Yasmin and severe anxiety

This contraceptive means that I will never go on the pill again. I was on Jasmine for a year, lost my boyfriend, lost a lot of weight through been sick every morning, and through depression. I didn't have sex for the entire time I was on it. Couldn't bare anyone touching me, including close friends just for a friendly hug. I was paranoid, had panic attacks and was in a constant state of nervousness. I cannot believe that this drug has not been taken off the market, that it is still recommended to people as the "wonder" contraceptive pill is completely baffaling.

I'm 22 years old and I have been on Yasmin for 3 years. The first year it was fine, but the next year I began getting panic attacks which I never even believed in until I had one myself. I've had severe anxiety that is uncontrollable and doesn't allow me to sleep at night. Let's not even talk about the emotional mood swings during my period. My boyfriend knows when it's that time of the month because I'm not myself. I will cry over things that would never make me cry in a million years. I'm mean and moody and then 20 minutes later I feel bad, but then I'm crabby again. Weight gain has not been a problem for me only about 3-5 pounds, but my breasts did go from a large B to a D. My boobs definitely do not fit my body. I have noticed a lot of hair fall but I just thought it was normal. I too have had problems with my potassium levels as I would get leg cramps in the middle of the night so I began drinking Gatorade and eating bananas every morning which has helped. I love being on birth control because it helps me plan accordingly, but I just don't feel like myself anymore. I am always hungry and am never full. I literally have to tell myself out loud that I'm done eating because it doesn't trigger for me. I have had a stomach ache nearly everyday of being on the pill. I became addicted to TUMS which only made it worse. I thought it was stress related which it might be, but I literally do not go to the bathroom for 4 or 5 days and it is soooo painful. Another thing is that I have no sex drive. I really have to prepare myself for it otherwise sex does not even occur to me. My boyfriend thinks I'm not attracted to him, but I AM! We just moved in together and you would think it was "freedom" but I'm just motivated to have sex. This is not normal for a 22 year old healthy female with an extremely hot man.

Anyway, I just went to the doctor and told her I was interested in Yaz. She gave me a few sample packs which I will begin next week. I'm hoping for the best and I truly do believe that birth control is a trial and error process. Everyone's bodies are different and you need to find the one that works best for you! I will write again once I know how Yaz works out.

-MCL

Hello! I'm 27 and I've been taking Yasmin for probably 7 years and never had a single problem. My weight stayed the same, my periods got VERY regular, to the DAY, and things were ok.

Starting about 3 months ago I was on my honeymoon and decided to skip my period that month which I do a few times a year and Yasmin never let me down! Anyways my period came anyways and not only that, but I spotted an extra week after! It was most noticable in the mornings after having sex. It was just brown and yucky. Then I didn't have a period the next month, only 24 hours of brown and this month I had a regular one. On top of that I've suddenly gained 5 pounds without changing ANYTHING. I wonder, can Yasmin suddenly screw me up so many years after I started taking it? I hear horror stories about Yasmin but I only see it from women taking it for a few months or maybe a year? It was always so good to me. What's going on? The weight gain terrifies me too because I so easily gain weight and I've been trying so hard to eat well and I feel like it's been pointless. It ticks me off more because I have to pay $50 a month for Yasmin even AFTER insurance pays 15, and now I think it's messing my body up too.

I have a OBGYN appointment in a few weeks and I'm going to talk to her about it and see about getting on a new pill anyways for price reasons, but do you think all these weird sudden symptoms are from Yasmin? Can you recommend a pill? I can't afford to gain anymore weight. I just can't...

hello all, i've been reading your stories and feel i need to write mine too. i started taking Yasmin about 4 months ago. and i really do not know what to think. i haven't put any weigh on or got acne (which were my worries) and my periods got very light and completely pain-free. i did have constant but mild headaches (which i never have) and my sex drive has gone down (never had any problem before). more importantly, emotionally i am feeling terrible. i cry non-stop and i feel totally unstable. I am going through a lot of changes in my life (change career, country, new relationship, etc) so i thought i could be just that i am feeling stressed. but i think this is more than that. my anxiety has rocketed, I never felt like this before, I have racing thoughts almost constantly, panic attacks, and something that i think it's called 'depersonalization' - has anyone got anything like this? it feels like you're looking from outside yourself, if that makes any sense...not nice at all.
as I have a tendency to feel anxious anyway I really don't know whether the pill is causing this or not, but i feel i am going mad. as i read the postings i became more worried that it might be Yasmin
i went to the doctor who suggested to carry on for a few more months to see if the symptoms go away. i followed his advice (as those days i was feeling surprisingly well, and was optimistic about it) but i am still very concerned.
also, has anyone had a really bad depression/anxiety attack when taking antibiotics + yasmin? i could have killed myself that day. felt better when i stopped taking the antibiotics.
again, is it my mind...? or is it Yasmin...?
any comments would be really great

I started taking Yasmine in 2005 and almost imeemdiatley I started to have severe anxiety, depression, no sex drive at all and worse of all extremely bad migranes especially a few days before getting my period and during. My life had to be put on hold when I had my period because of the migranes. I stopped taking the Yasmine 3 weeks ago because I just couldn't take the migranes anymore. I have noticed I have gained some weight, my skin and hair feels alot oilier, and my hair has been falling out more than usual which is kind of freaking me out, don't have mood swings. My sex drive has gotten better which is a relief. I still don't know if my migranes will have gone away during my period. I'm just curious can anyone tell me if these side effects (hair loss, weight gain, oily skin) will go away after a few months.
When I went off another type of pill I actually lost weight, why is this one different?

My doctor put me on Yasmin about 2 years ago because I had severe menstrual cramps. So bad that I had to take off of school whenever I had my period because the only way to relieve my pain was to lie in bed with a heating pad on max, and i'd still cry over how bad it was. In the beginning of taking Yasmin, I felt awesome, lighter period flow and minor cramps that actually could be relieved with midol but seeing as it was nothing compared to what I had gone through I usually didn't even take that. Now i'm 21 years old, am 15 pounds heavier, I have no energy and severe anxiety and stress. A few months ago I had this 2 week episode with a headache that wouldn't go away with advil, like a normal headache would, stomach pains, nausea and vomiting. I had never felt so awful in my life. I went to a gastroentronologist and was diagnosed with IBS. I always had minor constipation when it wasn't period time and I hadn't been eating good and exercising as usual but this is noticeably worse, and comes with all the goodies of IBS like mucus ew. I'm going to stop taking Yasmin and see if my body starts to work properly again although i'm not looking forward to spending my periods in bed again crying.

I just started taking Yasmin again in March. I had taken it back in November but stopped midway through my second pack because I was experiencing severe anxiety, nausea, fatigue... to the point my social life and grades in school were suffering. I went online and found this site and read how there were a lot of women who experienced bad side effects from this pill too. Recently I decided that it was in my best interest to take birth control again and because I did have added stress in my life during the time I took Yasmin before I thought maybe I would be okay this time. I WAS SOOO WRONG. I haven't even been on Yasmin again for a month and my life as I knew it has been turned upside down. In less than a week of starting it I started to have severe chest pains and nausea. I thought I was having a heart attack. I have had panic attacks before and this was nothing like that The tightness and pressure in my chest never has gone away. I've been to three different doctors and have had many tests to figure out whats wrong. They all tell me the same thing that I'm a healthy 22 year old and that if anything I just have inflammation my ribcage. My grades are suffering again because I have missed a lot of class because I feel so awful. Every morning I wake up with the chest pain (that gets worse the more active I am) and nausea. Since all these symptoms have come on my relationship has taken a turn for the worse too. All I want to do is sleep, I don't feel like going out, I get annoyed very easily by everything my boyfriend does so I don't want to be around him. I feel so "out of it" sometimes I get dizzy and feel numb all over. Its so scary (esp. the chest pains) The worse thing is that no one really believes me (i.e. my boyfriend) I never feel good and I'm sure the people around me are tired of me complaining all the time. One more thing... I started my period very early (I still have a week and a half of active pills left) I've never experienced that before... weird. Anyways, I stopped taking Yasmin 2 days ago. I still have all the same symptoms... I really hope they go away soon. I want to get back to my old self and my old life. YASMIN SUCKS!!! I'd rather take the risk of getting pregnant than take Yasmin. At least then I'd have a excuse that ppl would believe for being sick :(

Hi all
I am a 24 year old, quite anxious person and have had problems with panic attacks and anxiety on and off for the last 5 years, although I generally stay on top of it, manage a good job and I have a successful long term with my boyfriend who I live with and love very much.
I was on Yasmin for three years and never thought I had any problems with it - although looking back maybe some of the anxiety that I experienced then was linked to it. The numerous GPs I spoke never made this connection so I would never have suspected it.
Anyway I came off Yasmin a year ago, as I decided I wanted a break from medication but any changes would have been disguised by another medication I was coming off at the time which gave me really bad withdrawal symptoms.
I went back on Yasmin ten days ago and today I feel terrible. I have been waking up at about 5am, wide awake and anxious and this morning had a very upset stomach due to the severe anxiety. I tried to go to work but on the bus I had the most awful depressing, dark anxious thoughts and could NOT get them out of my head. I felt terrible and came straight back home.

There is no way I am taking the pill tonight, but I am a bit worried about stopping it mid cycle - does anyone have any experience of doing this and what happened?
I also really want to know how long it will take for me to feel back to normal - can anyone give me an idea?

Thanks for your posts,
Really think they need to warn people more clearly on packaging...

Jem

I started taking Yasmin august 07-took it for 3 weeks, 2nd week I felt pressure on my chest, 3rd week there was this day I started feeling pressure on my chest and bad palpitations, I got a little worried and they told me I was having a panic attack, it took 20 minutes for me to calm down. I stopped taking Yasmin that day and have continued to feel sick since. Symptoms since Yasmin have been:severe nervousness, shivering, racing heart especially with activity, chest pressure, pain by me heart, huge decrease in appetite, panic, thoughts I will die, body aches, headaches, slight dizziness sometimes. I've been to ER twice I've also had 2 d-dimer tests positive but no blood clot in my chest or legs and been to doctor about 7 times-she just sent me to psychiatry even though she knows I say the pill caused it. I also have an appt with cardiology tomorrow- and I'm sure they will tell me its in my head as well-its been 5 months I wonder how long my sickness will last.

Thank god for the internet-I don't know what I would have done if I had to feel the way I did from taking Yasmin any longer without knowing why. I took Yasmin for two months. In the third week of my second month I suffered from severe anxiety and panic attacks along with irrational fears and obsessing on random thoughts that wouldn't normally bother me. When I would somewhat calm down, I would then feel so depresses because I didn't know why I just couldn't go back to feeling like myself. I am a worry-er, I admit, but never to this extreme. I was so nervous, I had no appetite and the anxiety really began to take its toll on me physically. Now that I look back on it, I was more nervous than usual in my first month, I have lost my sex drive, I have had small dizzy spells and blurred vision, random pains in my left lower abdomen area, but I never put these all together. When I found not only this website, but tons others with women writing about all of these side effects, I already started feeling like myself again. It's been 4 days off the pill and I still get a little anxious, but nothing like it was last week. I can't wait for this stuff to get out of my system. I did take the pill at 7:45 every night and I do notice I'm more nervous in the morning when I get up and by late afternoon, I start to relax and feel more like myself. Synthetic hormones are not natural and I really feel like we shouldn't put this stuff in our bodies. We are messing with scary stuff. God only knows what would have happened if I had to endure any more of that physical and mental pain!

I need some help. I have been on Yasmin for almost 4 years. Previously I was on ortho and was taken off of it due to an alarming weight gain and emotional side effects. Yasmin seemed GREAT until now... I am experiencing severe anxiety, shaking, headaches, blurred vision, hair loss, low sex drive and depression. I assumed this was all due to stress from graduating and entering the working world, but I have nothing to be upset or stressed about... I have such nervous thoughts and can sometimes say things that are just so unlike me.. I just don't feel myself. I am afraid to go off Yasmin and onto another pill in fear that things could get even worse... My previous experience with ortho was short but definitely not sweet. I am scared and afraid because I am only 22... Has anyone experienced anything like this that can give me some piece of mind?

I've been taking Yasmin for about 1 1/2 years. Before taking Yasmin, I never had any experience with depression or anxiety; however, a couple weeks after I started taking it I had SEVERE anxiety and mild depression. It was really bad and damaging to myself and my relationships. I cried daily and had panic attacks regularly. At the time, I didn't realize it was the pill and it eventually went away. Over the next year I had occasional mild depression which would last for weeks or a month at a time - during these times I was VERY moody and cried a lot. I was constantly upset at friends and family for silly reasons. Occasionally I also experienced occasional nausea.

I recently went off the pill for a month and instantly when I started taking it again I became slightly depressed, couldn't get enough sleep, and began getting angry at people for silly reasons. I didn't realize all these symptoms were related to the pill until now. I'm going to stop taking it today and thank others for posting their stories.

I am happy to have found this site. I have been on Yasmin I believe about 3 years. I am educated in the insurance industry, so I should have known better. I really thought I was going crazy. My mood swings have been horrible for a long time. I am snap at my family just saying everyday things. I sound angry even when I am not. I know I am doing this, but can not control it. I get terrible headaches, muscle stiffness, nausea, exhaustion, and I have gained weight. I also have issues with severe anxiety and wake up in a panic sweating at times. I got hot flashes out of the blue. I have come to the conclusion I need to be off of this pill immediately and I believe that I will start to feel better. I will keep you posted.

26 years old/on YASMIN for one year.

I'm sorry you've all experienced so many negative side effects on YASMIN. Everybody is different and it's important to find the pill that's right for you. Ten years ago I tried the BC that comes in the form of a shot in the behind once every three months, and it made to throw-up and gain weight after just one dose. I never took another dose, but it was a year before my body went back to normal. So i know what it's like to have your body disagree with BC.

After ten years I decided to go on the pill again, and I was extremely nervous. I even had a couple different prescriptions filled and then backed out of taking them. Finally, one year ago, I started taking YASMIN. I experienced ZERO NEGATIVE SIDE EFFECTS. And I immediately felt better than I had in years. I have always had severe anxiety and have been hospitalized for panic attacks and heart palpitations. My last panic attack was on the second day of taking YASMIN, and I have been anxiety free for a year. Okay, well.. I do get anxious sometimes; life can be stressful. But i don't feel like my hearts going to explode, and I don't get dizzy, shaky, nauseous, or any of those other terrible sensations.

I have had many other positive effects:
My periods are lighter. I only have cramps every couple of cycles which are very mild (before I needed a hot pad and some pain meds). But the biggest change for me has been my mood. I am finally happy. I feel like a normal person for the first time, and EVERYONE notices a difference in the way I look and behave.

I'm not telling anyone to take YASMIN. And if i had even one of the terrible side effects some of you have mentioned I would have stopped the pill before finishing the first pack. I just thought you might like to know that if you do find a pill that's right for you, it can greatly improve your life and overall happiness. Be smart, do research, and most importantly- LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!
.

I went on Yasmin in late February of 2005. In early April of 2005,I started having severe anxiety and panic attacks. I had experienced a bout with anxiety and panic one other time in my life, but it was 10 years prior to this, and I'd had no trouble since. After having cousneling and working very hard to deal with the anxiety,things got better. However, I still don't feel like the strong, confident woman I was before all the trouble began -- I used to feel like I could do anything and like I was on top of the world. Since I've had anxiety and panic issues, I've had trouble getting to the gym (something I used to do 6 - 7 days a week), and I am fearful of things I was never fearful of before. Anyway, about a week ago, I started thinking back on this whole journey and realized that the anxiety started just about 4 - 6 weeks after taking Yasmin. So I typed in anxiety and yasmin in Google and came across this website -- I have been so surprised to see so many other women struggling with these same issues. I am now off Yasmin (I'm supposed to start a new pack tomorrow, but I will not be) and am very hopeful that I'll return to my former self sometime soon. My husband and I are hoping to have a baby early next year, so I won't be taking any hormone birth control after this -- I don't know if I ever will again.

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 truly believe after 4 months of research that the problem is that Yaz Yasmine cause severe anxiety coming off the pill and on the pill and it depleted or altered all of our neurotransmitters.

There are only a couple ways to fix that

1. Antidepressants
2. Alot of time like a year or more
3. Some forms of electromagnetic holistic approach but it takes 4-6 months and I hear very expensive

All I know is Yaz Yasmine changed my whole life and personality

The people taking antidepressants are off the birth control of course.........
I dont know for sure if neurotransmitters replace heal on their own Bitter RN is better without antidepressants as are some of you but it took almost a year.

Its very scary

I feel as though I have been on yasmin so long...about 3 years...that I forget who I am. I don't know what 'myself' is. I know that I have been depressed and suffering severe anxiety. Sometimes I hate being out in public. I am a singer so I should love people, but I over feel overwhelmed and panicked around a large crowd. I cry at least once a day. My emotions are very out of whack. I also have serious leg cramping and insomnia, which I thought was restless leg syndrome until I read this forum. I basically have pushed aside all of these problems thinking I was being a hypocondriac until now. I also am sad to say I have NO SEX DRIVE as many of you have said. Sometimes I don't even want to be near my boyfriend. And sex most always feels like a chore. This is not good. After my period this week I am switching to Femcon. I hope I will have better results on this. Oh yeah and Yasmin is supposed to be the no bloat pill...yeah I gained 15 pounds. Niceeee.

Hello Gang,

I have never felt so sick in my entire life. I started taking Yasmin two months ago (I only went through two packs of pills). I have felt like I am going to die every day of this last month. I have had severe migraine headaches, body aches, chest tightness, dizziness, SEVERE anxiety and EXTREME fatigue. My sex drive has packed up and gone, I have terrible vaginal dryness and I am never hungry. I used to work out every day but now find that the very thought of lifting weights puts me to sleep. The strangest part is how the "illness" kind of comes in waves, I'll be fine all morning and then I'm freaking out/sick all night. I have panic attacks and I'll start crying for no reason. Sometimes I lay in bed and worry that I have cancer or a tumor or all types of various diseases. My boyfriend has been extremely patient throughout the whole thing but I feel terrible because we hardly have a chance to get romantic because I'm constantly sick or simply worrying that I might get sick later on. I actually just had four vials of blood taken yesterday to make sure that I'm doing okay. They also gave me chest xrays due to the chest tightness. The thing that really bugs me is that aside from being frustrating, confusing and scary, it is proving to be quite costly since I now have to pay for my doctor's visits and doctor's expenses. I just switched over to Loestrin two days ago so I'm hoping that will help get me back on track. Until then, I'm just gonna have to hope that this stuff gets out of my body and that the feeling of looming death vanishes. I'm all for going to the news or Oprah or maybe dateline nbc. Women should know what they're getting themselves into because it seems obvious that if doctor's are prescribing this to us, they must have no idea what they're doing. And that thought is equally as terrifying as the constant sickness.

Severe anxiety heart racing pulse racing weight loss

I have nearly lost my mind on Yaz my doctor put me on it because I had a small cyst. I never tookbirth control before and Iam 40 I only took it for the one month supply and Iam a physical and emotional wreck. I havnt been able to go anywhere I have severe anxiety headaches shaking heart racing lost 10 lbs I cant go anyplace or do anything. Another girl in Arizona and I have contacted attorneys we need allyour names and what you took and email. This is posion and my life has been a mess since. i have been off for 15 days and have no relief. My doctor too prescribed Xanax and I dont take medicine normally so Iam suffering. I took one but it makes me feel foggy. However my symptoms are so severe. Comeon ladies we have to get this off the market just because you arnt experiencing symptoms and feel good now you dont know what it is doing to your body! Stop taking it

yasmin has completely ruined my life. I was on yasmin originally for 2 years and it worked wonderfully- no weight gain and face cleared up completely. I decided to take a break from it when i traveled for work for 2 months.. i started getting severe panic attacks- didn't associate it with the yasmin though, so i went back on it when i returned and my face brokeout severely- i gave it 5 months to work- but it didn't and after stopping a week ago the anxiety has returned- and im not an anxious person.. and severe anxiety- feel like i cant breath.. dizzy.. constantly tired and scared.. so while this medicine could be beneficial to some people.. i really wouldn't reccomend it- not worth the bad side effects that last for a long time after taking the medicine...

Hi everyone, so glad to find this website. I am a 28 year old mother of 2 and married. I really need some help. I am so scared of being committed in an institution. I was on Aleese for 2 1/2 years and then switched to Yasmin. I was on Yasmin almost 2 months but could not finish it. First severe abdominal cramps started with constipation, then frequent urination, like every half hour. Then the real nightmare happend. The severe anxiety and depression. For the first time in my entire life I was not able to sleep. I had total insomnia due to bad muscle aches and body jerking. I have been off for 3 wks exactly and still have the body jerking everytime I try to fall asleep. I never had anything like this before. The only time I can sleep is when I take Xanax which was prescribed for me after taking Yasmin. Now I keep thinking I am dying of something horrible like a brain tumor. I lost 4lbs which is not good. I was only 94lbs to begin with. The anxiety is so bad, I can't even function. I feel awful. I went to a Chropractor for the first time yesterday and he can't believe how tight my muscles are. What in the world could be causing these sleep jerks at night. I never ever had anything wrong with me. All of these symptoms started within a week of taking Yasmin. I am so angry. I am on no b/c pills now. Is it normal to have all of these side effects? What about the muscle jerking at night. I am so scared. I can't even take care of my kids. My health has just been declining in the last 2 months. I am so afraid I will not get through this. any help would be greatly appreciated

My daughter was put on Yasmin approximately three years ago to help with her acne and to regulate her periods which it did help with. However, she began having such severe anxiety attacks and mood problems that she ended up being on Zoloft for this. She was due to go in for her annual gyn exam and I was looking on the Internet for information about YAZ, thinking that maybe this would be better for her -- and that is when I found all these different websites discussing the anxiety, mood disorder, depression, etc associated with Yasmin. Well, we decided to finish up this cycle (last week) and for her to go off of them because now we both think that the reason she had the horrible anxiety, etc was because of this birth control pill. We are both really hoping that she will feel better quickly off of it and will then wean her off of the Zoloft. I am so upset to think that she has had to take the Zoloft for over a year now and she never had this problem before the 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

This is so incredibly difficult! I have been off of Yasmin one year now, and I am still having serious problems. I am having severe anxiety, nausea, lightheadedness, extreme fatigue at times. This is day 8 of my cycle and is the first day I have not vomited since day 5. I ended up at the doctor on day 5 and was given blood and urine tests of which I have not yet heard results, besides the fact I am not pregnant :) I take Clonozepam occasionally for the anxiety, but it seems to just make me very tired and weak (I only took 0.25 mg this morning). I was fine last week! I have been taking a general multivitamin since I stopped Yasmin, but I just went to take a Vitamin B-50 Complex. Should this help? Are there any of you out there that are STILL fighting this???????????????
Virginia

Hello ladies,

I was on Yasmin for 2 1/2 months and went off it about two weeks ago. I suffered severe anxiety/panic attacks and horrible depression. I would react to simple events in my life by crying, vomitting and not sleeping for days at a time. My question is how long will it take for my system to be clean?

I'm much better now that I'm off the pills but I still feel deeply sad from time to time for no reason. I have a wonderful life with a supportive network of family and friends. When will I stop having these feelings of sadness?

Just a little update from my last post...

I am going on 8 months off Yamine, and I can tell you my severe anxiety has gone to almost nothing! I still feell nervous from time to time but nothing like before.

I still have the floaters but not as visible as before and im not so dizzy all time, I do however take Efexor for the anxiety because it was really out of control. My life finally seems to be getting back in order.

Ladies hold on take deep breathes, it takes time for out bodies to get back to normal. Saty strong!

eryka,
i suspect the reason you feel worse this week than you did last week is that your body is trying to return to it's normal cycle so if you stopped taking the pill 2.5 weeks ago you are probably ovulating at the moment. i had a similar problem when i stopped taking yasmin,i suspect estrogen dominance is the problem (ie you do not have sufficient levels progesterone to oppose the effects of the estragen) i find that although vastly improved i still suffer a mid month wobble as i call it,i have been off yasmin for 3 months now and i am feeling much better than i did,i suffered severe anxiety/panic attacks which led to agoraphobia but i am now out and about again and enjoying my life once more. hang in there eryka it will get better but it will not be over night but be reassured that it WILL get better.look into estrogen dominance and see if your symptoms sound familiar,if they do have a chat to your health care provider. in the mean time take a good B complex,vitamin b6 and some magnesium as the contraceptive pill can make you deficient in all these essential vitamins and minerals and cause your symptoms to be worse,of course a sensible diet and excercise are also great for helping your body recover. i really hope that helps you,i know how awful and soul destroying the effects of this pill can be,that is why this site has been a life saver for so many women,me included!

I'm going crazy on this stuff! Severe anxiety and depression!! Its ruining my relationship with my fiance. We moved in together recently, i was fine at first. THen i started takign Yasmin and ever since i've just been so emotionally messed up its crazy and i want to move back home with my parents. Its awful b/c he is such a good guy and all i am doing is hurting him by being this way. My gyno told me to finish this month out then i'll go back on ortho tri cyclen. I cant wait for the next two weeks to be over with!!!!

Whoa, I see I'm not alone. I'm so sorry you are going through such horrible stuff, ladies. And although I would never wish these side effects on my worst enemy, it's comforting to know that I'm not alone. :-) (I know you know what I mean.)

And this confirms what I had been suspecting for months now - that Yasmin b/c pill I've been taking for over a year is the culprit!!

My side effects since taking Yasmin have been:

severe anxiety attacks
frayed nerves
mood swings / easily irritated
*extreme* upper abdominal bloating
weight gain
baaaad diarrhea
gas
nausea
loss of appetite (but bad cravings for junk at odd times)
vaginal dryness
decreased libido

I'm going off the pill as of TODAY.

HI everyone especially Tiffany,
You sound just like me. I was on it for 3 yrs. and the last 6 months were the worst. I didn't know that I was sooo sick b/c of the pill until I stopped it of course. Tiffany, your symptoms are what I went through the last 6 months I was on it. I went to so many Dr's until I found this post.

I too went to the e.r b/c I almost passed out while shopping. I was nauseaus, had diarrhea, severe anxiety, I would have to pull my car over and sit for a while. The last week I was on it, I had 6 panic attacks in one day. Horrible depressive thoughts, and I'm soo not that type, It was so absurd, by this time I was so used to them I could try to control them a bit.

I thought I had food poisoning at least 8 times in one month, b/c I woke up vomiting and the other for no reason. (now I know it was the b.c) but at that time I didn't.

I really feel great now. I've been off for 4 months had 3 normal periods, (or what I should call yamin periods) and now I am almost 2 weeks late. I can only imagine it's on it's way. If you see from some of my previous posts, I have all of the signs, but who knows.

There are still times where I will have a slight leg pain, or slight slight numbing, but I know why it's happening and it is totally livable and I"m just happy to be here. By now I'm sure the Dr's would have had me all dopped up on some form of drug.

Thank goodness for this post. Just remember we were putting a drug in our bodies for so many years. Me only Yasmin for 3 yrs but I've been on some form of b.c since I was a teen.

So keep your head up and when you feel like shi* read these posts. I read very less frequently now, (however due to my lateness I've been checking every day) but when I first stopped taking it I checked and posted every day. It's really great encouragement no matter what stage of recovery we are in!
Oh yeah one more thing, my fatique got so bad I would fall asleep at 7 p.m and sleep until 8 am and still have a hard time getting up however, it was a very restless hot sweating sleep.

Thanks to everyone,
Hill

I am not month 5 without Yasmine, and my life seems to be slowly getting back to normal. Although I now have severe anxiety problems , which I am taking pills for.I am so sad to read all these posts and sometimes cry because I cant believe we have to go through this.Everything that has happened to me is all here. Its unbelievable. A month after starting Yamine, my life went downhill, severe anxiety took control of my life, I honestly thought I was dying. Although all test proved me wrong, I still felt wrong.
Ladies, hold on it will get better, I am proof, I am finally starting to feel normal again.

hi all, it sounds like i may have come to the right place,hopefully someone can help me. i started taking yasmin in jan 05 after stopping breastfeeding my then 1 year old. All seemed fine but 1 year ago i started to get severe anxiety attacks and panic attacks paraniod episodes as well as numbing in my face,twitching in my left eye,palpitations,stomach cramps,constipation or worse the other extreme! and raging headaches that feel like someone is crushing my head.My doctor told me i was suffering from anxiety disorder and put me in touch with a counceller and gave me a prescription for diazepam, i came off the diazepam and have been trying natural congnitive therapy for my anxiety (which has given me a foem of agoraphobia, not great with 2 kids that want to go out all the time!) i have been looking into the hormone link as i seem to feel worse about 9 days before my period then i came across this site, i am seriously considering stopping taking this pill ,is not needed anyway as sex is the last thing on my mind these days. does this sound familiar to any-one? did your anxiety improve when you stopped taking the yasmin, i am scared that it will make it worse if i stop but i know that i have to take that risk to find out if it is the yasmin that is making me ill,help i feel like a total crank most of the time,i want to go back to being normal!

I have been taking Yasmin for about 2 years. I had past experiences with anxiety and mild depression and my doctor told me that Yasmin would actually make my moods "better". I took it with no noticeable side effects at all for the first few months. Then I noticed PMS symptoms appearing 2 weeks before my period and each month they were progressively worse. I had cramps, mood swings, bouts of crying, depression, lack of energy, insomnia. Before taking Yasmin I really never had any PMS except for slight discomfort the first day of my period. Now, after 2 years, the symptoms have gotten to the point where I feel psychotic, hopeless, crazy and depressed for a week or sometimes 2 weeks out of the month. I would literally spend the better part of 2 days crying hysterically and I had no idea why. It has effected my relationship with my boyfriend and my children (I get very angry with them and have NO patience at all during the "PMS"). It has effected my job; I've taken many days off because i was so immobilized with severe anxiety and depression that I could not even leave my house for days at a time. I've also broken down into tears IN FRONT OF MY BOSS, just dealing with the normal stress of my job. I have felt very much NOT myself since being on Yasmin. I have always been very active physically, I love being outdoors and enjoying the sunshine. The last few months I have had to struggle to have enough energy to exercise, I hardly ever want to go outside, or anywhere. Some other less serious symtoms that I have experienced are night sweats, contact lens intolerance, insomnia, lack of concentration, forgetfulness and nausea. I'm sure that not everyone who takes this drug will experience what I have experienced, but I think it's important for women to know that this does happen. I was at the end of my last pack this past week and I will not continue to take Yasmin or any other hormone bc pill.

hi there!!

i have been on yasmin for about a year now.
i took my last pill on the 17th april 2006 and am now on my periods.
i have decided to stop taking it because i have had the following symptoms;-
- nausea
- no sex drive
- mood swings
- numbness and tingling in the body
- severe anxiety
- depressive thoughts
- lack of interest in everything
- pain in the upper back leading to the back of neck and head
- ears and nose get really cold
- feeling like im going mad
- scared of something but dont know what
- severe migraines
- PANICK ATTACKS
- alternating diarhea and constipation
- stomach pains

i was ok on it at first had abit of NAUSEA but i thought it was worth putting up with it if it got rid of my acne (as i have polysistic ovaries) and it did.

the last couple of months have been hell i have suffered from severe panick attacks and migraines everyday i have been so so scared.

i have had bad upper back pain which goes to the back of my head and neck and effects my eyes, they hurt sooooo bad, DOES ANYONE ELSE SUFFER FROM THIS SYMPTOM PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

i have stopped taking yasmin its my 6th day of it and i feel better but not properly

IS IT YASMIN CAUSING THESE PROBLEMS?

IF SO, HOW LONG BEFORE I FEEL NORMAL AGAIN?

PLEASE HELP ANYBODY I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SCARED IM GOIN CRAZY!!!

THANKS

SOPHIE

Hi Ladies,
I've posted off and on for the past year about my Yasmin Hell. About a year ago, I stopped taking Yasmin because of severe anxiety, insomnia, night sweats, and hair loss (I'm only 26). My doctor told me it was not the Yasmin and it was just "stress" but when I stopped taking it, I suddenly started feeling better. I just want everyone out there to know, that the symptoms do go away eventually. It's been almost a year now and I am back to my normal self. I will never touch the stuff again. So if anyone is wondering when their bodies will get back to normal after getting off Yasmin, hang in there!

Hi all!

After a year and a half of hell post-Yasmin my doctor finallly admitted that it was more than likely the cause of my problems (hair loss, severe anxiety, weight gain, heart palipatations, acne, etc.). I have been trying to tell her that for all this time and she kept saying that there was no way possible that the yasmin had caused reactions like I described.

She had put me on Zoloft 8 months ago because she thought I was just depressed and now she wants me to ween myself off of it. She feels that it's not effect because my problem is hormonal. Talk about a bunch of b.s.

I am finding a new doctor asap when I return to New Orleans!!

Hello fellow Yasmin Survivors,

I have been reading your posts this afternoon and felt like I was reading my diary of a year ago, when I stopped taking Yasmin. I had been taking Yasmin for about a year with no noticeable side effects when suddenly I became overwhleming depressed, anxious, dizzy, lost about 6 kg in a week....I basically became the shell of the person I had been my entire life (a happy, outgoing, positive woman). My poor family were extremely worried about me, and no one knew what was wrong....then one day in a moment of sheer desperation (and I believe thanks to God above) I found this website. I'll never forget crying into the computer screen as I read other women's avid descriptions of my life. I never took another Yasmin pill.

Well this last year 'post yasmin' has been a challenging one to say the least. I have suffered anxiety (disturbing irrational thoughts) around mid cycle and before my period...the first 6 months were the hardest....but trust me, it DOES get better. I am still not 100% anxiety free, but I am very close to it, and there were times a few months ago I found it hard to trust I could ever be the old me again. I have been taking 'Agnus Castus' for the past 4 months, and have been feeling mentally alot better for it...but then again each month gets better so it's hard to tell whether it's the natural effect of time.

Everything you are all typing about I have lived through...I remember reading this website countless times everyday just to reassure myself that I wasnt crazy and I was going to get better. The great news is I am better now...life is sweet again.

Good luck to all of you, and God Bless x

I have been on Yasmin for over a year and thought it was wonderful considering I have had a long battle of finding the right bc. Two weeks ago I woke up in a Panic Attack and couldn't explain it. Now I am dealing with severe depression and severe anxiety. I have been having a low grade fever and hot flashes everynight and everyday. It has been cold at night, but I have the fan on high b/c I get so hot during the night time. I thought I was going crazy and was going to have my Dr. run some tests on me. I came across this site and realized I am not the only one feeling this way. It's not me, it's the Yasmin that is making me feel this way. Thanks so much. I am going to stop taking it the pill today and notify my doctor.

Until I read this board, I thought I was totally alone. Six months into using Yasmin, I find myself with bouts of severe anxiety, shakes, etc... I went to my family doctor and gynecologist 3 days ago (they are located in the same building, so I figured I would make 1 trip). The gyn told me to finish this cycle then consider MIRENA, an IUS (not IUD). My family doctor referred me to a psychiatrist and gave me a prescription for an anti-anxiety medication! When I told her that I was using Yasmin, she concurred that I should consider not using Yasmin. She could not offer an opinion on Mirena as she is not a gyn. She is sending me to a cardiologist for a 24 hour monitor of my BP. I think I will wait to see a psychiatrist until a month or 2 after stopping Yasmin. If the problems still exist, I will go.
In addition to anxiety, I have been experiencing chest pain, shakes, raging emotions, severe weight gain, shortness of breath, etc....
thank you for listening. I'll check again soon.

After two weeks off finishing Yasmin, I had all symtons of a heart attack, very fightening. Had ECG, stress tests, blood tests and all normal. Had several severe anxiety attacks since and on going heart pain, pain in left arm, generally feeling awful. I am so glad I found this site, I live in France. I don't know anyone else here to talk to about this, its now six weeks for me not taking this terrible Pill. I really hope my health returns to normal soon.

To Julie,

My advice to you is simple....GET OFF YASMIN NOW. Please dont waste any more time and bother seeing out the three months. Take it from me who was on Yasmin for a year before I started suffering heart palpitations, severe anxiety and panic, severe depression (never having suffered any of this before)...I wanted my world to end when I'd always been a positive person who loved my life. The only change was YASMIN.

I stopped Yasmin in Feb this year after making the connection to my 'loss of spirit' and this evil pill. It took me 8 months to feel completely back to myself, with the help of a herbal rememdy called 'Agnus Castus' to rebalance my hormones.

Consider yourself lucky to have experienced these symptoms fast enough to stop it immediately and not have to endure such a long time before you are feeling your old self.

I finally feel like me again now. My family and friends notice the old 'mel' again as well. Every month I'd feel a little better, but it has taken this entire time for the anxiety (panic, horrible thoughts etc) to stop.

Good luck and god bless everyone going through the hell of Yasmin. Believe me, I know what you are all going through/ This site was my life line for a few months when no one else really understood how psychotic this pill had made me, and how long it took for it to get out of my system.

xxxooo

Gyne appointment.

Hello ladies, I went to see my gyne today and as I expected she denied my symptoms were anything to do with yasmin (of for 16 weeks, heart palpitations server anxiety etc) after arguing with her she agreed to test my progesterone, estradiol, testosterone and dhea levels, but on the blood test form she put query adrenial cause, what does that mean.
She also denied yasmin was the cause of my problems but does not want me to go on any more pills because of the hormones they contain, she also said i can not have the mirena coil because of the hormones.
She told me she has no idea why I feel the way I do and I should see a neurosurgeon, the thing is I see one last week, I went private after having severe anxiety and convincing myselve I have a tumor I was told that I show no signs of any tumours but to put my mind at rest I will have a scan in a couple of months.
I knew I would have no answers today so I brought myselve some angus castus, can someone explain this to me and will I get a little better if I take it?

I can handle all these side effects but the anxiety drives me mad.

pls reply.
Joanne.

Hello All,

Some recent posts have asked about experiences/symptoms post (i.e. after getting off) Yasmin. Well, it has now been 7 and a half months for me, and it has taken this entire time for me to feel 'mentally' well again. Each month DOES get better, but it is a very slow process and will get worse around ovulation and before your period. You will have good days and bad days, and often feel like you're taking three steps forward and 2 steps back. Thankfully my good days are becoming more and more often than my bad days. In these last few months I have experienced horrible, terrifying irrational, obsessive thoughts, anxiety and panic attacks. I stress, this has gotten better.....but it has been a very long journey back to sanity.

I had been happily on Yasmin for over a year, until almost overnight I suffered from severe anxiety, panic attacks, depression, suicidal thoughts and accelerated heart rate. I have no predisposition to these symptoms, having NEVER experienced any of them in my life (very happy, outgoing, positive person before Yasmin). After fearing I had a late onset of mental illness, I began seeing a therapist and lived in complete fear. Then I was blessed by above to find this website and realise Yasmin had been the poison ruining my life. I stopped Yasmin at the end of January this year. As I say, it has been a long hard road back to sanity, and I have my family and friends to thank for their never ending support....especially when my irrationality made no sense to them (or me!).

I recommend women getting off Yasmin to see a doctor that specilaises in womens health to do a full blood test to look at your hormone, potassium and magnesium levels. Yasmin stuffs these all up. Natural hormone therapy can assist in re-balancing these issues. I am only doing that now, and wish I'd done it earlier....the benefit of now being able to 'think straight'.

I now have so many reasons to smile again. Prayers for all those getting off Yasmin. It is NOT worth the destruction. Find another form of contraception.

Hello All,

As posted by voicei, I get extremely frustrated to read the postings by women whom it seems fail to read close to 2000 postings on this site that describe in detail the life changing effects of Yasmin.

Yasmin is not a pill whose symptoms you can simply get used to. To suggest so demonstrates complete ignorance and naivety.

I have been off this pill for 6 months, and only NOW feel like I am becoming the 'old me'. I only started experiencing negative side effects a year after I started taking Yasmin. These effects included severe depression, severe anxiety/panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, rapid heart rate, and vertigo. Prior to Yasmin I have NEVER experienced any of this.

Yasmin has taken a year from my life, where I found nothing to smile about or laugh. I only now see the bright side to life again....and my whole life I have been an extremely active and positive person.

It is negligence on behalf of fellow women to read these experiences and then suggest somehow that we could 'ride through' these symptoms. I doubt I'd be here right now if I tried such a ridiculous suggestion.

Getting off Yasmin saved my life and my sanity. How many of these stories to woment need to read in order to be convinced?

Love to all those getting off Yasmin. DO NOT BE CONVINCED OTHERWISE.

I am extremely relieved that I found this website...I could finally link my recent issues with anxiety to my two months on Yasmin. I was on it for about six weeks, when I began to get fairly severe anxiety attacks, racing heartbeat, a general sense of confusion, unable to make sense of the world around me...instantaneously! I have never had issues with anxiety in this way--other than the normal anxious feelings when an important event is coming up, etc. I'm a healthy, active 25 year old that, as of yesterday reading the stories of anxiety/depression and Yasmin, am throwing away the rest of my supply. My boyfriend saw me balling over the computer screen, and promptly went and tossed my remaining pill packets. NO way can this be a coincidence....that I all of a sudden begin not being able to cope with mild stresses, to the point that I am fearful of being "crazy"--I am the most even-keeled woman!!

I am so grateful to have found this website. Thanks a bunch to my therapist. I have been suffering severe anxiety/depression, irritability, fatigue, heart accelerations, severe sweating at night, shakes in the morning, and nausea. Just to name a few side effects. Why did I have to come across this pill? It has made the last 2 years of my life miserable. I thought I was crazy but after reading about other people and their problems I am realizing that I am not. Thank you to all those women out there for posting your side effects. For those of you who are thinking of trying this pill, don't. I now realize that I have months of detoxing to get this out of my system.

I've tried other pills before and never had problems like I did with Yasmin. The first time I tried it I didn't experience side effects right away, but eventually I became extremely depressed, suffering waves of anxiety that made it impossible for me to do my job on some days and very nearly ruined some of my closest relationships. It took me a while to figure out that the feelings of despair and hopelessness were coming from the Yasmin. Even though these forums are full of women reporting these same symptoms, the manufacturer doesn't list them in the (already lengthy) side effects. Like other women have reported, I would wake up in the morning and just cry for no reason--it felt like my life was falling apart. When I quit Yasmin, I got better right away. Several months later I thought I would just try one of the remaining Yasmin pill packs I still had. It was such a bad idea! Within days I was struggling with very severe anxiety/depression and had to ride out the whole month. I'll never make that mistake again. This drug should be taken off the market if you ask me. The danger far outweighs the benefits.

I'm not sure why the side effects surfaced when they did or why some women experience this and others don't. Since I heard that the reason some birth control pills cause depression is because of vitamin depletion, I tried taking vitamin suppliments (especially B6) but the symptoms were so severe I'm not sure if it helped.

To desperate boyfriend(s) and others out there that might be struggling to understand the emotional side effects of Yasmin, I can only say that in my case the impact of the anxiety/depression/etc. on my relationship with my boyfriend was very significant. I became incredibly insecure, paranoid, oversensitive and emotionally needy and we had a hard time discussing my emotional state because I would only break down and cry whenever we talked. It was a complete nightmare. The only way we got through it was by recognizing that it was the drug, not reality, that was causing the problem. It was incredibly difficult to do, and I am very grateful that all that is behind me now.

Good luck to those of you who are still dealing with these symptoms and thanks to all the other posters here that have validated my experience...

On the issue of weight gain...
I have been off Yasmin for two months now (I stopped due to severe anxiety, heart palpatations, and rashes on my body) and I have been gaining weight rapidly since stopping the pill. The other side effects are slowly going away but I feel bloated almost all the time and have gained about 7 pounds. My diet and exercise have been constant so I am guessing it's water retention. Also, I have had awful gas and digestion issues, along with oily skin and no period at all. I'm trying to give it time to work itself out before trying another pill. I'll keep you posted as time progresses. Hang in there everyone and thanks for the posts. It is nice to know women are being proactive about their health and seeking help from others.