that I am getting better, slowly, but I am better.
As for the question someone asked on how I found out I had anemia? Well, I had been complaining to the DR.'s that I felt tired all the time, this was about 3 months after the GI bleed. I eat well, and as I said I was very fit. They told me I was probably just getting out of shape, from lack of exercise, and that I should go exercise. I went to the gym, and got on the treadmill, and pushed myself as I always did. This time I felt like my chest was caving in, so I quickly stopped did deep breathing and a lot of praying. Eventually the heaviness went away, but the irregular heart beats didn't. So I requested an EKG, and ECHO and a CBC, IRON and FERRITIN test. My Iron was at 3% saturation, and my Ferritin was at 3, my Hematocrit was 12, and hemoglobin, in the 30's. I could have died! I had the start of what is called a anemia induced heart attack. The red blood cells were to tight in size to carry oxegyen, and I was short of them.
I urge everyone number one to get off this pill, and get a CBC plus Iron, Ferritin, liver panel, electrolyte panel, crp, and a folate test. These are all blood tests. Then I would also get a saliva test done to check your hormone levels and your Crtisol, and DHEA levels, these control your Adrenals, which are tied to your hormones and vica versa. My horone levels at last check, which was summer 2006, were worse then a POST-Menopausal women. I have aged tremedously because of this, and gained the weight. I barely had any Test. Prog., or Estrogen. The doctors seemed totally unphased and uninterested in this fact, and yet I am ony 42, and I have been battling all this since I was 38. Actually first battle was wghen I was 34. Make sure you get a copy of all your blood work and all your tests, don't take their word that all is okay. Do research, ask questions and be persistent, it is your right to see your medivcal records.
I have since been dropped by my insurance due to all the severe problems I had. I don't go to the Doctor any more, except for a blood test and a yearly GYN visit. Still my past medical expenses during the 3 year Yasmin nightmare, make me look like a bad client.
I urge all of you to change your diets to a more vegetarian diet, it has been shown that balancing your ph is helpful in overcoming most medical problems. The ph Miracle, by Dr. Young is a good book. Eat Organic! All the added hormones in the food today, can cause more hormonal imbalances. Be pro-active in your own health care. Times have changed, pharmacuetical companies and insurance companies run medical schools, and the medical feild now. The Mayo clinic is the only Western Medical place I found that had doctors who seemed to be interested in taking the time. Sadly they like most other medical practices know little about hormones. Ladies we have been Guinea Pigs long enough.
We can be a loud voice if we organize and speak together. This site and the others are good places to learn and vent, as I said I hope to soon have a place where we can start calculating data on our side effects, then maybe a law office will take on the makers of Yamin and shut them down, and bring awareness to what all these pill companies are doing to women.
You know that they linked Premarin with breast cancer, this is another hormonal drug.
Let's not lie down to big medicine ruining our bodies any longer.
By the way has anyone else suffered GI bleeding, or other excessive bleeding?
Or Fibromyalgia/Chronic Fatigue, Adrenal Fatigue?
Also the info on Magnesium is very good and important, Floradix is a great product for naturally and safely raising iron and B vitamins, also take the Omega 3's like UDO's Oils or Nordis Fish oil, and Bcomplex, and C. Don't forget to get your blood work insist on it. God Bless you all! Tricia

For Newcomers to this site, summarizing information posted about symptoms that are common and steps you can take to learn and research besides trying to read through 2900 entries that start to feel like you are reading through individuals dialogues

Side effects:
Chest Pain
Anxiety
Depression
Dehydration
Weight loss
Extreme Fatigue
Clogged/painful ears
Listlessness
Vision Changes

Overall, not one positive thing posted by anyone who has been on Yasmin/Yaz for more than two years. Seems that women over 35 have the most trouble-and or/women with possible hormonal changes/imbalances to begin with.

Check www.worstpills.org
Report Side Effects: www.fda.gov
Call and report effects to teh pharmaceutical company

Unless you take action, Yasmin and Yaz will stay on the market for years to come. many more women will get sick and some very seriously so as you will find if you read through this site, the negative and damaging effects are lengthy and continue to grow.

hi ipj.
whilst googling yasmin and all the symptoms etc i came across quite a few references to the fact that bcp's in general can lower magnesium but i think yasmin has a higher impact on the magnesium levels due to it's diuretic effect so it probably is the yasmin that is affecting how much magnesium you are absorbing. along with all your other side effects it may be just as well to come off it. The fda has stated that yasmin is no better or safer than any other pill on the market the medical profession are just really pushing it for some reason...... back in the 60's and 70's there was a new wonder drug that was pushed to all the pregnant women as it stopped morning sickness...thalidamide....... i am sure you know the outcome of that story.just because a new drug is great for some it does not mean it is good for the masses. chat to your doctor about a pill that does not contain the diuretic that yasmin has.dehydration could make your symptoms worse so stay hydrated,drink as much water as you can.
please feel free to visit the new forum that is being set up. the link is below in my previous post.

kind regards and the best of luck with whatever you decide.
sarah

Sarah,
I totally agree with you. I think the doctors get money from these companies for these pills. I also found it interesting about the FDA getting on the maker of the pill, I wonder if that has something to do also with not showing there commercial here anymore for yaz. I was so sick of seeing the damn commercial. It was on all the time here, "Yaz contains a unique ingredient different than anyother b/c pill," I swear everytime I saw that commecial I wanted to break the tv. Yea a unique formula that will screw you up!!! Funny thing is I have not seen any commercial in a couple of weeks for Yaz. Makes me wonder!!!!!!

hi ambernesspor.
do keep us posted on your progress, i hope you start to feel like your old self again soon. I wonder why gyn's and doctors feel the nedd to keep switching our methods of birth control?? as you said in your post you were perfectly happy on your previous method and it obviously suited you, so many women on here were perfectly fine on their previous pill as i was,i had taken dianette in the past and had no problems with it. i wonder if there is some kind of financial reward for the medical proffessional if they prescribe a certain amount of this pill!!!!! i personally did not find yasmin more tolerable or to have less side effects then my older brand pill and from what i can gather yasmin still poses the same risk of strokes,dvt's etc that the older generation pills did so as far as i can see there really is no major benefit it yasmin over any other brand......to any ladies who are thinking about switching to yasmin DON'T it is not worth the risk!!!! boycot this pill,it is pure evil in tablet form! Even the FDA made the makers stop advertising that it was better than other brands because of it's "unique" ingredient,it has been tested and has been found to be NO BETTER than any other pill. i personally think the "unique" ingredient is the one that causes the most harm.

sarah

hi ladies,
further to guest 35696 's point about reporting side effects to the fda etc here is the website for the uk's equivelent. www.mhra.gov.uk click on the "yellow card" tab this will send a report about the side effects of medicine. if you also want to look up reported side effects then go to the download side effects page but remember when you do the alphabetical search that yasmin will be listed under it's chemical ingredient (D for drospirenone not under Y for Yasmin.) it makes for quite interesting reading.
It really is very important that we report the bad effects as if no one reports it, it will never be taken off the market or even prescribed with more caution than it is now,it is our responsibility to try to protect other young ladies from this hell that we have all suffered.

silke,maybe i have mis-read the previous post, i find it so hard to figure out meaning when reading a post or text messages,a perfectly harmless comment can sound rude in a message, as i said i did not mean my posting to sound rude,i agree that we should have a "chat room" for all the ladies who want and need contact with other sufferers,this site is getting pretty heavy going now for newcomers that are just looking to see if their specific symptom is here.there are a lot of pages to get through!!!!! if i knew how to start up a chat room i would do it myself but i am a total idiot at anything to do with computers!
hope your gig went well the other night,i love the abba song you were going to sing.

remember ladies please report your side effects.

sarah

Sarah,

reading the post of that guest below I think, that you've misunderstood, what she/he tried to say. I can't find any critical words about our chat here. She/he even said that it is good to have such a place to talk, but that it perhaps will never CHANGE anything if we don't report our problems to the right places (FDA in USA I think... Don't know where there is anything like that here in Germany.....).

But one other thing: Please don't write posts here completely in big letters. It's very hard to read and here in Germany writing in a forum or chat with big letters even means you are "screaming" at the others....

Greetings
Silke

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR RISKS:

READ UP ON HYPERKALEMIA (RISKS OF INCREASING POTASSIUM IN THE BLOOD WHICH THIS PILL DOES)

WWW.WORSTPILLS.ORG YASMIN IS ON THE LIST!!!

WWW.FDA.GOV: FILE A REPORT WITH YOUR SYMPTOMS

CALL SCHERING TO REPORT YOUR SYMPTOMS

Silke-

What did the Endocrinologist say that the others docs did not and why won't the lawyers taken on suing the pharmaceutical company?

Did you report your symptoms to the Government and FDA?

Are you completely off of hormones and if so, what would you recommend to ease the transition? I've been sick-really sick now for the last 4 months since I got off it!

Call the drug company 1-888-237-5394 report side effects. I just did.

Report your symptoms to FDA www.fda.gov (if they receive enough well documented cases, they can/will take action

See: www.worstpills.org

Research: Hyperkalemia

i cannot believe this!! everything is starting to make sense to me now!

i have been on the BC for 5 years, i started with yasmin for a little over a year then i started getting bad migraines. i even put up with it for another few months because i needed the relief i was getting from my cramps!

i changed to ortho-low and loved it till i started to gain weight! for the sake of not having to buy new clothes i stopped taking that, but switched back to yasmin.

i would have loved to just be off the pill alltogether but, again, i needed relief from cramps! and... my mother (who has worked for a gyno. for over 20 years) was completely convinced that this pill was right for me! she pushed me to take it. even my gyno said it was good for me (being that i was only 18) b/c it would help my teenage skin problems.

i have been back on yasmin for over 2 years now and in that amount of time have experienced the following problems (yasmin related? after reading this forum i think it is possible!)

- anxiety (i am on zoloft now)
- severe sinus problems
- pains in the neck
- restless legs at night
- fatigue
- bad heartburn that comes and goes
- one eye can see better than the other!
- headaches

i think the FDA needs to read this forum!!!! i am getting off of this pill IMMEADIATELY. i will update my withdrawl symptoms.

I began taking Yasmin 4 years ago, about 7 months after I had my first baby. My ob-gyn suggested Yasmin because of it's ability to prevent water weight gain, and since I had just gained 10 pounds postpartum with Depo-Provera (very scary drugi ndeed!!), I agreed to try Yasmin. I was 30 at the time and had been on BCPs since I was 18, so I didn't think Yasmin would be any different. (Wrong!) Because I was a new mom, I attributed my negative side effects (lethargy, awakening to go pee every night, dark circles under my eyes that prompted people to ask me if I felt ok all the time because I looked worn out, depression, not feeling at all like my normal self, waist/hips/thigh size expanded, hair trigger temper, or crying easily, feeling as though I was in a dazed state or sometimes about to explode, increase in blood pressure, massive hair loss during showering, increased thirst, and problems with severe incapacitating diarrhea along with a resulting weight loss of 10 pounds in less than 2 days, and or vomiting periodically, low potassium levels for which I was prescribed potassium supplements, and anxiety) to motherhood. Unfortunately, I could not find any info on these side effects until recently, so I thought I would just have to live with my problems and hope I would get better. Then, I saw on a website that Yasmin was on a list of drugs that should be banned by the FDA, and I searched for negative side effects, and found this website. That day in March 2006 I threw out my remaining pack of Yasmin, and I'm happy to report 3 months later that I am feeling so much better! I now sleep through the night, my blood pressure has returned to normal. I am anxiety-free. My vomiting /diarrhea has resolved much in part to daily yogurt consumption. But the best part is that I'm no longer angry (bitchy) at everyone and everything and I don't cry like a pregnant woman would. I can concentrate and I don't have spaced out feelings. My hair loss has returned to normal. I recognize the person looking out from a mirror as me now. Last but not least, I have lost 3 inches so far from my waist and 3 pounds of weight. Yay! What is truly scary about this drug is how it effects the kidneys and adrenal glands in a negative manner. I do hope I haven't done any irreversible damage to my organs. Yasmin is toxic and should be banned by the FDA. As someone who works in a medical laboratory setting, I wonder how the drug was approved in the first place. I guess as usual, women don't get the repect of the pharma industry. We have to fight for our rights for safe birth control methods. I am currently using the PG/53 fertility tester as my birth control and so far have been pleased with it. Thanks for allowing me to share my story!

Hi Everyone,
First of all I would like to thank everyone for their posts because wihtout them, I would not be where I am today. I had been on Yasmin for 4 years and it has taken that long for me to notice that it has been destroying my life piece by piece. I had become severely depressed and had thoughts of suicide. I had numerous side effects including zero libido, dizziness, muscle weakness, panic attacks, anxiety, rapid heart rate, thirstiness, dry throat, eye twitches, massive hair loss, dry coughing in the middle of the night, crying for no reason, inability to cope with any kind of stress, scalp sensitivity, migraine headaches, and hopelessness. I was impossible to live with and nearly lost everything including my family. I'm happy to say that I've been off Yasmin for a month and a half and my outlook on life has dramatically improved. Most of my symptoms have subsided. I do occasionally have episodes of anxiety but they are less frequent. Stopping Yasmin has saved my life and my marriage. THIS A DANGEROUS PILL AND THE FDA NEEDS TO PULL IT OFF THE MARKET. I work in a hospital and cared for a 22 year old female who was taking Yasmin. She had massive pulmonary emboli with a pulmonary infarct and nearly died. There are so many other birth control pills and methods to choose from. There is hope after Yasmin and it only gets better. I'm living proof. I was able to get pregnant immediately after stopping Yasmin. Please don't wait until your life is ripped to shreds because of this pill. Just get off it after you complete your current pill pack. The road ahead will be challenging but it will be worth it. Make sure to drink plenty of water and take your vitamins. I highly recommend yoga during detox off Yasmin. I've seen a therapist and she told me that she "didn't buy" my Yasmin story. That's ok. I know the truth. Don't worry. This storm will pass. I wish you all the very best.

Oops, I am new to posting, although I have been reading this sight since January 06. I felt a tremendous sense of relief when I found it, because I thought I was losing my mind only into the second pill pack! I quit the same night I read the posts. Thank you so much for your shared experiences. I have been off since Jan. and feel much better, but still have difficulty sleeping and some chest sensations like heaviness. But, there seems to be hope. I have called Berlex and the FDA, and enourage others to report negative experiences. This just cannot be a coincidence.

hi juze,
your lucky you relized what the yasmin was doing to you so fast.some of us here have been on yasmin for years before we relized what was happening to us.everybody's body is different i was on yasmin 2 years before i stopped it back in jan.with in a month i was back to my old self but there are some that have been off it even over a year & still suffering from this toxicn.yet some dr's write us off saying depression & other things whats really depressing is the fact we don't get listened to by are dr's.there is a complaint line for the maker of yasmin.i think it was posted by twogirlsmom,and someone else posted the web address of the fda to complain to also.i would make a big complant if i was you the more complants maybe the fda will force yasmin off the market.the only thing i can tell you is keep drinking water it should flush it out of your body because it worked for me.take care good luck
michellep

Ladies,
I FINALLY reached the Yasmin hotline to report an adverse reaction to YASMIN. I told the lady on the phone ALL of the effects that it had on me. She said that she would report it to the FDA.
I encourage all of you to call and let the company know what is happening to us. The phone # is 888.237.5394.
This has been such a nightmare (as my previous posts describe) and I hope and pray that they do something soon.
Good luck to all of you. Please keep posting your progress, concerns, etc... we are in this together.

I wanted to give you an update. I wrote on this forum about a year ago. I have been off yasmine for 15 months, it has taken this long to be just about totally back to normal. I am 48 years old, still menstruating, but yasmine had hit me in a particuarly bad way.

In that, I mean, after two years of being on the pill it triggered Inflammatory bowel disease, IBS, terrible GI problems, and worst of all panic attacks and anxiety. At first, getting off of yasmine made it all worse, for about 3 months, but then gradually it began to get better each month.

But it has taken all of these 15 months for me to finally report a very normal menstrual cycle, normal PMS, bad periods (but that is welcome, it tells me everything is like it as before), a normal sex drive, and normal gastro intestinal function. The only thing that still lingers is anxiety in the couple of days preceeding ovulation and a few days preceeding my period. This anxiety is worse than it was in my pre-yasmine days, but nothing compared to how it was when I was on the pill.

All I can say, is for those of you that have stopped taking it, be patient. Eventually you too will feel back to your old selves. For those of you who are still taking it, be wary of any odd symptoms, especially anxiety and GI symptoms. I have filed a report with the FDA, as I believe this is a very dangerous drug that was approved too soon, and all of us have been guinea pigs for the pharmaceutical industry. Good luck to all the other recovering victims. If you are off it, you will eventally be OK>

hi kelly,
the midwife finally called me back.the good news is i don't have blood clots in my leg.i see my dingbat md in the morning over my leg pain & eye problems.i will make a complaint to the fda over the yasmin.when i can.
take care
michellep

twogirlsmom -

Go to www.FDA.GOV. Under the section "Let Us Hear From You", there's an option to "Report a Problem with a Product". It takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. Good luck!

Hi everyone and welcome to the ladies who have recently posted for the first time!

My chest pains & shoulder pains are now getting less frequent and my anxiety attacks are also a little less frequent, but not gone by any means. I think that the Paxil is helping along with the Xanax at night. I am worried about my 1st pd since being off of Yasmin, I hope I don't get PMS.

This is a long road for all of us and I am glad that we can read each others' posts.

I read the posts about the FDA complaints that you reported. Could you PLEASE let me know where you are making these reports. I would LOVE to share my side effects and how I am trying to recuperate from the poison that they call Yasmin.

AEB-- I had my second daughter in May 04 and started Yasmin about 10 months ago. I can relate to all that you are saying. I never thought I would be on Paxil or Xanax, but I think it is helping me. God willing I will be off of all meds within a few months. Good luck to you!

Thank you all for your comments! You are helping me to believe I am not crazy! I went on Yasmin after my 2nd child almost 2 years ago (Ortho Novum was working fine, but the doctor said this is such a great pill!) and I haven't slept much since. I went off Yasmin for about 3 months last summer, but my doctor again said Yasmin wasn't the problem and put me back on it along with Ambien. Now the crying and anxiety have started along with the insomnia. Doctor thought I should try LexaPro, but after reading all of your postings I am never taking another Yasmin pill again! This stuff is terrible - I wil be posting my side effects with the FDA...

AEB

Hi again -

I just received this from the FDA in response to my submission...

"One or two well-documented case reports may provide an early signal of unexpected problems and lead to additional evaluation. This may result in FDA regulatory actions that improve the safety of the products used in patient care each day."

If they only need "One or two" case reports, let's give them a few hundred!!! The more red flags that go up, the faster they'll take action. Spend a few minutes at www.fda.org and give them your complaints - PLEASE!!!

I get so frustrated because I spent months following "false leads" because absolutely NOTHING in Yasmin's product literature warned about palpitations, anxiety attacks, etc! If there had been some mention, I could've saved myself months of misery and worry (not to mention trips to cardiologists, gynecologists and the like!) I could've figured out what was going on and done something about it before things got so bad.

Julie

Julie,
I entered my info on the FDA site. Thank you for sharing. It was easy and quick. Hope others do the same.

Virginia, USA

Victory! My optometrist...yes, I did say, my optometrist reported my Yasmin problem to the FDA. After 5 months off of Yasmin...and MANY doctor visits later, my general practicioner also has reported the horrible problems I have been having. I went to the gyn Tuesday (still having problems in that area too) and she finally started to listen. Maybe word is getting out now. It will be so nice to be able to see again without the spots or blurriness!

Virginia, USA

Yasmin is the first FDA approved birth control to contain a different type of testosterone never used before in bc pills that is supposed to help with acne. In addition, it alone among other bc pills has a potassium-sparing dieuretic in it, which is supposed to help with weight, but also tinkers with potassium levels. There is a special warning (among others) in their packet that people who take NSAIDS such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen daily must have their postassium levels checked during the first treatment cycle, owing to the risk of increasing potassium higher than safe levels. Potassium level disturbances can cause heart rhythm problems. In 2003, the Dept. of Health and Human Services informed the Yasmin maker that they were in violation of Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Act) regulations by "minimizing the important risk information that distinguishes Yasmin from other combination oral contraceptives" in their TV ad campaign from that year. In January of 2005, the watchdog group Public Citizen put Yasmin on their list of popular drugs that they recommend not to use. Their explanation for this decision was "it can cause elevations in blood potassium while offering no advantage over other birth control pills. If severe, high potassium levels can cause heart rhythm problems." Yasmin is truly unique from all other bc pills for these reasons, so one can not assume that side effects from Yasmin would be the same as experienced with other bc pills as well.

I had been taking Yasmin for just over 8 months and experienced the following serious side effects which I was unable to attribute to being a new mom second time around: extreme hair loss, frequent heart racing episodes, heart palpitations, daily headaches, vision changes (blurry episodes and thinking I needed bifocals,) feeling of being out of shape when performing tasks around the house, and going to the bathroom about 5 times each night. In addition I also experienced depression, zero libido, swollen ankles, exhaustion, etc. I have taken other bc pills off and on over the last 20 years, and have never experienced any of the above mentioned side effects except for the lowered libido, which was to the extreme on Yasmin. I stopped taking Yasmin just over 2 weeks ago when I put 2 and 2 together, and can honestly say I feel like a totally different person. Instead of daily headaches, I have had one headache which was last week and none since. My hair loss has decreased to almost normal. I have so much more energy, and am sleeping well since I don't have to get up 5 times a night to use the bathroom. No heart palps or heart racing episodes so far. Swelling is gone in my ankles, and no depression whatsoever. My vision appears to be back to normal, and my libido is now business as usual. On an emotional level, I feel as though 8 months of my life was stolen from me. Now that the symptoms are gone, I realize how much coping with them consumed me on a daily basis, and just plain made me sad overall. I have an appt. with my ob/gyn for a physical and to request she formally report my adverse side effects with Yasmin to the FDA.

Thank you to others on this forum who are posting their side effects as they go of Yasmin and time passes.

Depression is the least of the side effects.....it gave me two blood clots in my lungs and I almost died I was only on it for 2 weeks when the symptoms started. The hospital had reported the Yasmin 28 to the FDA as the cause of my blood clots and I followed up with the FDA and found out the hospital did in fact file a report. I was not warned about my age (38) and the consiquence of being over 35 by either the Doctor or the packets of the birth control pills. The FDA confirms that all Yasmin sample packets or prescribed packets need to have warnings on the labels ...mine did not. I was in the hospital for 4 days and was off work for 9 months and after a year later I am still having lung problems. In fact I just went in today and they told me I have lung damage in both of my lungs from the clots. I am only 39 years old and have the rest of my life to be concerned about sore lungs and worry about the weather and if my lungs will hurt that day or not.

For anyone out there....go off Yasmin right away and if your over 35 go off all birth control pills....at least your man will have you alive...I know I should be dead right now.

Thank God I found this web site! I have only been taking Yasmin for 3 weeks and literally thought I was coming down with some severe illness. My GYN prescribed it to me for treatment of ovarian cysts. I've always had negative side effects on birth control pills in the past and at first I refused to take them, but the doctor kept saying how mild Yasmin was and that I wouldn't have any side effects. Against my better judgement I took it. Here are a list of my adverse reactions:

Extreme nausea and indigestion
fatigue, worse then I've ever felt
bloating
heart palpitations and chest pain
shortness of breath
irritability

With all the nausea and bloating my regular doctor figured I was having gall stones and sent me for a nuclear scan of my biliary tract, it came back perfectly fine. I found this site, trying to figure out if my symptoms were from this pill and as soon as I saw they were I quit. I am already feeling better and my palpitations are starting to lessen. I am so glad I found out before I had a bunch of uneeded tests. I lso called the maker of Yasmin and reported the adverse reactions, they are required by law to report the symptoms to the FDA!

I must post this comment! My daughter started taking Yasmin in mid August - the same day she went far away to college. She had always experienced severe back pain around her periods and her periods were very irregular. So her doctor suggested Yasmin and she decided to give it a try. The back pain did not improve and she bled heavier but my WARNING here is that she became severely depressed and extremely exhausted. She did not want to do anything but sleep and would cry all the time. At first I thought she was home sick being so far away at college and I felt completely helpless. When I talked to her on the phone she sounded like a little girl curled up in the corner in a dark room. I prayed and prayed and feel like my prayers were answered by being directed to this web site. I was appalled when I read what all these women are experiencing when they are on Yasmin. I immediately called my daughter and told her to read this web site. She called me back sobbing and said she was stopping the pill that day. That has been 2 weeks now and I am telling you all that she is now back to her old self - very perky, wanting some adventure, hanging out with friends and meeting new ones. She still gets a little tired (now THAT could be college life) but she is no longer experiencing the depression and severe exhaustion. Her other side effects were a breakout in her complexion and some bloating.

If you are experiencing severe sadness, exhaustion and irritablility and don't know why since taking Yasmin GET OFF IT NOW. I think every person who has made a posting on this web site should send a similar letter to the FDA. It's the only way they will know this "miracle" pill is far from a miracle.

I have been on yasmin for a month..I am actually on my 4th day of the 2nd month. I am taking it to regulate my periods so I can get pregnant. But I am having shortness of breath where, it feels like I am inhaling, but my lungs arent filling. Even when I yawn to get all the air, it is like my lungs dont really fill. I have charlie horses in my calves and pain like a UTI. As soon as I started taking Yasmin, I was diagnosed with one, and was given antibiotics. After a week, I was told I was fine, but the pain continued. I am sick to my stomach ALL the time, but there are some moments, when all I want to do is eat. I pee constantly. I am SO tired, all he time I want to sleep. I could sleep all day and all night, and still be tired. I had my period and I cramped so bad and had headaches, and nothing seemed to get rid of it. I wouldnt advise Yasmin for anyone. I would like to know how to get the FDA to take it off the shelf. Any replies or input would be awesome! I want to get pregnant, but not at the risk that I cant breathe!!

STOP TAKING THIS PILL NOW AND PRINT OUT THIS WEBSITE AND SHOW TO YOUR OBGYN!!!!!! That is what I plan on doing on Fri. I am 27 yrs. old and have been on Yasmin for 2 yrs. Until I found this website, I thought that there was something seriously wrong with me and there is- This UNSAFE BIRTH CONTROL PILL. Over the past year I have experienced terrible panic attacks, anxiety, not to mention what I thought was colitis...daily stomach cramps,gas and diahrea, terrible nausea in the days directly following my last pill in my pack, heart palipitations, 5 UTI's in the past year, and about 7 yeasties, you name it. I began to suspect it was the yasmin recently when I realized that I have never experienced any of these problems before in my life, I was always healthy and happyand I was not taking any other medications. This is the only drug that I have been pumping into my body daily. It may as well have been poison at this point. I feel as if a lot of my life in the past year has been taken form me and it really pisses me off that they get away with marketing and selling this pill. It is important to give this evidence to your doctor when you go to see them. Do not let them tell you that it "may not be the right pill for you" It is not the right pill for anyone!!!! My very good friend began taking yasmin 5 months ago and in the last 4 mos. has had terrible migranes to the point where she has gone to see a neurologist. These pharm. companies just want to make money...they send reps out to doctor's offices and sing its praises and so doctors are none the wiser until we start to show them evidence that this pill is dangerous...doctors have other doctor friends that they will share this information with and so on and so on. If the FDA will not take it off the market, the doctors will at least stop perscribing it. Don't let others suffer as we have...

First of all, I was experiencing a lot of the same side-effects that I've read about here, so I decided to do a little research. What I found was startling. Usually, if you are having a S/E with hormones, it's probably the Progestin ingredient. The Progestin in Yasmin is very different from the progestins in other products. The studies done on Yasmin are very minimal, which means we are pretty much Guinea Pigs. It promises a lot of benefits, but doesn't deliver any. The progestin in Yasmin has a diuretic in it, but not enough to do anything, but if you take certain other drugs, it can have a bad effect, mainly an increase in your Potassium. This could be causing alot of the S/E talked about here. A diuretic effect can also cause dehydration, which results in headaches. When I reached Planned Parenthood, they told me that they do not prescribe it because it may have more of a risk for blood clots (leg cramps. numbness).
There are a couple of things you can do; first call your Dr. and let them know about the S/E and they should report it to the company that makes it. You can also contact the company and let them know. The company is obligated to inform the FDA in the U.S.
As a result of my research, I also learned that almost every pill has a different Progestin, and might not have the same effect. My Dr. put me on Ortho Tricyclen Lo and I reacted to that much diferently(I feel good).

I began taking Yasmin about a month ago for PCOS. After taking it for two weeks, I began to spot which turned into a heavy flow that has yet to cease. Along with unbearable cramps and migraine headaches, my breast are extremely tender. A few days ago, I broke out in an itchy rash all over my body.

I discovered this site last night and after reading the majority of the reviews, I tossed out the rest of pack. This morning I reported my symptoms to the company (Belex Laboratories) and I plan to notify the FDA.

Recently, I was diagnosed with PCOS and my OB/GYN prescibed Yasmin about 2 months ago. During the first month, my period increased from 4 to 5 days. About 2 weeks later, I began to spot which progressed into a heavy bright red flow which has yet to go away.

For the last week, along with the neverending bright red heavy flow, I have been plagued by bloating, headaches, chest pains, hot flashes, extremely tender breasts, and an itchy lumpy red rash on my chest, arms and legs.

Over the last couple of days, I have been comtemplating taking myself off this medication but after discovering this site and reading the problems of others, I threw my last pack into the trash.

I plan to report this to both the manufacturer (Berlex Laboratories) and the FDA. I suggest others do the same.

This has been a hellish nightmare!

I think most of the side effects you listed are normal for birth control, the problem is yasmin is also causing some issues that are so not normal for birth control. Mostly, serious panic attacks and chest pain by enough people that it is not a coincidence. I think the point is, if you don't report it to the FDA or the manufacturer (phone number below), they will never do anything about it.