Yasmin and pms

I have been on Yasmin for about a year now and am finally convinced by my horrible side effects that it needs to stop. For the past few months my PMS has been so severe that I'm surprised my boyfriend still speaks to me. The worst time is the week leading up to and during my period. Now that I've decided to stop taking Yasmin, my question is what possible alternatives are there for birth control that don't involve hormonal madness? I've tried several other pills in the past, which just weren't right, and I'm definitely not comfortable with using the coil. Are condoms really the only solution?

My doctor wants to give me Yasmin due to bad pms every month. I am already on meds for mood disorder but they don't seem to budge the monthly aggravation and agitation I suffer. I am 43 and do not need a BC pill as I had my tubes done a few years back but he feels this may be the answer for the pms. I had an oblation procedure done last year and only have a 3-4 day mild period anyway. Is anyone else in this situation? Should I take this pill ?

I don't have a side effect to report, but I have spent the past 3 hours reading all of your responses. Over all they are 95% negative. The only thing I am wondering, is WHY you chose Yasmin to begin with.

I have been thinking about taking Yaz to help with my severe PMDD. If you don't know what that is, basically it's like the moodiness side of PMS times 10. I am euphorically happy normally, lol, kind of like how happy a cocker spaniel is when their family gets home... except I don't piddle on the floor. About 5 days before my period starts I go into a very deep depression, I bloat, I am irritable, and my entire life suffers. I cry (wail is more like it) for absolutely NO reason... blah blah blah. But once I am about 2 or 3 days into my cycle it all passes and I am back to chipper me.

Long story short, I heard Yaz is supposed to be amazing to help stabilize people like me. How many of you started Yaz just as birth control, or as an acne control? How many of you took it for PMDD and it STILL didn't help?

I started Yasmin in the beginning of the month and from day one I started feeling lack of emotion, I felt like I could laugh and was generally happy but didn't feel upset when I should have been and couldn't feel love, warmth or excitement like I did before starting Yasmin. 2 weeks towards the end of the month I couldn't sleep properly and started having crazy dreams and in every dream somebody is trying to kill me or something happens in the dream where I feel like Im going to die. Totally disturbing as I have never had dreams actually Nightmares like this before. And the PMS has totally taken the cake... I am so angry, irrational, depressed, snappy, and emotional through the pms...its been terrible not only for me (not being able to control it) but for everybody close to me. Im thinking of going off it at the end of the month... but then again some ppl say its just adjusting and it might be better next month, but Im almost too scared to try.

I started yasmin because of bad PMS and heavy periods, leaving me very weak for days. Only really had one good week a month, so i thought i'd try this pill (never having used BC pills before) after it had been recommended by two friends of mine. Now, i've only been on it 8 days so it may be a little early to start complaining but my main concern is that my period has not stopped. I took my first pill on the day my periods started for the month and where they would usually last 4-5days max, i am now on my eighth day and there's no sign of them stopping! Not heavy, light and dark like the last couple of days before the end of your cycle - only im usually onlly like thsi for a day or two before they finish... this time they dont look like they're finishing!!! Also have swollen, sore breasts (that i can tolerate - have gone up a cup size!). Have found im going to bed earlier and waking up a lot easier since i started the cycle, which id a plus as i usually have a hard time falling asleep and waking up.

Mainly concerned about the constant bleeding as have not seen it mentioned as any one elses symptoms. has anyone else experienced this? if so, is it normal for a first-timer? I thought it may be because its the first time i have taken BC pills and it takes a couple of months for your body to adapt...

Any feed back would be greatly appreciated :-)

My doctor put me on continuous birth control hormones to help alleviate the severe cramps associated with endometriosis. I tried NuvaRing first, but went off because of vaginal/vulvar burning. I switched to Yasmin a few weeks ago. My breasts hurt nonstop for the first packet, but cleared up after that. I noticed I was feeling depressed a lot. My period decided to start before I even finished the active pills in the first pack. My sex drive dropped to zero. I became very irritable, like having constant PMS. I started noticing blurred vision/feeling like a blackout was coming on when I was climbing stairs. I started getting winded just climbing stairs. My energy fell through the floor. I continue to struggle with mild depression. The vaginal burning continues; intercourse is too painful--I suspect it may be linked to the hormones and not the NuvaRing. Honestly, NuvaRing had much fewer side effects for me than Yasmin. I'm not sure what to do next except get off the Yasmin.

So I started taking YASMIN in December 07. I switched to YAZ in January 08 and just quit a week ago. So about 4 months of bc. A week ago, I broke out in hives and rashes. I would itch one spot and then others would form. The areas get hot and the welts raise up my skin. It started when I was out in the sun but it couldn't have been sun poisoning because I never got burnt. I am diagnosing myself rather than a doctor because they do NOT know everything. After reading into the YAZ and YASMIN side effects, I am not risking anymore problems. Oh and I got an upper respitory infection along with the rash. This lingering cough has a weaze and phligmy sound. My friends are concerned with it too. I have never been the type of person to suffer from any major sickness or skin problem. I am tough skinned and have never gotten any kind of food allergy. I am 24, 5'6'' and in semi-athletic shape. I am an actor and model and I cannot afford to get rashes and a bad horsey cough! YAZ was great for 2 months and now bam! Downfall happening. Temporary relief-cortozone cream and antihistamines like benadryl.
YAZ benefit-clear skin, no PMS
YAZ side effect-rash, no sex drive/libido loss, difficult/no orgasm, appetite like a hog! Food #1 thought. Packed on pounds quick.
YASMIN benefit-clear skin, lost weight quick
YASMIN side effect- a little loopy, speech impediment, no sex drive/libido loss, no orgasm, couldn't even fake an orgasm!

I used Yasmin for almost 3 years between 2004 - 2007. I loved it....my periods were regular, I had little acne, and I hardly had any PMS. Then I got pregnant (after stopping the Yasmin!) with twins and delivered them in late November 2007. I was so happy to know that I just knew which type of birth control I wanted to use, I had a great experience while on Yasmin so of course I would go back to it!

BAD IDEA! 4 weeks after the babies were born I started the pills. Mind you, I had a great pregnancy and lots of help at home...no post-partum or baby blues here. I started the pills on 12/23/07 and by 12/25/07 (Christmas Day) I was feeling majorally depressed, having emotional outbursts, having irrational thoughts....I felt alone and as if no one cared about me. I secluded myself and had suicidal thoughts. I thought about leaving my family and living in a hotel. I would get so mad at the littlest things....I almost threw a chair at my husband and tried to punch a hole in the wall. I cussed family members out. I was so irrational. I felt like a crazy, psychotic woman and all in less than a week. This was NOT me.

I quit the pill after the first week, realizing that this pill was causing all these side-effects. I called my OB and spoke with the nurse who told me what I was experiencing couldn't be from the Yasmin - those weren't common side-effects. I told her that I was 1 day Yasmin free and felt like a completely different person...I was myself again. She tried to tell me that maybe I was experiencing post-partum depression and I decided then to just make an appointment to talk to my OB (about Yasmin & his nurse!).

I have an appointment next week and am curious as to what he will say. I know it was the Yasmin and I am glad that I found this website & that I am not alone!

Wow- It really sucks being a girl! The crazy thing for me is that I actually experienced all of the side effects everybody is experiencing BEFORE I began taking Yasmin. I began taking the pill ten years ago because of irregular periods and tremendous PMS. Yasmin actually saved my life! About one year ago, I decided to wean myself off of Yasmin due to the desire to begin a family and did fine besides having irregular periods again. Then, last month, the horrible side effects began to take lead again; depression, mood swings, acne, anxiety. So, I started taking the pill again last week and I already feel so much better! The depression has subsided and the pimples are beginning to clear up. I'm not as moody anymore and am not experiencing any anxiety.
To make my long story short, I think that each BC pill out there will work differently for each individual. For those of you having side effects, Yasmin may not be the pill for you. I actually took three other BC pills before finding Yasmin and experienced the same side effects with those three that most of you are experiencing with Yasmin. My best advice to all of you is to work with your doctor to try different BC pills and find one that will work for you.

Yasmin ruined my libido. Sure, it cleared my skin, solved a dandruff issue I always had to struggle with, not to mention less PMS and predictable periods. Plus, my breasts got slightly bigger. But it killed my sex drive. So I discontinued it and, bingo!, sex is great. But I can't sleep, I have dandruff again, and some acne, not to mention the awful PMS and mood swings. I don't know what to do. Enjoying sex is great, but having dandruff is awful! I wish I could get some help :(

I posted yesterday on my experience with Yasmin. This is my update. Today I called and left a message for my GYN, I explained to her that the Yasmin was causing me to have horrible headaches, I was weak all the time, and having horrible mood swings and anger outbursts. On my file it states that I suffer from anxiety and depression, which has been being treated by my primary physician successfully for 6 years now. In my message I asked her to please find me a new pill, I am on Yasmin so I can start having regular periods again. She had her nurse call me back, and explain to me that she will not switch me to a new pill, and suggested that I go and get a psychiatric evaluation, that I needed to see a psychiatrist. There was noway Yasmin or Yaz is associated with these behaviors I have described, it is the drug of choice for women who suffer from horrible PMS. I said I beg to differ, I researched the side effects myself on their site, and joined a forum to hear from other women. They were still adamant about Yasmin not causing behavior changes. In the meantime, I had also put a call in my Primary Care, with the same symptoms I told my GYN. The call back from them was different, they stated that there have been a number of women who have complained of all the symptoms I have been having, and my GYN needs to do her research, and she advised me to stop taking he pill immediately and I might want to consider finding a new GYN. So go figure. I usually take the Yasmin at 11:30 each night, and I skipped it today, well it is now 2 a.m. and I must say I am feeling a bit better. I am so glad I found this site...

i am on my last pack of pills for yasmin. my gyn put me on loestrin starting next month. i hope i have a better experience with that than yasmin. at first i didnt notice any side effects at all. then within the past couple of months (ive been on yasmin for about 6 months) i have noticed so many problems.
i am prone to migraines, but i am getting migraines at least twice a week which has severely effected my work and school life.
i had an ear infection.
ive gained close to 20 lbs (!!!!!) when in the past few months my lifestyle has been healthier and more active than it was when i started this pill. it just doesnt make sense to gain so much when i have improved my lifestyle..
i find i am moody and depressed, if something bad happens, even if its something little, i either get so uncontrollably angry or sad and i cry all the time. im not normally this emotional, ive even cried at work. its so embarrassing.
ive also noticed that after any meal i feel like i am extremely bloated and my stomach starts hurting. it doesnt matter what kind of food, it could be healthy, greasy, veggies, or cereal..no matter what my stomach always hurts to much afterwards.
i am also getting night sweats and horrible back pain, especially when i go to bed.
i am gassy, and my cramps last for my whole period. none of those things ever happened before i was on this pill.
my libido went down, however i think this is due to the weight gain. i have never felt so disgusting in my whole life.
i have gone through many pills, and the nuvaring as well. none of them have had side effects on me as yasmin.
does anyone have any suggestions for other pills for me to try? i am willing to give loestrin a chance, especially because it is a lo dose pill..and i know that everyones bodies are different. i just feel so lost..i hope this new pill works out better.

I was on Yasmin for about 7 weeks. The first couple weeks seemed fine, just queezy stomach and some headaches. Then, when I was supposed to be PMSing, I became so lethargic and depressed I could barely function. I laid in bed for 2 days not eating, thinking my world was going to fall apart. I only had energy enough to do a small chore at home (like bathe or brush my teeth) then crawl back into bed. The worst is that, normally if I get down I know deep down it will pass and there's a light at the end of the tunnel. But with Yasmin, my brain is foggy and I feel like there's no hope, w the lack of energy is even more depressing because I can't motivate to do anything and get my mind off my worries. Now I can understand why people get suicidal on Yasmin. There's no reason for me to be so tired, I lift weights 3 times a week and w a trainer (luckily or I would never be motivated to get there), I'm lean and muscular and healthy. Well, after the PMS I never got my period either.
Then after freaking out for a few days (and at my poor boyfriend) I was more mellow for the next couple weeks but still nausea and headaches. Then 2nd month PMS started... same thing, just overwhelmingly depressed and unable to reason it away or snap out of it. I've lost my temper a few times. My energy level is so low I just want to lay in bed all day. Now I just figured out that it was because of Yasmin. I was beginning to worry that I was loosing my mind. I really wanted to stick it out another month to see if they would go away but at this rate I'm going to be in a mental ward by that time.

I admit that I may be prone to get depressed, however, I don't take anti-depressents (I tried Wellbutrin a few yrs. ago and it made me very high strung and irritable). I've figured out lifestyle changes to manage when i get down. I just do things that I enjoy when I get down. But Yasmin has made it so that I don't enjoy life, and I don't even have the energy to work out, go out with people so I can get my mind off of my gloom and doom. It's horrible what Yasmin has done, I have never experienced depression like this and I've been down some tough roads in my life. I always have an inner hope and light in me that keeps me going, and what I'm experiencing with Yasmin is that it kills any voice of hope or optimism leaving one disoriented and afraid. I have been off of it for the 2nd day now and hope things start to clear up soon. Good luck with your experience and I hope this helps... even now, I'm not sure if it really IS Yasmin or me, but I believe the posts people have written so I want to X Yasmin out of my life so I KNOW that no drug is making me this way.

I started taking Yasmin this past sunday, so far, so good...reading all these posts worry the crap out of me...i'm only really on this because i have really BAD pms, which people i know including my boyfriend thought it could be PMDD because how "crazy" i'd get, bad cramps and my period sometimes likes to show up almost whenever even when i track it....i'm a moody person already and so far i feel pretty good, pretty stable which is nice, i guess the only complaint is that i'm kinda constipated and i'm exhausted, but i'm unsure if this has anything to do with this pill or not. i travel constantly and eat bad food since i'm away at college so sometimes i have some issues....oh my sex drive is usually pretty fine, i haven't noticed anything there yet, i still think about doing things and want to...so, my question is what should i do? shall i continue to use it and see what happens, or should i stop it or get a different pill?? i go to therapy and i am also making sure that my boyfriend and immediate friends notice if i act a little stranger than usual....
and i was on a different pill back when i was 15 and i don't remember much of it besides i don't think i had any side effects so i've had a little experience with birth control before...

My experience with Yasmin was awful!!! I had been on BCPs before with no problems(both were Ortho-something). I'd had no problems with depression, I was never one to cry much and I was very active. Well, I had a little spotting so my doctor switched me over to Yasmin thinking it might help and the spotting between periods did stop. For me, everything was fine at first. The depression came on slowly, but once it did it just got worse and worse. I was always exhausted, I never wanted to do anything, I felt out of shape and my heart would race when I tried to go hiking. I was suddenly crying all of the time and getting terribly upset about nothing, instantly. I began to seriously dislike myself and I was watching what had seemed to be the perfect relationship fall apart before my eyes due to the strain that had been put on it. I FINALLY realized that something was terribly wrong when I was standing in the middle of a beautiful forest on vacation at a resort with the love of my life and I was screaming at him for a reason I could no longer remember. Then I broke down into a hysterical fit of tears. I dug out the pamphlet I got with my pills and somewhere in the back it finally listed depression as a possible side effect. I rushed down to the computer and found so many women with experiences just like mine. I called my doctor to switch my perscription back to the pill I'd been on previously; she wouldn't do it. I finished my pack and haven't gone near the stuff since. That was in April/May. After a month I was feeling better--like a fog was starting to clear from my mind. By three months the mood swings were mostly gone and I was concentrating better and smiling a lot more. Now, I'm finally me again and my boyfriend and I managed to save our relationship (thanks primarily to his patience and understanding) and I'm excited about living again. Yasmin may work for some people but in my opinion it's just not worth the risk.

I have just started taking Yasmin for a month. So far, I have not found any of the side effects mentioned here. Previously, I had been on Ortho-Tricyclen for over 2 years..However, I never thought that birth control pills could have such so much side effects until my doctor asked me to consider taking Yasmin and I went online to research this pill before I started taking it.. and then, I realized that Ortho-tricyclen gave me all the side effects mentioned here. Ortho-tricyclen made me severly bloated, I was constantly craving for food (which of course contributed to weight gain), I had a lot of acne on my cheeks (I have always had great skin), on top of that I had mood swings, felt depressed, and fatigue most of the time. I could barely get myself to wake up in the morning while I was on Ortho-tricyclen. Now, that I switched to Yasmin, things are much better for me. I didn't feel any side effects mentioned here so far, and I managed to get my skin to clear up and lost some weight too but as far as I know it could take a few months until the side effects kick in so, I will keep observing for symptoms for the next few months.

Hi, I almost bought a 3 month supply of this yasmin drug today but at the counter to get the pills I hesitated and was like I need to get this tommrow I forgot my atm card...But I was thinking... I need to check this out first on the internet and Oh wow thank god I did!!!
The doctor was like oh this stuff is great it will help your very painful periods cramps pms everything. now I am worring should I try it or just pass and deal with it like I have been since I was 10?
this is the #1 drug with complaints wow thats actually really scary..

My 17 yr old was put on Yaz for PMS and acne. The PMS and acne got better, but after 4-5 mnths she was having anxiety so severe she could not go to school. Her gyn denied it could be the Yaz, so I took her to a family physician (woman) who agreed it could be the Yaz! The gyns lie, they are in bed with the pharmacuetical companies. If you suspect this pill is making you sick, go off!

I have been on Yaz for almost 3 months, and have had reverse side effects. They said that it will help with PMS, Acne, and shorter periods. NONE of these things are true. PMS: I have been crying on the drop of a dime. I am barely ever in a good mood anymore, and people are starting to say things to me at work. I am MISERABLE. I am irritated easily, VERY paranoid, with no reason to be, and am picking fights with everyone, again, with no reason. It is driving my boyfriend crazy. ACNE: I had pimples here and there before I started this birth control, but now it has gotten VERY bad. It is all over my face and I feel helpless. Shorter Periods? Yeah right! Before I started Yaz, I had periods lasting for at most 4 days. My periods since Yaz have been up to 7 days! AND they start early...I have 2 pills left and I just got my period today. I am getting off this pill IMMEDIATELY, I am going to try Lo-Estrin next, hopefully it'll work better than Yaz!

Hello all.. I had posted after being on Yasmin for about a week and now I am into my second month. Last post I reported no side effects whatsoever and now I can say my first period ever on birth control (20 yrs old) was perfectly manageable, 5 days and pretty well painless. Still no weight gain or loss and no change in personality, if anything I'm a little happier because I am not so constantly irritated by my own menstrual unpredictability lol. The only thing I can say that has changed since taking the pill is the appearance of cystic acne... I used to encounter one of this type now and again but in the past few weeks they've been coming in the night, 2 or 3 at a time, usually chin and forehead. Yikes. Definitely a major annoyance but for anyone else who is experiencing this.. I have always found my skin's saving grace to be TEA TREE OIL!!! Love it. I wash every day with a bar of soap called Thursday Plantation and it is amazing (especially if you leave a bit of soap on as a kind of spot treatment overnight). Anyway it continues to be extremely helpful in managing this annoying side effect so that I can enjoy the benefits of a regular period and no pms or cramps, oh and no babies. lol. Good luck to everyone, and remember do your research but don't let all the negativity scare you away from something that could be good for you, because everyone is different. Glad to see some positive posts here this time tho! I will return again myself if anything changes :) xo

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!

There are a lot of negative experiences on here, so I thought I should share my positive one. I have been on birth control off and on for about 6 years. I was on orthotricyclin for the majority of the time-off and on. After getting horrible near migraine headaches on orthotricylin every Friday before my period for about 5 months in a row my doctor and I decided to try a different pill. I was on trilevelin (sp) for 4 months and gained a few pounds and felt easily irritated and emotionally different-just cried easily and not myself. I've been on Yasmin for a month and have had a great experience. I lost the water weight I'd gained and just verified with my boyfriend that my PMS was hardly even there. Everyone is different and has different hormone levels, but so far I am very happy with Yasmin. I've been migraine free tthe whole month!

i have been taking Yamine for about a month and a half, after being on a generic pill for a couple years. I didnt know if these symptons i was having was caused by yasmine, but now i think it may be. I have been getting lightheaded, blurry eyes, shakiness, hot flashes..almost like a panic attack, and i have become very dehydrated, even though i have been drinking alot of water. I even went to the doctors for these symptons and they still don't have an answer, so i think it may be yasmine.my newest sympton as of yesterday is chest pain. also i feel like my heart is beating fast all the time, and i feel fatigued way too often, which is causing me to eat more, becauase i am starving way to often, and if i don't eat i feel like i am going to collapse. Also my sex drive has gone to non-existant- is that common? I workout all the time, and eat pretty healthy, so i don't know what else these symptons could be coming from. Is anyone else experiencing these sympons?

2 weeks ago I switched from Microgestion FE to Yasmin. I thought my slight pms would disappear with yasmin. What has followed has made my slight pms feel like a walk in the park.

5 days into the first week I had terrible nausea, heart palpitations and anxiety. A few days later started the body aches everywhere. i felt like i was actually dying. I found this website and went off the pill after 11 days, within 1 day I was so much better and almost totally better by 2-4 days.

A week later they gave me Yaz samples. Started those 4 days ago. I was vomiting this afternoon and now have seriously bad cramps in my hips and legs. i feel like i got hit by a truck. i have to assume its the pill, since it's so similar to the yasmin. what is strange is that i tried a pack or two of yaz a year ago with no problems that i recall. And although i am having the anxiety and mental side effects these physical ones are not something i am manifesting. I am not sure if my body has changed, or like another posted mentioned a reformulation. Never had side effects to bcps before either.

EVERYBODY REPLY TO THIS Let's see exactly how many women have had negative side affects from Yasmin. Just reply with the sideaffects. I see lots of posts and was wondering how many women are out there sharing similar problems. So me.... migraines, extremely horrible mood swings all from taking yasmin for 8-9 days next..........? lol

Hello All,

As I read new stories on this site from women just realising the devastating effects of Yasmin, it breaks my heart.

I stopped taking Yasmin 2 years ago, after I found this site desperate for a reason for my complete insanity (anxiety, depression, panic attacks, vertigo....with no history of such). I had been on Yasmin for close to 2 years with the first year and a half symptom free....the last 6 months on it I became an entirely different person....scared to leave my house, utterly depressed and completely bewildered as to why when I had never felt this way, and had no reason to.

I cried as I read this site and realised Yasmin was poisoning me and my mind. I immediately stopped it (although it is recommended you only stop at the end of the pack you are on...I couldn't wait). Well the depression lifted within days....the dark cloud literally left like a miracle from above. Anxiety proved difficult as it continued for a few months but each month got better and I continually read from this site to remind myself that although I felt out of my mind at times, it was as a result of my body detoxing itself from this drug.

I did have plenty of times when I thought the old me was gone forever....but I now am back. Trust that you are getting better....trust that the real you is not mad or crazy and is returning slowly.

I recently read the following website and found it really made sense, particularly as my blood tests after yasmin kept saying my hormonal levels were 'normal' even though I didn't feel back to normal. You need to click on the 'cure for PMS' section. I would recommend all of you coming off this poison read it....

I wish you all the very best of healing and health. Take care of yourselves, avoid caffiene, white sugar, excess salt (none of which help anxiety) and drink plenty of water and exercise....and always remember to talk to someone about how you're feeling as you go through this...I always felt better talking rather than letting things stew in my head...even if it sounded insane....my sister was a godsend reminding me that I was going through a detox.

Be well!!!!

I've been taking Yasmin about four years...and about a year ago, I kept remarking that I think Yasmin changed its formula because I experienced terrible water retention (at least 6 pounds every month) and psychotic mood swings two weeks before my period. Originally, I started taking Yasmin to restart my periods which I lost for 3 years, supposedly due to weight loss (I lost 40 pounds in four months). But after I gained 20 back, still no period. This is when I started taking Yasmin and within 30 days it gave me a period like clockwork. I was fine for a few years, though very reclusive, which I thought was my depression - I do have a history of it. Funny, while taking Yasmin, I attributed my moodiness to PMS not depression. Since February of 2007, I have gained 10 pounds and my breasts have increased a cup size. As a result, my gyno and my shrink decided I should take Yasmin straight through so I didn't get PMS, or a period for that matter. The only reason I'm not depressed anymore is because I take Wellbutrin and Clomipramine. So now I don't get the pychological symptoms anymore -- just the bloating, constipation, huge boobs (they were big before) and general annoyance. To think it could have been the Yasmin all along! When every doctor told me I was insane...getting older...body changing...bipolar! One I finish the last pill, I'm taking matters into my own hands and kicking Yasmin to the curb. I would seek a Dr.'s help, but I'm sick of them shrugging me off. I'll report back. *Fingers crossed.*

Hey, im goin on my 5th month on Yasmin, and i've noticed i cry a lot and get frequent head aches.. is this normal? my thing that is worryin me as i have read from a few other's that there period were shorter, and some were longer.. mine used to be 3 days 4 max.. and now ill have it for 7-8 days,it's scary!! i just havent been myself while on these.. but if i stop ill get sick.. im on it bc i had uncontrolable bleeding so this stopped it.. but it makes me feel eh. im tired a lot and i can say that most likely i had IBS and this made this @ times worse.. i cant eat certain food and i feel sick a lot.. plz tell me has anyone else experienced any of this!!!

Wow, reading all these postings has affirmed my suspicion that Yasmin is the source for my insane PMS. I'm 21 years old now; I went on the pill when I was 15. Everything started out alright. I had never noticed any problems until recently. I would occasionally get depressed, but it never seemed to last too long. Over the past few years my PMS has gotten increasingly out of control. I don't really have many physical side effects, just emotional ones. Exactly one week before I start the white placebo pills I become EXTREMELY irritable, moody, and depressed. I will have occasional anxiety attacks where I feel like I'm going out of my mind. Also, the bouts of depression during this week bring about horrible suicidal thoughts. It's become very clear that this is the only time this every really happens. I can't believe it took me so long to realize it was the BCP's. Before that 14th day pill, I am a happy, upbeat person who would never even dream of harming myself. Then when that week hits, I become so overly dramatic, depressed, and cry a lot.
Another thing I've noticed is that the only time I have any libido is during my period (the one week that I am not taking these synthetic hormones!). This, of course, is quite inconvenient, as I'm sure you can imagine. Out of despair and internet searching, I found this website:
http://www.pmscure.com/?gclid=CLvdzYrdxI0CFRlmWAod-GbvLQ
At first it sounded kind of goofy, but then I read all of it, and was completely shocked! I just downloaded it, and intend to read "What Nobody Told Women About Birth Control Pills" first! Apparently, the longer you take these synthetic hormones (BCP's), the more damage they do to your body, and the less likely you are to regain your normal, natural production of hormones. This doctor's right- hormones are EXTREMELY important to your body, and messing with them can cause serious, long lasting effects all over your body. Condoms may be a nuisance, but at least I'll have my sex drive, health, and SANITY!!!

I have been on Yasmin a little over 2 years now. I have been on other BCP, such as Tri-cycline, Alesse, Diane 35. Yasmin was great in the beginning, no major side affects, except for the breast tenderness. This past year, the breast tenderness has increased and I cannot even touch my breasts. They are larger and very sensitive. I am very moodie, very emotional. Every month now, for the past 4-5 months, I have been having yeast infections. I went to see my gyno and did tests and nothing is wrong. He has no idea why the yeast infection is reoccuring. I've done some research and read other postings and some other women have had the same issue. It's very frustrating and I cannot take having yeast infections every month. I take Yasmin to help with my cramps, and primarily the endometriosis. I have had surgery (5years ago) to remove endometriosis and my gyno mentioned to say on the BCP to decrease the spreading of endometriosis. Although, Yasmin has been a pretty good BCP, I just can't take the breast tenderness and most of all the yeast infections every month. I will be going off Yasmin next month.

So I'll refer to today as Hell Day, the day when all the horrible symptoms of my birth control pill attack me at once and I literally cannot take it. I had this exact same thing happen when I was on the nuvaring, and I stopped it immediately. I'm willing to sacrifice having 100% safe sex if it means I don't have to feel like I'd rather shove a knife through my brain than exist. It's only my second month of Yasmin, and I'm feeling more fatigued than ever before in my life. I feel so horribly depressed. It's beautiful outside and I was lying on the grass, thinking only about being DEAD. I'm not one to be depressed. The only other time I've felt this awful was my third month into the Nuvaring. I specifically asked my doctor for something that wouldn't make me depressed, nor gain weight. Well, I gained about 5 pounds that won't come off no matter how hard I try, and the depression is just getting worse and worse. I'm stopping this pill tomorrow.

Other symptoms included:
*Initially: a sharp breathing pain under my left lung
*Weird, small rash on my leg
*Would rather be in bed than do anything
*Overwhelming feeling of loneliness, questioning self-worth, etc.

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.

When I was on it last year, my main PMS symptom was suicidal thoughts. I've never been suicidal before in my entire life. Once I figured it out, I switched pills, and I never had those thoughts again.

hi pamelan,
my advice would be to get OFF yasmin,if it disturbing your sleep and giving you cramps and bad pms it is obviously not for you,try another brand.yasmin can cause so many side effects because it messes with your brain chemistry and you electrolyt levels,it is not worth the risk,if you want to take birth control pills i would suggest the older generation of progestins not the newer versions,they mess too much with you,it is a little bit of science that has gone to far!

I am so glad I found this forum for this pill that has changed my life for the worse since I started taking it. I have been to the ER because I fainted at work and had a very rapid heart beat. My PMS has been the worst I have ever experienced since I started Yasmin. In addition to that - I have experienced the following since starting Yasmin in November 2006: Rapid heart beat, vertigo, breast tenderness all the time, sleepness nights, bouts of drepression, nausea any time of the day, my eyes burn after all day and are extremely dry, shakiness in my hands. I thought I was going crazy at first or that something was seriously wrong with me medically but looling back - all this started about a month after I started my first Yasmin pack. I took my last pill yesterday after discovering this site and all the other women out there who are experiencing exactly the same thing. I hope to see an improvement in my mood and personality soon.

Sarah

I cant get on the other site from home

Well alot of people said I seem better but in actuallity in some ways yes some ways no

I still have not returned to work as tasks overhwelm me even the simpliest things
i also have issues with bad mood swings

I have bad thoughts every few days and it terrifies me!

I still seem to walk in a fog not feeling like me
But the ups and downs are the worst I cant seem to get a plateau or a even time of it
I will be sad than upset than agitated than ok than feel like me
I feel like I have PMS almost everyday

The scary thoughts are like I will just drift off and get really sad out of the blue out of no where
And last night I was talking to my sis and she was upsetting me and I got really agitated than I just felt like leaving my home and just going far away I didnt do it but I really felt it and stopped myself

I have never ever had bad thoughts of dying or leaving or running away
It scares me

HERBAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HORMONAL BALANCE AND HEALING COMING OFF OF YASMIN:

Hi Ladies-to Anyone who has been on Yasmin/Yaz, if you haven't made it to the UK site Sarah/Flowerbabies set up, I am re-posting here some recent posts I've made in what has helped me enormously after coming off of Yasmin.

After being on Yasmin from 12/2005-8/2006 here is a list of the side effects I experienced: Hiatal hernia, vision changes, congestion ears, chest pains, heart murmur, palps and bracycardia, ectopic (abnormally slow and skips beats), melasma, bronchitis, fatigue. B12/Folic Acid Deficiency. Elevated potassium.

Following months of suffering, I've been doing loads of research. These are most recent supplements/remedies I have introduced and am seeing benefits from:

Whole Vitamin Supplement* (Bioavailable)
New Chapter Organices
The best I found for bio-availability (one that your body can easily assimilate/integrate) is New Chapter Organics. This is also extrmely low on potassium, which was very important for me because I am one of the women who ended up with 5.7 on my potassium when normal ranges are: 3.6-5.2. So I discovered I am in a range that is considered unsafe/mild hyperkalemia and working to lower it.

Organic Evening Primrose Oil:
contains specialized nutriet gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which has been show in scientific studies to support hormonal health and address symptoms of PMS and menopause.

Lignans:
highly studied and researched class of phytonutrient found in flaxseed studied by the National Cancer Institute and shown to possess impressive preventative properties-in addition to supporting hormone and breast health

Soy Isoflavones:
Plant phytoestrogens can help with symptoms of menopause and PMS in addition to supporting bone, heart and breast health.

Collodial Silver:
I also started for the first time taking Collodial Silver which has apparently been used for over 2000 years to boost immune systems. My sister, who has worked for and with a Naturopath for the last 5 years recommended this to me and she uses it with her own children. She is the healthiest she has ever been. After one month of using this, with a homeopathic remedy Pulsilla Negricans (for bronchitis like symptoms made by Boiron)-took this instead of anti-biotics, for the colds I have gotten every month for 5 months after coming off of Yasmin, this is the first month I haven't gotten sick!

Best Wishes to everyone in getting your body, spirit and your health back. There is nothing without health and from my experience, I will not be taking any pharmaceutical medications for the rest of my life if I can manage to do so. I've never been big on medications to begin with, but after this experience with Yasmin, and all the learning I am doing about the pharmaceutical industries and their partnerships with Doctors/Nurses, all the horrible symptoms and other problems that come with taking so many of these drugs , no thank you.

To be honest, sometimes, the lessons I am learning from having been on Yasmin, all the horrible side effects after being and having such good health has put me on a course to take personal responsibility for my own health and ways in which I can care for it without Doctors, prescriptions, un-healthy drugs that treat symptoms instead of cause. It is very empowering.

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 11:23 pm Post subject: Heart Health tonic, replenishing body fluids
Schisandra , liquid extract of dried ripe berry

I started this today and believe it or not, these horrible chest pains I've had for 9 plus months, mostly specific to the week prior to my mensturation and now more common, subsided. Strongly recommend it as a nutral remedy:

Actions: Nutritive. antioxidant. Adaptogen. Astringent. Expectorant and antitussive. Detoxifies, protects and regenerates the liver. Promotes production of body fluid. Allays spontaneous sweating. Calming sedative. Antagonizes stimulant effect of caffeine.

Uses: Support of healthy liver function, and treatment of hepatitis. Stomach and intestinal inflammation, chronic diarrhea and dysentery. night sweats and other spontaneous persperation. Neurasthenia (nervous exhaustion-caused by overactive adrenal glands) and sleeplessness. colds and flu. Dry coughs, weak lungs and asthma. To enhance physical performance in work and athletics. Dryness and thirst caused by fever.

In traditional Chinese medicine schisandra is said to nourish and tonify the kidneys, to replenish body fluids****, and to support the eyes. The anti-androgen in Yasmin can cause dry eyes***

Items
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:18 am Post subject:
Hi ladies-

Wanted to duplicate a posting here on results I am seeing from the herbal supplements a Naturopath recommended and I started in the last two weeks. As of last night, the experience of "palps" (which is feeling) the heartbeat and the arrythmia I was experiencing are gone! Needless to say, I am elated.
--------------
Available at Whole Foods* (you may need to have them order the Fem Rebalance or I am sure they are available through a Naturopathic or online:

Fem Rebalance made by Vitanica
and
Women's Phase I by Vitanica

They are specifically designed to for premenstrual and hormone balance support

Here are the ingredients:

Fem Rebalance (Indication that women with high blood pressure, who are nursing or are pregnant should not take this):

Licorice Root 200mg
Chaste Berry Tree 200mg
Rhodiola root-Rhodiola rosea 200mg
Borage oil powder 160mg
False unicorn root-Heloonias dioca 100mg
Vervain root-Verbena hastata 100mg
Sarsparilla root-Smillax medica 100mg
Wild Yam root-Dioscorea villosa 100mg
Black cohosh extract 80mg

Women's Phase I:
Again, not recommended for use during pregnancy and nursing. Dong Quai and gingko may potentiate anti-coagulant/anti-platelet agents

Vitamin E (as d alpha tocopheryl succinate) 200IU
Vitamin B6 as pyridoxal-5 phosphate) 25mg
Calcium 25mg
Iodine (from kelp) 50mg
Magnesium 75mcg
Chromium 100mcg
Borage Seet Oil Extract 150mg
Wild Yam root 100mg
Dandelion Leaf 100mg
Dong Quai root 100 mg
Passion Flower Extract 100mg
St John's Wort tops 100mg
Chaste Tree Berry 50mg
Chaste Tree berry extract 25mg
Gingko Extract (biloba) 15mg

Just know-that coming off of birth control or changes in our hormones have huge effects on our bodies. The Naturopath told me it opens up alot of inflammation in the body which causes susceptibility to colds and a host of other unpleasant side effects-like the heart palps for example.

I also posted to another link a listing of herbs and their benefits-many aid in PMS symptoms/menopause symptoms, inflammation, anti-spasmodic.

I am thrilled with the results in such a short time as the ND advised it may take a month or two, I am seeing results in only a week's time. Just moving beyond the arrhythmia and the palps is a tremendous relief.

Location: United States

Items
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:51 am Post subject: Benefits of Herbs and PMS and Hormone Balance
Hi Ladies-

As I referenced above, I've been on two herbal supplements recommended to me by a Naturopath I am seeing. I've only been taking them for a little over a week and seeing great improvements. If you see the herbs above, many of them are contained in the Fem Rebalance and Phase I support products by Vitanica that I am taking. I was struck by the fact that they were out of the Fem Rebalance initially and I had to ask that they hold 2 for me becuase when their order came in, they were out again as there were so many women who created a back-order:

Some herbs that are helpful with mentruation are:

BLACK COHOSH:
Antispasmodic and antirheumatic. Isoflavones ("phytoestrogens") bind to estrogen receptors and have mild estrogen like activity. Estrogen take a big dip during our menstrual cycle. Good for dull aching muslce pains (especially rheumatic and myalgic pains)-Low estrogen conditions like PMS.

BLUE COHOSH**:
Antispasmodic and antirheumatic. Uterine tonic. Used well for menstrual cramps and discomfort (especially "heavy legs"); excessive flow**

BUTCHER BROOM:
Antiinflammatory* tonic for veins. Reduces capillary fragility and permeability and tones sluggish venous system. Useful for Vein disorders related to oral contracptive pills, PMS**, certain menstrual disorders.

DONG QUAI:
Enriches blood, and promotes healthy circulation. Uterine tonic*. Increases DNA synthesis of uterus tissue and increases its regeneration. Regulates menstruation*. Antispasmodic. Anti-inflammaorty. Diuretic. Dilates coronary vessels and increases coronary blood flow. Harmonzies vital energy "chi". Particulary useful in cases of Amenorrhea (when period ceases) and dysmenorrhea: ***painful periods****

CATNIP:
Mild sedative and antispasmodic. Used well for menstrual maladies and nervous tension.

CINNAMON:
Warming, diffusive stimulant, with gentle astringent influence. Moderately stimulates entire nervous and circulatory systems. Warming to stomach and intestinal tract. Recent research shos several polyphenolic polymer compounds in Cinnamon bark enhance the action of insulin and improve glucose and fat metabolism. Useful in excessive menstrual bleeding*** among other things.

CRAMP BARK:
Balance sympathetic and parasympatheic nervous systems. Antispasmodic to stomach, intestines, uterus* and bladder. Useful for menstrual cramps**** and nausea*, sudden or irregular menstrual flow.

DAMANIA:
Nerve tonic and mild sedative. Promotes healthy menstruation* as well as a soothing tonic to sexual and urinary organs; purpoted to increase libido. Soothing diuretic and experctorant. Useful for nervous debility and anxiety. Sexual atony and lack of libido in women. Inflammation of sexual organs and urinary tract in men and women. Menstrual malaise and discomfort. Taken in hot water, it PROMOTES ONSET OF TARDY MENSTRUATION*. Helpful for emtional moodiness associated with PMS and MENOPAUSE.

FEVERVIEW:
Aspirin like action that relieves pain and reduces fever. Useful for headahces (especially migraines), arthritis, fevers, MENSTURUAL CRAMPS AND PAINS), stomachache and toothache.

GINGER
Heart tonic and warming circulatory and metabolic stimulant. Antispasmodic. Useful FOR PAIN AND CRAMPS*of stomach and bowel. Relieves stomach and intestinal gas. PAINFUL MENSTRUATION. Heart disease and poor circulation.

JAMAICAN DOGWOOD:
Nerve sedative, antispasmodic. Among many other things, useful for PAINFUL MENSTURAL PERIODS*

LEMON BALM:
Antispasmodic, mild sedative. Lowers fevers, antiviral. Useful in many things including nervous irritation, headaches, nervouse heart, nervous stomach and indigestion. Good for menstrual blues and emotions.

MURIA PAMA:
Soothing nervous system tonic. Antirheumatic. PMS*** and MENSTRUAL CRAMPS.

NETTLE:
Nutritive, alterative tonic. Antihistamine and anti-inflammatory, moderates allergic response. Useful for chronic inflammation, PROFUSE MENSTRUATION.

PASSIONFLOWER:
Calmative and sedative, allays nervousness and restlessness. Helps produce rest and natural sleep. Antispasmodic. Useful for nervousness, restlessness, worry and hysteria. *Nervous palpitationi or tachycardia of the heart or headache. PAINFUL MENSES.

SHATAVARI
Female reproductive tonic. Among many things including women's sexual libido, useful for PMS AND MENSTRUAL CRAMPING.

WILD YAM:
Antispasmodic. Relief of nervous system irritation. Abdominal cramps, pain and tenderness; spasmodic pain in uteris, cerix or ovaries; menstrual cramps***

YARROW:
Astringent, vascular tonice. Excellent for inducing sweat and lowering fevers, colds and flu. Passive bleading and EXCESSIVE MENSTRUAL FLOW.

J

My first month on yasmin, i bled the entire month through. i was terrified.i was moody and sensitive and i NEVER get pms. i lost half a stone in 2 weeks. i couldn't tell if that was because of the diuretic effect of the pills (water loss) or because it gave me IBS and i was getting alot of diarrhea.

RECOMMENDATION TO HELP HEAL YOUR BODY AFTER YASMIN

I promise I am not a salesperson! Following months of suffering, I've been doing loads of research. These are most recent supplements/remedies I have introduced and am seeing benefits from:

Whole Vitamin Supplement* (Bioavailable)
New Chapter Organices
The best I found for bio-availability (one that your body can easily assimilate/integrate) is New Chapter Organics. This is also extrmely low on potassium, which was very important for me because I am one of the women who ended up with 5.7 on my potassium when normal ranges are: 3.6-5.2. So I discovered I am in a range that is considered unsafe/mild hyperkalemia and working to lower it. 6.0 is considered Hyperkalmic (too high potassium levels in the blood and lethal.)

Barlean's Women's Formula for Hormone Balance*
I took Evening Primrose oil years ago and forgot just how helpful this was. Thish particular formula includes seeds from botanical flowers to include evening primrose, flax and phytonutrients.

Organic unrefined flaxseed oil:
the richest source of essential fatty acids, including alpha linoleic acid (Omega 3) and linolenic acid (Omega 6).

Organic Evening Primrose Oil:
contains specialized nutriet gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which has been show in scientific studies to support hormonal health and address symptoms of PMS and menopause.

Lignans:
highly studied and researched class of phytonutrient found in flaxseed studied by the National Cancer Institute and shown to possess impressive preventative properties-in addition to supporting hormone and breast health

Soy Isoflavones:
Plant phytoestrogens can help with symptoms of menopause and PMS in addition to supporting bone, heart and breast health.

Collodial Silver:
I also started for the first time taking Collodial Silver which has apparently been used for over 2000 years to boost immune systems. My sister, who has worked for and with a Naturopath for the last 5 years recommended this to me and she uses it with her own children. She is the healthiest she has ever been!

Best Wishes to everyone in getting your body, spirit and your health back. There is nothing without health and from my experience, I will not be taking any pharmaceutical medications for the rest of my life if I can manage to do so. I've never been big on medications to begin with, but after this experience with Yasmin, and all the learning I am doing about the pharmaceutical industries and their partnerships with Doctors/Nurses, all the horrible symptoms and other problems that come with taking so many of these drugs , no thank you.

I've learned and am learning so much about my body, about homeopathic and natural herb remedies that its actually exciting. I avoided anti-biotics recently given another month of bronchial problems (5 months of bronchitis every month at the onset of my period after going off of Yasmin) with Pulsatilla Nigricans, which is a homeopathic remedy. In one day, my chest stopped hurting and the cough is subsiding! And I've done it without wiping out all the good bacteria in my body with anti-biotics. To be honest, sometimes, the lessons I am learning from having been on Yasmin, all the horrible side effects, has put me on a course to take personal responsibility for my own health and ways in which I can care for it without Doctors, prescriptions, un-healthy drugs that treat symptoms instead of cause. It is very empowering.

Good health and healing to everyone.
Jessica

hi guest 36018.
i have no idea how we would go about gathering evidence about this pill and bringing a law suit. i live in the uk so it is not something we do often.
you mentioned in your post about ear trouble. i have had problems with my right ear since august of 2005 (6 months after i started on yasmin) i have a constantly stuffy ear that popps about 10 mins after i get up and stays that way for 4-6 hours. feels like when you are on a plane and your ears pop and you cannot get them to clear again no matter what you do! one doc said i had a perforated ear drum. no treatment that i have been given so far has worked for me. i have been off yasmin for 8 months now so i am hoping that it will go soon! I found it interesting that you say your gyn gave you this pill for anxiety... i have read a few posts both on this site and on others that women who have pre-existing anxiety seem to do better mentally and if they also had pre-existing pms it seems to help with that too. (of course that is not always the case,some women do much much worse) i had no pre-existing anxiety or pms apart from the usual get a bit grumpy before my period that many women suffer from! when i was on yasmin i developed pretty much every symptom of pmsa (pmsa is anxiety lead pms) and a few besides but they were magnified a hundred times and i suffered them all day everyday not just pre-menstrually. instead of tender breasts i had agonising,couldn't bear to even be touched or hug my kids breasts, instead of mild water retention my legs and ankles felt like they wobbled when i walked,instead of feeling a little low i thought my world was going to end,and the mild anxiety felt like i was in a state of perpetual terror! If you look up the symptoms of pms i am sure you will find all your symptoms but yasmin just makes them really really bad.
It seems like if you already have symptoms when you start yasmin it can help and if you don't it will give you symptoms, it obviously has a major impact on the hormone balance,if you are already suffering before then maybe your hormones are out of whack and yasmin balances them and if you are hormonally stable when you take it maybe it throws you out of balance,i'm afraid it is all if's but's and maybe's and as most doctors either do not know or don't want to believe that our symptoms are caused by yasmin then we are not likely to find out why or how this happens.

sorry if there are loads of spelling mistakes in this post but i am pre-menstrual and my brain just turns to mush and i cannot concentrate,i lose my line of thought!!!!
best wishes to you all ladies.

sarah.

p.s silke, you asked about leg/foot cramps when standing still. i get that if i am on my step excerciser or if i am standing in one place for too long,my feet also tingle and go numb.

i started yasmin just 2 weeks ago when my period started...it hasn't finished yet!!!! i also feel non stop queasy like morning sickness....i am 41 years old and am taking yasmin because i'm perimenopausal and my pms has been out of control...can someone tell me if this is normal and when i will feel normal again?

Dejay and I ran parallelon this whole episode
She didnt have any of the symptoms prior to Yaz either

Dejay is taking lexapro and I may be soon as well if this anxiety doesnt subside

To say I have other issues going on I dont know how prior to Yaz
I never took a prescription drug
Never took over the counter meds
Never went to a counselor
Never had PMS
Never had anxiety

Now Iam anxiety ridden shakey and cant get myself back

Its overwhelming scary and upseting

Hi,
I have been taking Yasmin since 2004, I had bad menstral cramps and irregular periods which it has sorted. When I first started taking it I use to get headakes and my ears would block, felt like I was on an aeroplane all the time. Those symptioms have gone now.... But recently I have been getting periods (really heavy ones) half way into a pack. This has totally freaked me out. My PMS is horrible, I get depressed and sad 2. I wake up in the middle of the nite with cramps, this happens about a week and a half into a packed also. Think it is doing strange things to me, I am afraid to go off this pill as I dont like the bad pains I use to get before. Speaking to my doctor about this just goes in one ear and out the other really. Has anyone else felt the same?

just wanted to post the address again for uk residents to report side effects and adverse reactions of yasmin. it is www.mhra.gov.uk about half way down on the right hand side of the home page is a bit that says yellow card report side effect.click that. if you want to look up previous reports look on the download side effect link and select drosperinone (the main ingredient of yasmin) it makes for interesting reading to say the least! please please ladies if you haven't already done this do it as soon as you can,it takes minutes and could spare another lady the nightmare we have all been through. with more and more doctors prescribing this pill we have to try and speak out. i came across a site that is suggesting yasmin as a treatment for pms....how many women are going to believe the hype and end up on here distressed and ill ???????? we may not be able to stop this drug being prescribed but the more people we can warn about the possible effects the better.

sarah

hi all,
just a quick update,i went to see my gp today. i had some test done last month,i had fsh,testosterone and progesterone. i was tested on day 3 of my cycle. according to my gp my results were all "normal" but in the low end of normal. so basilcally i have low levels of the major hormones. my period came this month after 29 days which is an improvement on the 33-38 days i have had since i came off yasmin. I am still experiencing problems in the 10-12 days leading up to my period but they basically seem like really exaggerated forms of pms. i am going to try adding some agnus castus (vitex) to my list of vitamins to see if that will help. will keep you all posted!

silke.
let us all know how you get on with your results and how you are feeling.

hi murph 70,
not sure if this site will help you work out your results,i looked my tsh level up on here.
www.pinelandpress.com/faq/hormonelevels
you could give it a look. i am also having problems with my cycle. i have started to ovulate again (thank goodness!) my periods are still coming between 33 - 38 days instead of my old pre yasmin cycle that was 28 days on the dot. i have some periods that are really heavy and some that are so light they are more like spotting. i suffer pms (with mild anxiety) about 12 days before my period starts until 2 days after bleeding starts. i get an outbreak of acne about 10 days before my period and savage backache just before my period too! all are symptoms of pms,i never had any of these symptoms before i went on yasmin except for the odd monthly spot on my chin! i really wish i had not messed with my perfectly normal cycle but i was totally ignorant to the fact that any of these awful things could happen just from taking a pill,i was told it would improve my life not wreck it!
sorry for the rant murph 70 but i find once i start on the subject i can't stop! hope the site i suggested is of some help.

silke.
my heart goes out to you...... remember you are strong and you will beat this! please feel better soon!

Hello everybody.
I am hoping that somebody here will be able to answer my question.
I have also had terrible problems after taking yasmin for 4 years. I stopped taking it about 9 months ago. I have gradually been feeling better but have been undergoing hormone testing because of terrible pms and a short cycle.
I had my first hormone testing done at the beginning of this cycle. It was done on day 3 and all the results were normal. However the second part of the test was done on day 7 after i ovulated. This test was for progesterone and estradiol. I got the results today. The progesterone level is 37 and estradiol level is 257.
I spoke to the nurse at the practice and she said they were low. I wont have an appointment with the doctor to discuss the results until next week. When i look it up on the internet i cannot get any definite answers as to what this means.
I hope there is somebody here that can help me.
I am afraid i have been left with some permanent damage after yasmin.
I dread to think what this means.
Does anybody know.
Please reply if you can help me as right now i feel i have gone back to the days immediately after stopping yasmin.
Thanks in advance
murph70

I am 36 and I've been taking Yasmin for 6 months now. 13 years ago I took ortho novum 777 for my first 6 months of marriage and it was a nightmare. The anxiety was so bad and I am thankful my new marriage made it through that rough first 6 months. I quit it then and refused to take another for 13 years. I have terrible pms and HEAVY bleeding. It was causing me to stay home for about 2 weeks out of the month. I was put on lexapro for the pms b/c I would not take the pill. I gained 25 pounds in 2 months so quit that. finally decided to go with the yasmin and it has been really really good for me. My last period was so light that I just could not believe it. I feel very good on it. I was always "happy" when pregnant and that is kind of how I feel on it now. Not sure how that will be down the road. I do have skin pigmentation like I had when pregnant and I have dry eyes and some headaches around my eyes. So, I guess the jury is still out. I do think it raised my cholesterol. I will say that if I have to discontinue it, I will be upset because I feel like I have my life back regarding my menstrual cycle. It is also great to skip a period if I am going on vacation, etc. Maybe age has something to do with it. Maybe women who have had children and deal with pms/heavy periods are better candidates for yasmin.

hi guest 31990,
i'm glad that you have found a pill that works for you,what's not right for some is right for others,i know some people do really well on yasmin and other brands of birth control pills,if you feel great on it then that is good but just please please listen to your body,if you get any strange symptoms or start having any kind of emotional problems at least be aware of the fact that it might be the pill,i did really well on it for 6 months,had clear skin,lost a bit of weight,no pms,light periods and bigger breast but then i started to get ill and have panic attacks and severe anxiety. I am not saying any of this to put you off or to scare you i just cannot bare the thought of not warning women of the possible future side effects,hopefully you will continue to do really well on yasmin and i sincerely hope you do. we need both sides of the story on this site so that other women can make informed decisions (unlike many of us that took yasmin blindly!).
best wishes to you.

sarah

i don't think yasmin will be removed from the market as it does seem to help some people,i have no idea why some people do really well on it and others like many of us on this site suffer some awful effects. i have seen on some web pages that yasmin is actually prescribed for pmdd and pms...... maybe it works well for people who already have a hormonal disorder by overriding their system?????? but for the rest of us who were fine pre yasmin maybe it over doses us with synthetic hormones. i have no ideas really but i have heard people who started out with hormone related emotional problems have improved on yasmin..maybe it should be presecribed as a treatment for hormonal dysfunctions instead of a cure all wonder pill! I don't necessarily believe it should be taken off the market as i can help people but i do believe that the health care professionals should at least recognise the terrible effects we can get from it instead of sending us out of the office saying we have suddenly developed an anxiety disorder or depression or testing us for hundreds of different things when the only thing that has changed is that we started taking this pill. women should be monitored more carefully when taking synthetic hormones.
sorry for the long rant ladies!!!