Yasmin and psychologist

Hi ladies... I'm not surprised that you folks comprise most of the posting population considering the fact that this drug is prescribed to you. Well I'm quite interested in this drug and I do prescribe it to my patients however I am surprised at the magnitude of side effects listed here. I am based here in south-east Asia and I do prescribe Yasmin to my patients and I rarely here of these side effects. Perhaps this can be contributed to the fact that it (Yasmin) is available here under a different brand name however consists of the same chemical position. I am interested in the ones available in the U.S. Does anyone know how I may go about purchasing them. You can contact me personally on ****** thank you.

I cannot believe that doctors are not more aware of the potential side effects of this birth control. I'm actually a little angry and needed to post a brief account of my story. Took a break from birth control after 9 years. I had been on ortho-tri-cyclen. I had read studies that said being on it for that long was not good. So after a year off of it my doctor recommended Yasmine. To her credit the symptoms of PMS were reduced however I literally almost went crazy. I have often been described as annoyingly laid back. After a short time on Yasmine I started feeling anxious all the time. I thought it was the stress of life. I was turning 30 and had just caught my boyfriend cheating on me. I felt that dam clock ticking and my job as a teacher was becoming increasingly stressful. So I honestly never even thought my moods and anxiety and depression could possibly be coming from a birth control pill. Well I went on line to find a psychologist because my own mother gently told me she thought I needed one and thats when I stopped for a second. I asked myself if I had been taking any new vitamins first and then I looked at the calendar. I quickly noticed that the depression had started soon after my new birth control. So I decided to look up the ingredients in Yasmine. That's when I stumbled across this sight and was truly horrified. I stopped taking Yasmine that day and literally within a week I was feeling better. If you are struggling with anxiety, mood swings, and depression I suggest you switch your birth control immediately. Life is hard enough without our allies like birth control secretly being an enemy.

I have been on Yasmin for 2-3 years now for endometriosis. It was great as it helped with the severe cramping, and cleared up my skin. I never paid much to the series of changes to my body months to follow, till it got worse. Within the past 2-3 years, I've had countless exams literally from head to toe -- bloodwork, MRI, X-Rays, CT-Scans, Ultra-Sounds, and other lab work. All of which, despite slight irregulars through bloodwork on liver count, thyroid, lymph, and raised cholesterol, were normal. It got to a point where my family doctor thinks I need to see a psychologist. I considered my self a pretty healthy and happy individual. I know I was not imagining these aches and pains.
About 1 year into taking the pill, I noticed numbing in my legs, severe headaches, dizziness, and trouble falling asleep. I even discussed it to my gyno, who quickly brushed off any relation between these symptoms and the pill. I figured, it might have be induced from stress at work and thought no further of it. I also discussed it with my family, who also dismissed the idea.

I started losing a lot of hair and started getting more emotional, with frequent/extreme mood swings. I also started crying a lot, which was never the case before. I was never so emotional. The pill does not even help with clearing my acne anymore. I also had bloating, frequent urinating, tender/painful breasts, chronic cough, frequent throat infections, nausea, fatigue, back pain, heart palpitations, chest pain and pressure, and chronic abdominal pain. The chest pain and abdominal pain landed me in the ER today. And of course, all test results were "normal".

It's worth getting off this thing, at least to see if Yasmin is the cause. If this little pill is the case of all of our pain and suffering, instead of helping like it should -- the product should really be pulled of the market, along with a class action against the manufacturer.

I feel very lucky to have found this site, that there are others who are going through the same thing and can understand I am not insane for thinking the pill is the cause. I'll have to come back to post the progress.

I have been on Yasmin for about 2-3 years or so... but i remember thinking i was the luckiest girl because i found a pill i thought was great and made my periods only 2 days i loved it.... but lately for the past year i have been very depressed i realized something was different when i laughed i wasn't laughing i was just doing cause i knew i should laugh, i just didn't find myself happy and i should be I'm getting married to a wonderful guy who has put up with my loss of sex drive and being dry which makes it hurt so it makes it that much worse and my loss of exercising i feel fatigue over taking a walk or doing nothing i thought it was laziness or lack of motivation... then i have a bad knee and within the past year and half i have had severe neck issues with my muscles
i talked to my doctor she told me to see a psychologist for my depression, i have yet to do so but now realizing many other people are feeling this way on this site makes me happy I'm not really a depressed person and I'm just really messed up over this pill
I'm calling my doctor now to see if i can get my pill switched i cant last like this for much longer ill go insane and so will my fiance!!!

My daughter was on Yasmin for approx 3 years for painful periods. Over the past year she has become severely depressed, angry and just a horrible person to live with. I noticed that on the final week of the pills, the placebo week, she was her old self and put two and two together and made her stop taking Yasmin. She is now back to her happy self, no longer depressed and looking forward to her life. She had informed her doctor of the depression but she never attributed it to the Yasmin and instead referred her to a psychologist, which she never followed through with. Doctors don't know or care to really look into side effects properly. Do not take this drug...it almost killed my daughter!!

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

I posted yesterday a response to a message from another woman. I have stopped birth control before and it caused me to begin my menstrual cycle early. I had been thinking about not taking YAZ anymore as I was convinced it was making me feel crazy and not myself. I felt out of control hormonally and that my brain and emotions were not connected. I was very moody and would be come depressed and anxious for no reason. I also felt like another person both physically as well as emotionally... I was exhausted all the time and felt like I lost my self confidence. I felt I was missing out on my life. I stopped taking the pill last night. I will let you know what the side effects I have experienced are. I am calling my DR. this morning to check to make sure I am not putting myself at risk by stopping the pill. I think I am doing the right thing for me. I think it would be best to call your Dr. and ask.
Also item to note: YAZ is used to treat the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), such as anxiety, depression, irritability, trouble concentrating, lack of energy, sleep or appetite changes, and feeling out of control. PMDD can also cause physical symptoms such as breast tenderness, joint or muscle pain, headache, and bloating or weight gain.
I feel like this describes my symptoms to a tee.

Hello everyone, I have been off yasmin for almost three months. When I went to see my doctor and told her about my anxiety/panic attacks and depression, she laughed when I suggested it might be related to this pill. Instead she suggested I see a psychologist to help me with my depression, as I am never taking antidepressants, the side effects are just not worth it.
My question is to you ladies, I only took it for three months and I have been off them for about three months but the anxiety/panic/depression episodes continue - how long will the effects of this pill last? Any thoughts?

hi everyone, thanks for the response and great advice for my daughter. As you know she is almost 18 and has suffered all the depression/anxiety symptoms. She went to a fantastic psychologist a couple of days ago, he says she has social anxiety, and yes that is exactly what it is, the anxiety kicks in when she has to go to a party, work, away to our holiday house for the weekend etc. He along with the doctor have not dismissed a problem with hormones causing all of this, So now she is learning ways on how to cope with the anxiety, is going to ease herself back to work and we just hope that she will improve bit by bit. Its incredible to think that she is on a high dose of lexapro{40mg} and stil suffering from extreme bouts of anxiety. I think that any woman suffering from these dreadful side effects of yasmin must do all they can to improve their quality of life, whether it be vitamins, massage, councilling or what ever may help in any small way, these things may help your wellbeing and assist you to have a complete recovery. good luck to all

So I'm confused... I've been feeling a serious lack of sexual desire for my fiancee for a while now...and I've been on Yasmin for probably about 3 years or so. It has worked fine for me. I haven't really gained any weight. I am reading all of these posts about women with anxiety issues since being on yasmin. Now, all this time I had been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder both by a psychologist and my primary care doctor. I had attributed this to an abusive relationship - before my fiancee. I was even in the ER several times for panic/anxiety attacks. Could my anxiety really be being caused by the Yasmin? Not to mention I cry ALL THE TIME. I just thought I am over sensitive, but commercial's make me cry. What's going on? And any advice on the sexual side effects?

Denise-
I agree that our kids deserve a happy and energetic mom without anxiety. I have not been myself since I started Yasmin. I finished my last pack on Sat.
Today I went to the psychologist who AGREED that my symptoms most likely were from the Yasmin! My reg. doc gave me Paxil and Xanax. I am already feeling a little better so I am going to hold off on the Paxil and see how I am doing. I take a low dose of Xanax as needed.
Take care of yourself and I hope that you are feeling alot better soon.

Hi Ladies...
Thanks for the input. I think that my estrogen levels dropped off so much from stopping this crappy pill that it was causing the headaches. Mine, too see to be behind my eyes and at either side of my head, not at the same time, one sided headaches, if you will. They have seemed to let up in the last two days, I read that Aleve is the best help for hormonal headaches. It seems to be the only thing that has helped thus far. I have been seeing a psychologist since July for the panic and anxiety. I have it pretty well under control, but at the time I NEVER thought it might be the BC until I found you wonderful ladies. I am about 6-7 weeks post pill, and the general anxiety is really easing up. I'll keep you posted!
Thanks, Cristy

Kay, I completely understand your exhaustion over the time it takes to feel better after getting off Yasmin, but you need to TRUST that although you dont feel it, everyday is a day closer to being the 'old Kay'. It has now been 4 months for me and I am only really feeling like my old self now, you need to take one day at a time. By the sounds of it, you are currently either ovulating or pre-menstrual...you always feel worse around these times. I understand that knowing you will get better soon isnt always enough to make you feel better right now. The biggest thing is to TALK to your friends and family. They need to know exactly how you're feeling. Get them to read posts on this website. I'd also recommend you make an appointment to see a psychologist. This is not because anything is wrong with you, but as a result of taking Yasmin you are suffering side effects that you currently have no control over. I have been seeing a psychologist for the first time in my life over this whole experience and it has helped enormously. He reminded me that I need to stop being so hard on myself and that I am making gains....its' always good to have other people's views on our progress as it's often difficult for us to see.

I'd also recommend you cut out any caffiene, white sugar, white flour etc as it only makes you feel more on edge.

I found meditation helpful as it helped calm me down.

You need to know that you're not alone. All Yasmin Survivors out there are sharing your pain, and we all have brighter times ahead!!!

I stopped taking the pill last week. I still had a week left to take but I was so over it.I got a period right away but who cares I wasn't gonna stay on that crap. I am starting to feel MUCH better, at least 100% better already but I'm defintely not completely myself yet. Strangely enough my abs hurt like I did a bunch of sit-ups, but it's actually from all the worrying and things I did last week as usually as I go through through that anxiety all my muscles stay tight. I'm off to speak with a psychologist on Tuesday as well.. I want to be safe and keep everything in check.
How is everyone else doing? :)