Yasmin and medications

I was only on Yasmin for one month. After 2/3 weeks of being on it I started getting really bad migraines. I've had a severe migraine now ever since I got off of it. Does anyone know how long side effects last? Does anyone have this problem too?
I ended up in the hospital twice for the headaches. After the bloodwork, and CAT scan I was discharged, but to this day (I stopped taking the pills during the second week of October) I am still in constant pain. It feels like something is moving in my brain (as weird as that sounds). I am now debating to call a neurologist.
If anyone has any type of help or advise please help me!!

I just posted a side effect on the Yaz page. I know all birth control pills are different for everyone but for the most part I had a lot of success on Yasmin. I was on Ortho Tricyclin for about 2 years in my early 20's and started having severe abdominal pain and severe bloating (all over my body). After several tests (blood work, CT scan, ultrasound, etc.) came back normal, I asked my ob/gyn to switch me to another type of birth control b/c I really didn't feel like myself and when your Mom says "You look like a zombie" then you know something is wrong. He gave me a prescription for Yasmin and I had immediate abdominal/bloating relief and felt normal again. I took Yasmin for 6 years and my only complaint is that I got PMDD the last 6 months I took it. I wasn't sure if it had something to do w/ turning 30 or just being on Yasmin for that long or a combination. I saw a commercial for Yaz and asked my ob/gyn if I could try it. The PMDD went away after the second month on Yaz but next week I'm going to try Yasmin again due to side effects I developed on Yaz (no energy, tired all the time, not feeling alert, feeling depressed). I'm crossing my fingers that Yasmin help me feel normal again and not bring back the PMDD.

Vitamin D deficiency. Severe.
Fatigue/Exhaustion
B12/Folic Acid deficiency-resulting chest pain
30 lb weight gain post Yasmin
Plugged ears/pressure
Elevated potassium
Depression
Total lack of interest in life
There is a wealth of information of fellow sufferers at Create a Forum, under health, medications if you type in Yasmin. Or google Yasmin Survivors. Its an international forum that has grown exponentially.

hi im 23 yrs old i started yas 2 months ago and now im on my 3rd month...in the beginning it was just nausea and loss of appetite...after a while went away,everything was going good...just recently starting this 3rd month i started getting nausea again and now im getting weird feelings of confusion,crying because im worried about it and the feeling of not being able to think or anything,plus this weird feeling in my eyes...so i decided to call the doctor today after i calmed myself down.they told me to get off of it as soon as possible because these were signs of serious problems that Yasmin has.so today will be the last time i am on it or any birth control for that fact.really i do not believe in taking any medications for anything and i normally don't but my obgyn said to help get my period back and regulated i would have to go on birth control.no thanks.medications do nothing but contridict...while helping one part of your body,its destroying another.i hope i helped you.

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...

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

It is so funny to read all of the negativity but nothing positive! I came here looking for side effects and get a bashing about how horrid Yasmin/Yaz is! Let me first start off by listing my side effects that I wanted to know about:

breast tenderness
change in appetite
tiredness
red spot in eye

Next, let me tell you that I researched BEFORE taking this medicine because 1. I have MS 2. I suffer from migraines and seizures and 3. I take a whole boat load of medications! My doc recommended Yasmin for PMDD coupled with Sarafem to help my mood right before and during my time of the month. I must say that I have only been on it for about 10 days so I do not know anything of how it works with my period.

I am APPALLED at the fact that there are few, if any, positive comments about this pill! I know for a FACT that it works because I know 7 people personally that are on it that have NO PROBLEMS! So, I ask you all that have negative comments, what is wrong with you, other than you HATE the pill? What OTHER meds were you on while taking it? I read a few comments about stopping for a month and then starting again and then wondering why they felt like crap?? Well HELLO?! You are effing with your body's hormones! And there is a difference between Yaz and Yasmin hormones. If you had a bad experience with Yaz, make sure you are not confusing it with Yasmin! Yaz is a 24 day hormone pill where Yasmin is only 21 days.

I am not a doctor, but like I said, I have done my research. I have suffered with adult acne and PMDD for years. It sucks. If Yasmin helps, I want to know. I don't want to read a bunch of bull about people who mess up their cycles by taking the pill and smoking or taking the pill with meds they shouldn't be taking them with. I know what I can and cannot take. Most of what I take is natural and what is not, well, it CAN be taken with Yasmin. Like the website for Yasmin says and like most of the informational, non-biased websites say, Yasmin and Yaz is not for everyone. Some people cannot handle this type of hormone.

I can guarantee you that some doctor or pharm company can tell you that whatever symptom you are having is from something completely unrelated to the BC you are taking. Warnings are clearly marked...read them and obey!

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

my daughter is 16 takes Yasmin for severe periods and cramps, stomach pain, moodiness during her periods. She has just started complaining about headache that hurt really bad, not like migraine headaches, she already had a history of those and said that they feel different. I'm worried, has anyone experienced this?

The health care system has failed me and led me to believe that I had many issues "inside my head." I was on yasmin since spring 07 and was fine for half a year until the symptoms one by one crept up. I too was experiencing the fatigue, the vomiting, the mood swings, the depression and anxiety. I've been known to be very laid back, very easy going, so when I had my first panic attack ever, I knew something was off.
Soon after, I started to experience heart palpitations, chest pains, shortness of breath. One day I was so freaked out I went to the E.R. with a standing heart rate of 142. When all the tests turned out clear, they told me that I should visit the psychiatric clinic. When they asked if I was on any medications, I told them I was on yasmin. The doctors looked at eachother with a confused look and asked me "What's yasmin?" Shows how much they know!
I was getting better overall until a few late-nite episodes had me waking up with my heart pounding and my thoughts racing. This happened two nights in a row which disheartened me since I thought I was slowly getting better. Then, I found this website, and everything made sense. I stopped taking the pill that night, and that night, I slept fine. It's been about three weeks since I've been off of yasmin and I'm 80% back to normal. I was at the point that I thought I would never laugh as loud or never smile as much as I did a year ago. The other day I caught myself with a huge smile for no reason at all . . . and that's when I knew I was on track to recovery.
I started to ask around and found out that many women have experienced very negative effects from yasmin. Last week, I told the woman whose office is next to mine and she proclaimed "I had the same thing too! So did my sister!"
The doctors won't believe you. Many of them are buttered up by the drug companies. Even my sister who's an RN told me that sometimes, you need to be your own doctor. And for symptoms of anxiety, depression, I would recommend 5-htp. It's a plant-derived natural supplement that increases the production of your seratonin. It's so easy to get misdiagnosed and placed on some other medication that has other adverse side effects.
Spread the good word, ladies. We must reach out to one another and take care of one another like sisters. Afterall, who else is there who we can rely on?

I started the pill when i was 14, trying to control my cramps and acne. I have now been on the pill for 4 years. I constantly felt depressed and "blocked" in everything in my life. I gained over 40 pounds in my adolescence and never knew why. I'm taking control of my life now and have lost about 20. I went off the pill about a month ago and I can say with all of my being it was the best move i ever made. Then the acne came. I was devastated. I went back on and feel blocked again. My weight loss has come to a fault and my cravings are out of control. I am going back off of the pill again immediately. However, i don't want my acne to come back. Does anyone know of a great way to control it? creams don't really work for me so I'm not sure what to try. Mabye an herbal remedy? Any suggestions??

I have been taking Yasmin for about 6 years. I didn't really have many side effects at first at least not anything I wanted to blame on the pill because I do take other medications, but after reading all of these problems that others have had, I wonder if I've just been overlooking what Yasmin may be causing. Other than the less serious things like major depression, anxiety,panic attacks, zero sex drive, weight gain, bad headaches, etc., about 3 years ago i had a benign lump removed from my breast. My Gyn said it couldn't have been caused from the pill but my surgeon said it definitely could have been caused from the pill. Then last June I had a mini heart attack. I am 35 and don't smoke. I wonder if the pill was responsible for that as well.

I was on it for five months and stopped to prepare for pregnancy. I started immediately experiencing the following: vaginal dryness, loss of sex drive, nausea, depression, hair loss, weight gain, heavy periods, stomach cramps, vaginal odor, mood swings, panic attacks, heart palpitations, neck pain. I am so blessed that my husband did not leave me!

I am 25 and I have endometriosis, and every side effect of yasmin that you all have is what i have been experiencing with endometriosis, the only difference is that i have a perfectly normal cycle, its either 28 - 30 days no more no less but still i'm not getting pregnant. I started taking Yasmin about a week ago and to date i have no symptoms. I think what happens is that we search online for information about these medication and what we read freaks us out and we start making our bodies believe that we have these symptoms, in-fact we are constantly looking out for these symptoms. when i read up on endometriosis i wanted to become pregnant so bad for the first time and i would make my self feel pregnant because i would go to these endo forums and read peoples symptoms who got pregnant with endo and i would find myself looking for those symptoms and then my body tricks me into thinking i have all the symptoms they describe on the endo sites and at the end of the 28 days my period arrives in full force as usual. but i schedule my self to take yasmin around my lunch time where i guarantee i will have a bite and i notice that with any pills if you do not eat while taking it, it can cause nausea, headaches. I know that it is very possible for people to get side effects from these medications, but i think we need to relax a little and take our minds off them and put our trust in God and let him take charge, pray everyday, and i don't mean pray for your problems, i mean give God thanks everyday for what he has done in your life and for waking you up because God already knows your problems, he just wants you to show acknowledgement for all he has done. This is the path that i am trying to take to overcome my endometriosis and just hope that one day he will look deep in my soul and help me and women just like me with menstrual issues, and help me and my husband to concieve our first child. the only side effect i am looking forward to while on Yasmin is falling pregnant at some point (you know how some people mistakingly fall pregnant on BCP's well i am looking forward to that) (smile)

I had been on Yasmine for about two years with no complications until last week. Last week my heart began beating extremely fast just while sitting at my desk typing. Later on in the day my chest began feelign tight and I had an "anxious" feeling in my upper body. At the same time my lower body felt completely weak- as if my legs could not support my body weight if I were to stand. Evenso, I thought nothing of it and just assumed my normal one cup of coffee just so happened to have a strong effect on me that day. The next day the anxious feeling and weakness had subsided but my left arm and hand were tingling. It felt as if they had fallen asleep and now had that "cotton" feeling. The next morning I lost all feeling in my left hand except for my first three fingers. This is when I began trying to figure out what on earth I may have eaten, where I had been, had i drank too much coffee, etc.

I rarely drink alcahol, don't smoke, have no family history of heart problems, etc. I don't take any other medications, I don't take vitamins, I dont eat strange foods, and exercise regularly. The only thing I could possibly change is my birth control. I immediately quit taking Yasmine and all problems disappeared in two days.

I

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.

Hello,

I read about how YAZ birth control pill affects the body and psych and I am now scared. This is my 2nd day of YAZ (I've never been on birth control pills ever and I am 27 years old), it's all new to me but after reading all these negative posts about Yaz I don't know what to do. Before the birth control pills, I was depressed, annoying, serious weight problems - 210 lbs :~~((, low energy, low libido, always tired, terrible migraines every 2nd day, ridiculously increased appetite and excessive hunger, hair where it shouldn't be, menstrual blood clots, excessive cramping etc
I have all these problems for 3 years now and now that the family doc. put me on YAZ birth control pill I am even more scared - mainly of more weight gain, it would be a tragedy for me, I am fat enough already and what's worse I can't lose the weight, exercise doesn't help, diet doesn't help, NOTHING. Will YAZ birth control pill worsen my already tragic condition? I just don't know what to do and what to believe ... I appreciate any advice or help you can give me ... Thank You to all!

I have been on Yasmin for 6 years (16-22 years old) except for about 15 months when I was pregnant and nursing. I did not get pregnant while taking the pill (and my son is a beautiful perfectly healthy 3 year old). I have been extremely happy with the pill. I had some discomfort and a very heavy period my first month, but that is why you have to take a pill for 3 months to find out how it will really work for you. It has helped with my acne, I have not gained weight, my anxiety is what it was before, and my headaches are what they were before.

Different pills will work for different women. The only way to know which will work for you is to give it a real chance = 3 months; especially if this is your first time taking hormones! As we all know all medications have side effects. We also have to remember that we are choosing to risk that the side effects will not outweigh our reason for wanting the medicine in the first place... to NOT get pregnant! Which is a huge thing for any of you who don't have kids. All I'm saying is don't let it make you miserable, but give a pill a chance. And if you gain a little weight for example would exercising a little kill you?

I recently discovered that my Yasmin birthcontrol could be what is making me feel anxious and depressed lately.It comes in bursts one or more times a day where I feel lots of axiety, depressed and thoughts that I cant live like this anymore. I have stopped taking it and was wondering if anyone knew anything that could help me to relax when ever I start feeling out of control. I'm hoping to get it all out of my system soon and start feeling back to normal again. I'm tired of feeling scaired and sad and anxious. Any one else feel the same way? Any success stories from stopping the pill and how soon did you start feeling good again?

Lauren- May 2005 through August 3, 2007: The following is my daughter’s story which I put on paper so that she could bring it with her to the gynecologist in case I couldn’t be with her. I didn’t want her to forget anything. Someone suggested that I post it to a website:
The most recent issue seems to have started when she first went away to college in the fall of 2005. She came home one weekend with a stomach virus (vomiting, nausea), but it seemed to never completely go away. She was taken to the ER a few times, just to be treated for dehydration and sent home because there was 'nothing wrong with her'...Over the next few months she seemed to constantly feel sick, nauseous, fatigued, and get a lot of headaches. We took her to her primary care doctor, who did blood work and treated her for heartburn, acid reflux, etc.. During this time, she actually had appendicitis and had her appendix removed. After that she continued to feel sick. So we moved on to the gastroenterologist who ran many tests: cat scan endoscopies, more blood work, and were told that they couldn't find anything wrong. Then we started with a nutritionist to help her eat healthier and hopefully reduce the nausea which subsided occasionally but never let up. Nothing there helped. Then it was back to another gastroenterologist with no results. Over this time, anxiety was hitting her big time. She was finishing up finals in her first year of college and was constantly skipping classes because she was too nauseous to get out of bed for her 8:00 classes. Home for the summer - no relief. She decides she couldn't go back to her college for her 2nd year so she enrolled in community college - not exactly the plan, but at least she was on course with her classes and doing well. Still stressed and nauseous, we started with the neurologist who prescribed many medicines and ordered an MRI, which showed nothing (no problems, not no brain!). Back to the primary care doctor who finally diagnosed her with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which fit the current symptoms of nausea, severe diarrhea while vomiting and the finale: passing out. So, back to the state college for 2nd semester of sophomore year. But the medication for IBS was making her too sleepy to get through the day, so she discontinued it. The symptoms had subsided a bit but towards the end of the school year got worse again - just in time for finals, again. During that semester at school, she sought counseling at school which seemed to help her stress level, but she still had daily ‘melt-downs’, so the therapist sent her to a psychiatrist for meds. The doctor started her on the lowest dose (25mg) of Zoloft. As she started to feel a bit better, they increased the Zoloft over the next few months until she was at 100 mg. Home for the summer, the symptoms came and went, but about 2 weeks after she started the 100 mg, she confided in me that she was feeling depressed and actually had thought of 'not caring if she died'. We immediately took her to the psychiatrist upstate who had treated her at school and whom she had seen once since she left school. (She had also continued with the cognitive therapy at the college.) The doctor told her to start weaning off the Zoloft, but start Seraquel (another seratonin-based drug). She also said she was going on vacation and Lauren needed to be seen often as she switched medications, so she advised us to find another psychiatrist closer to home to monitor her progress. So the new doctor put her on Wellbutrin, continued to wean her off Zoloft, and continued her on the Seraquel. He also ordered blood work and a fasting glucose-tolerance test (all of which came back normal/negative). The symptoms got severely worse over the next 2 weeks: constant nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, fainting. On Monday, she spoke with the psychiatrist and he told her to stop all meds. We continued to believe that the recent symptoms were caused by either the psychotic meds themselves, still in her system or the withdrawal of the meds. By Tuesday night, she had been vomiting for almost 24 hours and I had to take her to the ER, not because I thought they could figure out what was wrong, but to re-hydrate her because she was becoming dehydrated. After 7 hours, and more blood work, x-ray, EKG, she was released and proceeded to get nauseous on the way home at 4AM. BUT, a very nice nurse came in while Lauren had fallen asleep and asked me why my daughter was on so many meds. I basically told her the above story and she asked me when Lauren started on birth control pills. I told her that I took her to my gyn. in May of 2005, before she was going off to college and we told him about the terrible menstrual cycle (heavy bleeding and 1 day a month home with cramps all through high school) and he put her on Ortho-tricycline low. At her 3 month check, she told him she was losing large amounts of hair. He changed her contraceptive to 'Ov-con 35'. In November, she complained of nausea and he switched her to Yasmin. She has been on it ever since. The nurse asked me if I was aware that every symptom that Lauren has had since October of 2005 could be a side effect of oral contraceptives!! She told me about a book to buy, written by Dr. John Lee about hormones and imbalances. She told me not to stop the b.c. pills abruptly, because since they are synthetic hormones, and with what her body was going through, it might put her into an hormonal chaos, similar to a full-blown menopause! So we are now reading the book, waiting to do saliva- testing and trying to see a gyn. to help us. Her own gyn. has a personal family emergency and is on a temporary leave of absence (as we found out when his office canceled her yearly check-up twice in the last 10 days). We are trying to get her in with one of the other doctors. She cannot start a 3rd year of college still feeling ill!
Added to the above is the fact that my husband’s sister called to see what was going on with Lauren after she got a phone call from her mother. It turns out that my niece, Heather (age 23), has been making the rounds with the doctors and having testing done (MRI, blood work, etc.,) because she has been nauseous and passing out. Guess what medicine she is taking…..Yasmin!

This is the list of most of the medicines (besides the 3 oral contraceptives) that she has been on during the last 27 months because of the side effects of Yasmin, and no doctor suggests she stop her oral contraceptive pills for a few months!
Prochloroperaz (5mg), Topamax (25mg), Prevacid (30mg), Zofran (4mg), Omeprazole (20mg), Amitriptyline (25mg), Amitriptyline (50mg), Inderal (60mg), Propranolol (10mg), Amitriptyline (10mg), Sertraline (Zoloft) (25mg), Sertraline (Zoloft) (50mg), Metoclopramide (5mg), Sertraline (Zoloft) (100mg), Seroquel (25mg), Wellbutrin (150mg), Dicyclomine (10mg), Compazine (severe reaction: Extrapyramidal), and other anti-nausea meds in 4 trips to the ER (one due to the reaction to Compazine!)

I'm so glad I googled side effects of Yasmin and found this site. All of the sudden my mood swings for the past almost YEAR make sense. I started out fine. The pill was great, and I haven't had to worry about acne at all. Of course I gained a few pounds, but not too much. However, I'm a pre medical student trying to study for the MCAT this summer. I've been SO tired and drained and majorly depressed that I just can't seem to concentrate. I feel like I'm always crying over the stupidest stuff (AKA: no reason at ALL), and my grades are starting to suffer. Hopefully now that I've read this, I can stop taking this pill and see an improvement. It's just not worth the depression. I'm 22 right now, and until recently had never had a suicidal thought. I was starting to panic, because I couldn't identify the cause of my depression. I'm a good student, have lots of friends, and have the most amazing boyfriend and family. Life is good, I shouldn't feel this bad. Now that I have a clue as to what this may be, I can fix it.

Where do I begin??? I have been taking Yaz for six months. Migraines! The worst migraines ever, I cannot function for one full day and sometimes more, the pain was so intolerable.

Hives! For the past two months, I keep thinking that I had a food allergy; even my doctor diagnosed it as that. After going to the allergist, I was told that I have developed an allergy to the Yasmin pill. No part of my body has been discriminated with this medication. Hives from the top of my head, in my eyes, right down to the bottom of my feet! This has been the worst experience of my life with this pill.

Fatigue to the extreme! I fall asleep sitting up and never feel rested. Yaz has caused me to go up two cup sizes so far, I went from being a 38C to a 40DD and I can't fit into anything. My boobs are sore a lot.

Weight gain, at least 20 pounds heavier. Nausea; Indigestion; Diarrhea & Constipation; Decreased Sex Drive; and Mood swings; Uncontrollable Rages; Severe body aches; Hot Flashes/Chills; Crying Spells; Blurred Vision; Lack of Concentration; Trouble sleeping; Dizziness; Shaking; Restlessness mainly after 9pm when I should be winding down to go to bed; Terrible night sweats; Never ending cravings for junk food; Inability to cope with stressful situations; Feeling of being inadequate; Can’t concentrate; Gassy; Hate family & partners; Irrational.

I am due to start my third pack of YAZ, and I am getting off today. My dr. gave me a three month trial after I switched from ortho-tricyclin low because I had break-through bleeding. I realize with any contraceptive there are going to be side-effects, but this is ridiculous... I have had extreme fatigue, I am sleepy all the time. I also feel like I cannot think clearly, like my head is clogged or something. I also feel very anxious and this feeling like I am going to pass out. Also my eyes feel very dry and unfocused. Nothing is worth feeling like this, and it is very obvious that all these symptoms are coming from this pill. I am scared to try anything else!

I've been on Yaz for 1 year now. I've been in a deep depression since September ( 6 months on Yaz) for which I've had to seek treatment. It took 4 months to get me straightened out on medications and still daily I struggle with it.

Also I've noticed right shoulder pain, weight gain (60 pounds), no libido, chronic fatigue, bloating with horrible gas.Is all of this from the Yaz or is it my depression or what? I'm having a really hard time sorting thru all of this.

I was really disheartened to see so many people having bad side effects with their Pill. I have been on Yasmin for 2 years and have not had any really bad side effects. I had a loss of appetite at first, but I didn't mind it too much as I needed to lose weight, but after a few months, my appetite came back. I never had an issue with my sex drive, never had any mood swings, or any of the other issues that some of you are having. One consistency I did notice was that women with the worse side effects were taking Yaz, the low hormonal version of Yasmin.

Also ladies, keep in mind that a lot of the side effects listed by the company as well as the ones you have experienced are common with many other BCP's. Hell, I took ortho try cyclen and the most horrible experience. And let's not talk about the many women who took Ortho Evra, which just came out recently. There is now a lawsuit against the company who produced it because of the side effects.

Everyone reacts differently to different medications and to different pills. There are many women who have had nothing but wonderful experiences, others have had horrible experiences. But again, it is like that with every pill.

to the last poster:

You may be right, everyone reacts different on medications and other things.

But let me just mention this:

This would have been exactly the post I could have written after only about 6 months on this stuff..... I LOVED my Yasmin and wouldn't have heard on anyone who told me any negative about it!!!!

About 2 years later I had my first breakdown, after another 2 years the second, very severe breakdown and since then my life has never been the same as before!!!!!!!!!!! I'm a total hormonal wreck, still not knowing if I'll ever be healthy and fit again in my life (and I'm only 32!!!).

So I think it's absolutely worth thinking twice about taking this special bcp. It definitely seems to be causing more and espcially more serious side effects than other bcp's with other hormones in it!!!

Please be careful with that stuff!! There's so many other bcp's on the market, perhaps with less side effects (I've been on bcp for 5 years before Yasmin and never had any problems like that!!!) And I wouldn't wish my experience to my worst enemy....... :´(

Since about 4 years I'm only "existing", not really "living" because of severe hormonal problems caused by Yasmin (BEFORE taking that stuff I was a happy outgoing positive person, and I turned into an anxious, weak, unsure and hormonal affected wreck)!!!!!!

I wanted to add one final post (hopefully my last). I did order the Linden method, and although I have not followed it exactly....it had 99% of my symptoms listed. Instead of meditation cd's I prayed and studied my Bible. The changes in thinking, diet, exercise have helped tremendously. Then again, I have also reached that magic point of 1 year 4 months off Yasmin. I am now 99% better! NO MEDICATIONS at all. You guys have helped me through that past year and 4 months. Without you, I would have ended up on psycho-drugs and much worse, but I have made it out! Thank you so much for sticking it out. There is hope for all of you; it just takes a LONG time... I will not be back to the forum. God bless you all...I pray for your speedy recovery!
Virginia

Took Estrostep (sp?) from May until early October. Constant bleed thru. I'm only on BC for acne. Started taking Yasmin and within 2 weeks was having trouble sleeping and loss of appetite. In a month I was depressed, anxious, and second guessing every decision. I'm taking no other medications and and before this I was a happy, productive, college student. Last Sunday morning I woke up and decided to look up "side effects" of Yasmin. After discussionwith my parents i decided to stop the Yasmin immediately. It's been a week now - how long before before these feelings of anxiety and panic abate? I have been to see my family doctor and he was supportive of my decision but advised that it might take up to a month for everything to be out of my system. Any one else have the symtoms and for how long after quiting?

flowerbabies sound like your doing well

how long have you been off?? A year omg Idont know how you guys did it without any help or any medications or any counselors its amazing. I wouldnt last a year like Iam now no way!

My eyes are so puffy from crying last night they look terrible

I hope with the Loprexa that I can just use it for a month or two and be back to the old me and get off of it the pharmacist said as soon as you feel good you can try to get off it so did my doctor.

Iam beginning to wonder if I wasnt having low estrogen low progesaterone symptoms for a long time prior to Yaz nothing like this at all but i was a little anxious sometimes if I went to a mall or drove on the freeway.

Hormones I hate them

Iam still taking the natural progesterone cream if iam a 2.0 beginning of my cycle thats low I think is it.

I know nothing about the levels.

Did I tell anyone I was iron deficient anemia going into this mess thats part of why my doc put me on Yaz.
My blood showed it is up now but I was a 8 or 9 now Iam a 12

I wish I would gain weight flowerbabies Iam so thin it terrifies me

<<>>

Well, would be nice to hear, WHO is writing such here in this forum. But it surely can't be someone who read the whole page through with hundreds of similar stories of YASMIN users! And surely not someone who was in this, too! If you never experienced such a nightmare before and just whilst or after taking Yasmin, well, how many other reasons do you expect to be there for all this???

It surely may not be a fault to perhaps see someone to talk to about all this. Maybe it would help, maybe not. Everyone has to try and decide by him-/herself. For some it even might help to take an antidepressant for a while, just to get over the worst months. But it's so clear to me, that we're all victims of that "wonder drug" Yasmin after reading each and every post here for about 2 years now!!

But such posts as the above only make people like Kim feel worse, I'm pretty sure, because I was the same 1,5 years ago. And very miraculous: Without going to a therapist, psychiatrist or taking any other medications, just waiting and waiting and hoping I finally got better and better by myself over the months.

And there is still someone out there telling such stuff out there "it might not be Yasmin"?????? Dear, I'm getting angry about such naive words. Mostly sounds as if even one of those ignorant docs, we all had visited may have written it???

Murph70: Sorry, I don't really know what that "hcg" is for? Is it a hormonal thing or something else??

To that poster who mentioned the two colds in between only a few weeks and sore throat and so on: I know that I'm repeating myself, but please GET YOUR IRON LEVELS CHECKED!! And not only the normal bloodwork, but the "Ferritin" (sorry, don't know what's it called in English). ALL of your symptoms (Soar throat, Chest tightness/ congestion, Fatigue, splitting/breaking nails, dry skin, Feeling down and depressed) sound like and iron deficiency!! If you won't believe me, please check it by yourself over google!!!

Best wishes to you all!! Hang in there!!! You're already halfway and there's really a light at the end of the tunnel!!

Silke

hi dejay78,
i am so sorry that you feeling so bad,i really feel for you,i made me so sad to read your post as i can remember feeling that i would never be well again and that i just wanted my life to be over. please do not feel bad about taking the lexapro,if it will help you then that is all that matters.do not feel that because other women survived without taking anything it makes you a weaker person ,it does not! i have no idea if taking a medication would have made my recovery easier or not but i was sooo terrified of taking another medication that i thought i would take my chances without,it does not make me a stronger person that you at all,all that matters is that you get well again and that you can cope with your children again and that you can sleep again and that you can smile and enjoy your life again.it does not matter what you take or don't take as long as you recover,each of us that has been affected by yasmin have had different symptoms and imbalances and different medications or vitamins etc that have helped us,hopefully the lexapro will give you enough relief from your symptoms that your system and your mind will be ready to fight back, we all need a little helping hand now and again, it makes no difference what works as long as it does work. if you need moral support you know where we are, all the wonderful ladies here will always answer your questions or give you support when you need it.

my heart goes out to you and your family.i really hope that the lexapro will give you some much needed rest from your symptoms. i did have twitchy legs at night,they would jump and fidget but that seems to have stopped now (8 months off yasmin) keep the faith that you will get better,tell yourself everyday that you will and are getting better,i know it does not seem like it now but it will happen little by little and day by day.

sarah

Hey guys. I can't seem to figure out what's going on here. I've always had anxiety but I've been able to control it. About 3 years ago, I started Yasmin & the anxiety raged out of control. I get very severe dizziness/vertigo. Stomach problems, backaches, severe breast soreness. I didn't even start to make the connection until recently to Yasmin. I don't take any other medications (I'm mostly a naturopath) so this is the only chemical I'm putting in my body. I think I need to get off this medication. Thoughts?

hi eryka,
snap! on the anxiety. mine is pretty much gone now but when it does creep in around the time of my period i start to worry that it might get really bad again and that i might be back to square one and maybe it was not the yasmin that caused it after all. But when those thoughts creep in i remind myself that i AM better and the anxiety is NOTHING compared to how i used to feel and that it WILL pass until one day it has gone completely,i KNOW it was the yasmin that caused it because it got better when i stopped taking it. i just remind myself that i will never feel that way again because of everything i have been through (and survived!) has made me stronger and everything i have learned means i will not feel so helpless and vunerable again. i have learned to question my DR instead of just doing what he says and i thoroughly check out any medications now before i take them blindly like i did with yasmin. i truly believe that although i still have my problems i am on the road to a full recovery. it has taken 7 months so far and i am sure it will take longer yet but for now i am pleased to be better.

I too have suffered sever side effects from yasmin.

Has anyone thought of ever seeing if they can gradually reduce the dose instead of abrubtly going off them? It only seems to make sense to me that this would help with some of the side effects of the withdrawls. I know lots of medications that you have to gradually reduce dosage or the side effects can be severe. I would think this would be especially true for hormonal drugs such as birth control?

I want to stop taking my Yasmin and birth control all together, but knowing how this drug has effected me while taking it, I have to believe my body will be thrown all out of whack when I stop and I am considering a gradual reduction in dosage, maybe taking only half or taking it every other day since there is no "prescribed" method out there to do so?

Has anyone tried this or have any thoughts on this they can share?

First, thank you for your posts and providing me that extra push to stop taking this pill. For the past 5 months I've been on Yasmin. After the first few days I experienced dizziness and increased anxiety. I spoke to my pharmacist (in retrospect this makes me laugh) and he suggested I continue for a month to see if the side-effects subside. And they did. And sure enough my skin cleared, I lost some weight and my periods became quite light. Yet now, near 5 months later, the side-effects have resumed. I'm lightheaded, am having trouble with blurriness and am very anxious. Overall I'm feeling disconnected and a bit manic. Yasmin is the ONLY drug I am on. I actually am dedicated to an organic lifestyle and have for the past year injested almost all things organic. And so after reading your posts I realize that these feelings are not a function of being a "woman in her twenties" balancing stress, work and home, but actually a chemical reaction to the ONLY prescription or non-prescription drug I injest.
Now I pose the question - do I look for a replacement or give my body a break from BCP all together (I've been on them for 10 years now?) And can someone please confirm what alternative medications they took after stopping this pill to help bring the body and mind back to equilibrium? BComplex?
Thank you
Jacquelyn

MEDICATIONS.COM MOST LIKELY SAVED MY LIFE! THANK YOU! My doctors also refused to help me despite my pleas that something was indeed wrong with me while taking Yasmin. I have now been Yasmin free for 11 months. My side effects STILL consist of dizziness, nausea, headaches, eye floaters, and extreme panic episodes right after my period in the mornings (although they are not nearly as bad as they were).

Silke, I tried Valerian root pills instead of Clonozepam at my last attack. It worked wonderfully!

I NEVER HAD ANY HEALTH PROBLEMS AT ALL BEFORE TAKING THIS PILL.

Virginia

I've been taking yasmin for about a year. There sure seem to be a lot of people posting how this pill has caused every ailment in the book--I'd like to report that aside from a noticable drop in my libido (which has happened with EVERY pill I've tried, not just yasmin), I've had zero symptoms, just like most of the people I know who are taking this same drug. Granted, I had a few weeks of minor nausea immediately after beginning this pill, but a simple adjustment to my timing (I started taking it before bed as opposed to the middle of the day) took care of that. If you're having as many symptoms as some of the people posting on here had, I highly recommend that you go see a doctor. Definitely make a note of ANY medications you are taking, but don't assume that this pill is the root of all evil and rule out everything else.

Ok so I have been on Yasmin since June 2005, At first it was great because it was the 1st BC that i didn't gain sooo much weight! Well I had always had a slight anexity problem but never went through what I went through on Yasmin! Heres my story!! In November 05 i went on anxiety medication tried muliple medications and nothing worked i was having more and more panic attacks...THEN...i went away for the weekend and got stuck for 5days without my birthcontrol. Had to stop taking it and wait for my period to come and restart it...Well I was off yasmin for almost 2 months and never felt better in my life!!! I was happy no more irraitablity, mood swings, no more bloating, no more anxiety!!! Started taking it again within days I was miserable again! NO more hormones for me!!!! Ughh Yasmin my worst experience in 24 yrs!

Hi everyone,
Here's my weekly update. It's been 3 weeks now post yasmin. I'm not 100% but I would say probably 70%. I have not had an anxiety attack in over a week which is great, I'm still a bit tired, but fully functional and happy.

I went to a new Dr. yesterday, and at first he said "birth control doesn't cause these problems", then after showing him a bunch of other peoples stories, as well as explaining that I am feeling better and better with each day post Yasmin, he changed his mind.

He said that Yasmin has progestrine in it which may be the cause of the anxiety. He also explained that although I had been on it for over 3 yrs. it could happen at any time. He also explained that although it only takes about 1 week for the hormones to leave your body, the after shock so to speak could last a few months. Meaning the anxiety, fatigue and all of the other symptoms could take a while to end.
He also explained that all of the chest pains, and shortness of breath that most of us experienced were anxiety. Even if the actual attack, ie, numbing, tingling, etc. weren't along with it. He said tehre are different versions of it. And unfortunately once you have one attack you are prone to more.

He did suggest prescribing me medication for anxiety, but I stated that I wanted to wait since after stopping Yasmin, the anxiety was present the first two weeks, however it hasn't occured since.

Therefore, I just wanted to let everyone know that we are not crazy and finally someone admited that if my symptoms are less and less every day off the pill, then Yasmin must be the cause.

He also told me that when they study side effects of medications, particularly Yasmin, they only study about 1,000 people for about 6 months. Therefore they do not know the long term side effects it may cause. He said if enough people report it they will pull it off the market.

For new people to the site, I had chest pains at various locations in the chest, numbing in my arm, leg, and face, fatigue, weight gain, nausea, shortness of breath, memory loss, the list goes. on..

For those of you who have gained weight on this pill and are now off of it. How long did it take to lose the weight? I have lost 3 lbs, in 3 weeks, not nearly enough...

Thanks everyone hang in there.
Hill

wow I thought some of the symptoms i'm having were do to other medications... headaches shakiness, burning in my sinuses and cheeks and a red rash on my cheeks.

I alos get tingling in my lips, and tongue... numbness in wrists and fingers..

I'm goin to see my PCP and goin to bring these symptoms up.

Hey...I am 14 years old and i dont know whats happining! i've never felt this bad. I dont know if the first week or two of you being on Yasmin, if your supost to feel sick. But i do feel sick, or it might be because im taking 4 types of medications. If anyone can help me then Write me back....Nikki....

Denise,
just a heads-up--valerian is addictive as well, don't overdo it. One of my friends can't get off of it, and although she doesn't need it anymore for anxiety, she gets very deffensive when someone questions her taking it, just like an addict.
I just changed my diet and exercise schedule and I hope that will be enough. I am already feeling tons better without ANY medications. Everyone's different, but I think you're making the right decision by not wanting to use Xanax as a 'crutch'.
Silke is right, what you need now is someone to lean on and turn to for support, and LOTS of patience. It will all get better, promise.

If anyone ever hears of a class action lawsuit or some movement to get it off of the market in the USA against Berlex by the former users of YASMIN, please post here. I would be glad to share my story.

I was never like this.... REALLY. I am now on medications for my anxiety and receiving outpatient therapy.... If anyone ever told me that I would end up like this, I would not have believed it. The more I read, the more I realize and associate the symptoms with the time that I was on Yasmin.

I also took myself off of caffiene. I figure that it can't hurt. I have two little kids to take care of.

Thank God my family and husband are being helpful and understanding. I referred them to this board and that is how they realized that I was not making this up!

Good luck to all of you. I will keep posting as the days go on.

Hi everyone,
I am so sorry to read the new posts and that all of you are going through this agony. As I posted previously, I am going through it with you. Today I woke up in such an anxiety attack I had to take a Xanax. The room was spinning. After the paxil and xanax, I am feeling better. I really do NOT believe in taking these type of medications but I am not getting better without it.

I was on it for about a year and a half. Here's waht I experienced:

Irritable bowel syndrome

Severe anxiety

Physical pains/general "never feeling good"

Headaches

other medications not reacting well

bad mood swings

To all new readers of this site:

It seems that there is some 'discussion' lately over the magnitude of negative posts about Yasmin on this site. It has been my experience that it has been accessed by anyone either thinking of taking this pill, just started taking this pill or those whom have ended it recently. I agree that ALL medications have side effects and that ALL people react differently to medications/pills. HOWEVER, as Yasmin FAILS to list PSYCHOSIS, SEVERE ANXIETY/PANIC ATTACKS, SEVERE DEPRESSION, RAPID HEART RATE, and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS in its little book of 'possible side effects' then where else would you suggest people find out about them.

I trust everyone has enough brains to realise that their bodies react differently than everyone elses BUT as far as I'm concerned, if I had any clue this could 'possibly' have happened to me, then I could have spared myself the last 7 months of complete hell after taking this rubbish and getting through the 'after effects' once finishing it.

I'm happy that there are those out there who have had no negative side effects...thats wonderful. I myself thought Yasmin was fantastic for a year and a half until I suffered almost over night from ALL of the above (and have zero history of any of it). I dont tend to worry only of myself and what has worked for me, rather, I worry about all of those who could use my experience as a deterant, in doing so, save their mental health and that of their loved ones.

Sure, all pill's are different. None though are worth taking the risk.

The shame is, those who have suffered enormously simply for taking a BCP now need to 'justify' their reasoning for wanting to spread the word and look out for their fellow women.

I wish all those reading these posts luck in their pursuit of a safe and healthly birth control option, and a greater understanding of their dangers whilst doing so.

Take care.

Does anyone notice excessive mucus? I have been going to the doctor since March because of chest congestion. I have taken 3 or 4 different anti-biotics and many alergy medications (nothing helps). Today, it dawned on me... I have also been having very clotty vaginal discharges just about every time I go to the bathroom. There is no oder, no pain, no burning (not an infection). All of this has been occuring since I have started Yasmin 28. Can Yasmin make your body produce excessive mucus?

Hi! I started Yasmin about a year ago. It worked great for awhile. Unfortunately, the last two months have been terrible! The hair on my head is very thin and fragile. The hair on my body is completely gone! My doctor says that it's probably not the Yasmin at all but a thyroid disorder but who knows for sure! Sometimes it all seems so connected. My doctor (for some reason) doesn't want me to switch medications so I might be looking for another one!

Thank you for the support. My Regular Dr. and I talked last month and just thought we would give getting off yasmin a chance. I went to see my Dr yesterday. I took some of the responces from this site to him. He was shocked, asked to keep them and was going to have all of his nurses read them as well. He was so glad that getting of the medication helped. I even got a woo whoo out of him. I think he was at his witts end. He was not the one that perscribed Yasmin to me. That was my gyno. I did see her during all of this and told her what my Doc had me on and his ideas. She never once said anything about yasmin. I think that I am going to send some of what I have found here. As well as the website. If she doesn't know about these side effects she needs to. And if she does then I may be finding a new gyno! I know for a fact that this was not a pre-existing condition. I just erge everyone to listen to your body and if you feel these symptoms keep in mind that it may be the yasmin. I know that medications effect everyone differently, I just find it odd that there are so many of us here with the same problems!!! My Dr did also!

Everyones body deals differently with medications especially hormone meds. I have endometriosis and ovarian cysts. I went on Yasmin to help with these conditions. I did notice a bit of a depressed mood after being on it for about 6 months but I had changed from taking it at night to taking it in the morning. I went off of it for 3 months to see if I felt better, the endometriosis and cyst problems were much worse. If you are having mood problems try taking it at night, my doctor even recommended that, the mood change may be because of the higher hormone levels for the hours immediately after taking it. In general I actually feel better on it. I have also read that some lower does pills may actually cause cysts in some people, so if you have the stomach or lower abdominal pain with bloating you may have developed a cyst on your ovary and you should get an ultrasound. I've tried a lot of stuff to help my endometriosis including surgery, Yasmin seems to give me the most long lasting relief I've had yet.