Yasmin and felt ok

Hi everyone –

I read this entire thread (wow, but good read)! I will start with the positives and end with the negatives (and yes, I’m going OFF Yaz).

Positives I lost weight (flat stomach due to the diuretic) and spontaneous sex (but the tricky thing is, it takes away your libido or at least mine) – lost about 5 LBs and decreased appetite. 120 to 115 lbs and sometimes 112 – flexuates between 112-115.

Negatives
First month I felt VERY nauseous – took the pills at night but didn’t help. I had some stomach cramps which went away. I had severe migraines (one that made me vomit and I could not move & I was in such unbearable pain I thought I was going to die – seriously (stuck in bed all night – and yes the headaches did stop after 4 months). I felt “spacey” all the time (this was early on, went away) – Best way to describe this would be like drinking a glass or two of wine, I felt a bit numb. I would get as one poster described these brain spurts that zapped me with this dizzy thing that lasted seconds and would go away (nice to read that as I know I’m not alone). Another common side effect I still got up until the 6 month was my ears plugging up (usually in the morning) and it happened a lot and it was from the pill. I also had troubles sleeping and anxiety out of nowhere (all of a sudden I felt too nervous to walk in my bosses office, very bizarre). I had to go in the bathroom and breathe then felt ok.

The week before my period I am MOODY and ANGRY inside and it’s made me feel more withdrawn from my boyfriend. I was never a depressed person before or moody minus occasional crabbiness from lack of sleep or stress. I never had severe PMS to start to it did the reverse for me, made my PMS worse. I have only been on this pill for 6 months to by the way! Curious if it is true about the serotonin in this pill – if there is serotonin isn’t it supposed to make you happy, LOL so I don’t know how much that part is true. Guess I do better a la natural!

My libido is gone but only comes back during aunt flow when I’m taking NO PILLS and I feel happy during my period (and sexual) and my old self (go figure?). the thought of sex doesn’t cross my mind and trust me prior I was like a cat on a hot tin roof (in my 30’s afterall)!

I used to do Ortho for years with headaches but no loss of sex drive or anything then stopped cold turkey for a year. Prior to that I did seasonal and had some hair loss and a brown spot on my face due to the BC.

It’s really hard to find a specialist who really gets in the ins and outs of birth control pills. They should have a dr that works only on BC’s (sorry but most gyno’s don’t really know as they say “everyone is different which is true but c’mon, you guys are way more educated of the pro’s and con’s then they are). I went to see an OBGYN that said “that’s what happens in relationships, you’re libido drops” when I told her, I thought “huh” what kind of DR are you? My regular DR was way better informed but not a specialist (waste of my time and money)! She told me to stop having a period and to take Yaz continuously and gave me more free samples. Wonder how much the manufacturer is paying her? Makes me wonder. I prefer to have a period, that’s when I felt like myself again, ha!

I want lists and stats of all pills same with side effects and percentages of women who experience the same. I wish Oprah would do a show on this – anyone have any connections??? It should be called “Birth Control, what he manufacturers don’t want to tell you” basically you can have condomless sex but the catch is “ you don’t want sex” LOL

Thanks.
Peanut

PS The straw was last Saturday – I was so moody (5 days before aunt flow) and my BF thought I wasn’t into him anymore and I couldn’t shake the withdrawn feeling and today I miss him so much and can’t wait to see him Saturday and I will not be starting my new pack of pills on Sunday –we’re putting Latex back into business  until I research other methods, possibly nuva ring but who knows? Next 2-3 months I don’t want anything in my body besides food and weekend drinks, ha!

Dynastar:

I had the heart palpitations, rapid heartbeat, decreased sex drive, and some anxiety. I feel better since coming off in all areas.

I think the people that have had problems coming off felt ok while they were on it, but I'm not sure. Don't worry, no matter what you'll be healthier for getting of Yaz. I've been told it can take 3-6 months for the effects wear off, but everyone is different. I feel better 1 month later.

IPJ

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!

Ladies,
I happened to stumble on this posting on the "side effects" forum for YASMIN. I hope it's ok to cut and paste it here. It goes along with what I said in my last post. As this woman said, don't be scared by the title; it's about HORMONES, not just menopause!

Rita

BAD SIDE EFFECTS TO YASMIN
I was on Yasmin for 4 months. I felt OK for the first month, but I had the driest skin, and everything else. My acne started to clear up. I was excited. Then around the third month I started getting dizzy, ringing or pressure in my ears, sinus problems, just weird overall sense of not myself. Very unhappy. No libido. Very tired. Gained weight. Just not well. I decided it had to stop. In my search for hope, I came upon the most AMAZING book. It is full of specfic answers to all of your hormone questions. Why is this happening!!!! I could not stop reading it once I started. I finished the 395 page book in one evening. Then I got started right away the next morning on getting my body back in balance. I hope all of you will check this out. It is a LIFE SAVER. The book is "What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Premenopause", by John R. LEE, M.D., Jesse Hanley, M.D. and Virginia Hopkins. Don't be afraid of the title, it is for EVERY WOMAN! I would get a copy and share it with as many woman as possible. I am feeling so much better today!!! :>)

To the last post:
Anxiety is a major withdrawal side effect once off Yasmin. It has now been close to 7 months for me and I am now feeling ALOT better, but I admit it has been a very slow road to recovery. Be sure to explain how you're feeling to those close around you, as they need to be able to support you through this. You feel like you're 'losing it' sometimes when in fact you are the same old you, but just effected by the low level hormones.

The anxiety is due to your low progesterone level now you are off Yasmin. I'd recommend you have your levels checked out. I am now on Agnus Castus to help re-balance my hormones. I wished I hadnt waited until now to do this, as I may have speeded up this whole process.

You will find you will have good and bad days with this, according to your cycle. The important thing to remember is that you will get better, and the anxiety will go.

Like I said, see a doctor (preferably one that specialises in womens health, and therefore will not ignore your symptoms or disregard them).

A message for voicei...Hi, I've read your posts alot, and we have been leading very similiar lives for a long time it seems with all this (I too have posted alot). I just wanted to ask you how you have been once on the Agnus Castus...did any of your symptoms get worse before they got better? I have only been on it 10 days and on the whole have felt ok, but just wanted your thoughts about it so far...thanks.

Big hugs to all.

I am in tears...I don't know why I started looking into this just today...but my thoughts were "I just can't take it anymore!". There was something wrong, but what???
I am a healthcare professional, and I have prescribed this same medicine for my patients. I know everyone responds differently to a medication, especially OCPs, but for those of you who are angry at your providers for suggesting this...understand that we are not notified of these frequent side effects in the literature. They are all mentioned as "rarely....".
I started taking Yasmin about 2 years ago after Levlen caused my hair to fall out, loss of 20lbs (sick), heart palpitations, migraine, etc.
SO, switch to Yasmin...felt ok, lost some weight...
I have always had some depression/pms, etc. but nothing like the way I am now...it's as if all these things have crept up over the 2 years! After reading all these posts...I wonder...
I am happily engaged...but NO SEX DRIVE at all...NONE! That must be how it works...you can't get prego if you don't have sex right? My mood has been SO flat. Flat and down I should correct it to be! Tearfulness, hoplessness, and unbelievable irritability. I've turned from "the nicest person he's even known" into a "crazy B@#$". And I know it! And I hate it! I sometimes feel like I don't have control of myself...I can't stop myself from saying something I know I shouldn't. Headaches...yep...severe neck pain (actually that's probably due to a herniated disc I just found out), bloating, fat hips/thighs that were never there. As others have said, I am 28 years old and I feel like I'm 70!
I work, I come home, I fall asleep...I wake up with insomnia and anxiety, chest pains, shortness of breath, leg cramps, tingling in my arms, blurry vision (just got glasses only 2 years after having Lasik), and a spaced out feeling. My cramps are better, but the periods, just as long and heavy. I feel like an alien!! How can this be ME? AND THIS IS A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL! We're just as far in the dark as you all! Now THAT is unnerving!
I am at the end of my pack, and will never take another Yasmin. I am considering the ortho-cyclen since it has a lower level of progestin...anyone have experience with that one? I had been on most of the others in the past.
Thank you all for your honesty. I will be contacting my patients to follow up with them to make sure they are doing ok, and to change their meds if need be.