Yaz and anxiety

Ive been taking yaz for almost a year. I stopped taking the pill two days ago. I am currently on a heart monitor due to anxiety/panic attacks. I felt anxiety feelings soon after taking Yaz but it was not bad enough to stop. Now it is BAD! I am (was) very healthy (mentally and physically) and happy, and have never experienced anxiety until yaz. I also have a painful lump in my lower back. I have had a MRI which showed mild disc bulge. I felt the lump in April 2008, it is now 11/2008 and it is still there. I wake up stiff and in pain. Doc thinks its a muscle issue. I"m starting to think it is the Yaz. I also have had no sex drive, very dry and painful sex. Yeast infections and bacteria infection which I have never had. I cannot sleep. I am struggeling every day to be normal. I feel totaly out of control. I do not recommend Yaz. I cannot wait to be me again!

Hi ladies! I started Yaz in June 08 after taking Ortho-Tricylcen-Lo for 6 years (It wasn't treating my cramps or mood swings anymore). The first month was bad. I had mood swings, breast tenderness, lower back pain, anxiety, weight loss, and no sex drive. I didn't attribute this to the pill, I associated it with a very, very emotional and difficult experience that was currently occurring in my life. By the second month, I put 2 and 2 together, and realized it was Yaz. I am a pharmacist, so I am well aware of the types, mechanisms, and incidence of these side effects. I knew that these side effects usually disappear with time after the body adjusts to a new/different form of progestin. By the third month, all of the side effects had subsided, except for the inability to gert aroused, which is very unusual for me! It wasn't so much the lack of interest, but the lack of physical arousal ("getting wet"). I almost got off the pill just because of that, but I decided to tough it out just to see what happens. By the fourth month everything is back to normal and I feel great. I lost a little weight, my breasts don't get swollen and tender during the third week (like a tricyclic pill), a don't have unusual mood swings, and my period is average in length and heaviness. It was a bumpy road, but that is to be expected when you mess with the body's natural balance. It takes time to recalibrate hormones, during which time you will not feel yourself! Weird stuff will happen! I think Yaz is a good drug and patients should stick with it for at least 5 months ( or at the digression of your physician of course), unless you experience a side effect that alerts you to a serious problem (severe leg cramps, difficulty breathing, or suicidal ideation). As for the fact of it being "new and unstudied", that's not completely true. Yasmin is a higher dose of the same drugs as Yaz and it has been around practically forever. This is an excellent forum, but don't be scared off or expect a cure-all from a low dose hormone. Good luck!

Does no one realize that this is normal for MOST BC. The low sex drive is normal! Mood swings.... normal. It can take up to 6 months for the meds to get out of your body once you stop taking them. I would suggest getting on a non hormonal birth control. Does no one read the side effects to Meds before they start taking them?

I am only seventeen and i have been experiencing horrible anxiety. I have only gained a couple of pounds but every time im with my boyfriend i don't want him to touch me because i feel so self conscious about my body, then all of a sudden i'll start crying. Why? i don't know. And i will randomly be so angry that i just have to scream and punch a pillow. This is horrible i feel depressed and im normally never like this. Bad Pill.

I have just recently began taking Yaz and am starting to experience side effects. I am in my third week, and am having a lot of anxiety, heart palpitations, mild headaches and shortness of breath. Sometimes I feel dizzy and I take them at night so that I do not experience the nausea that I know comes along with bc pills. I am on them because of my hormones being out of whack but I think I would almost rather deal with that than all of these symptoms. I think it's time to contact my OB/GYN and get off of these things...

I have posted my symptoms for about a week, I am HAPPY to say that I have only been off of YAZ 12 days and have already experienced some improvements. Im am sleeping again, and eating normally, the emotions have calmed down a little, I am still experiencing the cloudiness in the head, and a lil anxiety, and my stomach is still messed up occasionally. however I am able to get through the day without feeling like I am a completely Crazy person. I was only on it for a month, and I have never felt this way in my life, I heard that it will take about two months to completely leave your system, so everyone experiencing the effects of this EVIL drug, hang in there it will get better with time, you all are in my prayers. God Bless

I have felt over the past month, (the first time i have ever been on the pill) that I was losing my mind. I have had anxiety, depression, mood swings. I have also been clumsy, forgetting everyday things, feeling like I was in a daze, tired, oh its been horrible. I just hope this stuff leaves my system and I get back to normal.

I have PMDD and have been taking Yasmin for about a year with wonderful results. It's like I got my life back. On a whim almost 2 months ago at my yearly exam I asked if my Dr. had any samples of Yasmin because I was nearly out. She didn't and said I could try Yaz which she had samples of. I took them for 1 month and 1 week but I had to stop...I felt so irritable and hateful, I cried at the drop of a hat, I want to eat everything in the house, I'm exhausted and have lost what sex drive I had. The only positive thing about it for me was the 2 1/2 day period with no cramps. But I was miserable with anxiety and mood swings. I have stopped taking it about 4 days ago and am slowly feeling more calm and will go back to Yasmin However...every body is different and what works for one may not work someone else so I'm not saying Yaz is bad...but these affects are happening to some of us out there sp it may not be right for everyone!

I am so glad I found this page! I am 16 and have been taking Yaz for a month and a half.. the first month I felt great. I was loosing weight and getting shorter, lighter periods. About a week or two ago I started feeling pressure throughout all of my head and I just didn't feel like myself, so I suspected a head cold or an ear infection. At the same time I was also experiencing SEVERE panic attacks to the point where I thought I was having a heart attack and might be dying. These would sometimes last until 4:00AM and cause me to loose a whole night's sleep. Finally I had my mom make me an appointment with my primary physician. I had an EKG done, which came back normal, and my doctor put me on the handihaler. The panic attacks, anxiety, and paranoia had all continued. Almost a week has gone by since and I had another severe panic attack just last night... needless to say, after finding this website my mom has already called my OB/GYN and scheduled an appointment to change my BC pill. I took my last Yaz pill day before last and don't plan on ever taking anymore. I never thought that something as simple as a birth control pill could do this to a person.

nausea, headache, anxiety, hairloss, hairloss, oh yea; major hairloss, light headed. I was on yaz for 3 months, all side effects had went away except for the hair loss. I stopped taking the pill mid pack, i was scared of losing my hair. My Dr. said to go back on my pill, that the hair loss would get worse if I went off. My Dr.also told me that the pill was most likely not the cause of my hair loss and that if I stayed on the pill it would eventually correct itself. I went back on the pill after being off for only 2 weeks. This is my first week back on the pill and I think I am losing my mind, and my dinner. I remember this feeling only lasted for a few weeks the first time I took the pill. At this point, I just want to keep my hair, so I am back on the pill and just started using Nixion products. I will keep you posted. The side effect that never went away was yaz made my oily skin dry. On the positive, I lost weight, and my small breasts grew a cup size. Any advice on the hair situation?

I am a 38 Yrs old and I took myself off Yaz 2 nights ago after being on it for 2 weeks. I still need to call the gyno and inform her. My personality completely changed, my moods terrible, snappy and extremely short fused, i think i'm officially banned from the dunkin donuts at the end of the street after yelling at them for screwing up my order-normally i'd let it go and just get it fixed, no patience whatsoever. I'd never been on birth control before, and I'll never go on it again after this experience. I didn't even want to be with myself. I can't believe my boyfriend didn't dump me after Sunday. The side effect i find odd and worrisome the most is, and I still have, pressure in my head and throat and tongue, it's dissipating as of today but started last Thursday (about a 1.5 weeks on the yaz). Has anyone else experience the head pressure?

I was on YAZ for only 7 days before I felt suddenly and completely crazy! On the Yasmin site there are several women complaining about YAZ side effects and asking if anyone is interested in starting a lawsuit. I feel there is enough severity and consistency in the complaints to start one. I don't believe a medication should be on the market that causes so many so much distress. If I could just save one women and her family from what we've gone through I would be willing to put quite a bit effort into it. Please respond to me or one of the women on the Yasmin site if you too think your suffering was enough that no one else should have to go through it. I read the side effects very carefully as I always do but I don't remember any that warned you may lose emotional stability. I had no history of such severe, or unmanageable anxiety, depression... . Please help us take this drug off the market, Imagine how many other women are suffering but either not looking on this site or stopping to share their stories.

I am 20 years old and have been on Yaz for a year now. Before the Yaz I was on OrthoTriCylcen Lo for 3 years and tried a few others that didn't do well for me at other times. My Gyno prescribed me Yaz because I had heavy bleeding and intense pain every time my period comes, and I have been known to be very moody. I have a past medical history of heart problems and GI problems. My Gyno said Yaz could also help the anxiety from those issues. The first month into the Yaz I noticed horrible nausea, I couldn't eat anything, major stomach pain, headaches, very lethargic, back pain, leg pain, and increased anxiety. I went back to my Gyno about a week later because my pain was so bad and my bleeding was heavier and MORE painful. She said to give it a few months so my body can adapt and everything will be better. She then said that my other side effects (like nausea and back pain and anxiety) were unrelated and I needed to see my primary care physician. My mom told me to stop using the Yaz, but I decided I wanted to keep trying it. So no I see my primary physician once a month because I am so "sick." I am on like 10,000 meds to try and help everything. Even he doesn't think it could be the Yaz. There are days where my pain levels are so high that I cannot sleep or get out of bed. I have had blood work, MRIs, Sonograms, Colonoscopys, Ultrasounds, etc.. I am so tired of this. At this point I feel like the doctors think i'm a hypochondriac. I have an apt to see my gyno again (for the 5th time), i'm printing out this page and showing her i'm not crazy!

I have only been on this pill for a week and the side effects have begun to drive me crazy and I mean that literally!! On my way to work this morning I had a panic attack, I've never had anything like that before. I started to cry while eating breakfast and then in return I just became angry. My poor boyfriend has had to deal with me as well.... I'll be so nice to him and then 20 minutes later I'm completely angry about life and him and everything he does! He could do the littlest thing and I'm so upset. My doctor switched me to this from orthotricylin because I have really bad ovarian cysts and she was hoping this would help...obviously not! I went to the health center at work and talked to them about it, and said that there was no way this could be related to Yaz...because Yaz is supposed to be the latest and greatest thing and make it so you have no mood swings...that is completely wrong. I also never had problems with nausea, now every morning it takes me 3 hours to not feel nauseous and to be able to even eat just a piece of toast.
I have been trying to get ahold of my doctor to see if I can stop taking the pill now because I do not think I can go through 2 more weeks of this or I believe I will be single and crazy!
Please if you have stopped taking this pill, how long did it take you to be a normal woman again?

I have been taking Yaz for about 6 months. I am astounded at this website. I never even thought that the symptoms I have been feeling could be attributed to my BC. I am 38 and overweight. BC is a necessity for me and I changed to YAZ for headaches. At first, the headaches were better, but now I am having them quite frequently. I am also having mood swings and anxiety about things that normally wouldn't bother me. Added to the fact that I have been diagnosed with acid reflux and take Zantac and Aciphex, I am beginning to wonder. I am going to call my gyno tomorrow and see if I can make a change over the phone. I doubt it, but maybe. Thanks for all of your posts. K

At first, Yaz was fine. I had been on Yasmin for 3 years, and switched to Yaz. I had no side effects from Yasmin. This is my 4th month on Yaz, and I've had a multitude of side effects. The first month, no period at all, second month, lighter period, but it started late and I was BLOATED and CONSTIPATED for the whole period. Third month, my vision is getting worse, I have ridiculous headaches, insomnia and anxiety. I started my 4th month of pills (hoping that my body just needed a few months to adapt to the new BC) and this has been by far the worst month ever!!! I've been on my period for 2 weeks now, even though I've finished a whole week of hormone pills, and I'm BLOATED LIKE CRAZY. It will not go down! And my mood swings are out of control. Any little thing will make me loose my temper, or I'll start crying and ask my husband a million times if I'm fat. My headaches are worse, insomnia is worse and now I'm sensitive to light. And I'm carrying around an extra 5 pounds on my butt that I didn't want. Plus, it's a load of crap that Yaz helps with cramps. Now it just feels like one person is kicking me in the stomach instead of two (which really is no different). This is just my experience with it, and I'm sure some people do great, but would recommend doing research on other pills before committing to Yaz.

I have been off YAZ now for almost a month.
I still have anxiety, but nowhere near as bad.
Did you know YAZ can cause upper repertory infections? I had 2 at one time. I thought it was just the cold season. And if Getting a PAP once a year isn't bad enough, YAZ can cause your test fail. in other words you have to have another. YUP! All from the YAZ most of this is on their site and on the listed warnings and side effects. For me YAZ meant Anxiety I stopped taking it one week into my 6th month. I feel a bit better everyday.
I just hate to think that I got put on Zoloft and Xanax because of my BCP
and now I have to battle getting off the pills to feel like me again. I have done a lot of research and talked to a lot of people. Its not just YAZ its many other birth controls. well... there are always condoms.

This is by far the worst pill I have ever taken. Before Yaz I was on Nordette, Ortho Tri cyclen and Alesse. I saw the commercials and got sucked into trying this pill. All I can say is proceed with caution. I ended up taking this pill for the unhappiness 8 months of my entire life. I had problems with other pills causing weight gain (Nordette, Ortho Tri cyclen) or acne (Alesse). However, those symptoms are mild compared to what Yaz inflicted on me.

I have always been described as happy go lucky and Yaz gave me extreme moodiness, panic attacks about my future and life, and major depression. I did have the best skin of my life and lost about 5 lbs but I was an emotional MESS! I would cry at the drop of a hat and find fault in everyone and everything. This symptom didn't start right away but each month I was on Yaz got worse. My friends coined my "alter ego" "she devil." I almost felt possessed at times on this pill. I finally realized it was the pill and not life causing these problems when 3 of my girlfriends had the same problems and got off and the problems went away.

Prior to having this experience I thought people tried to blame too much on the pill but my experience showed me just how much these can mess with your body. I switched back to Alesse 5 days ago and it's like I am a different person--even my skeptical boyfriend noticed the change. As for the acne, I am going to go to a dermatologist to address that. I will be happy to have a few zits as opposed to being a crazy woman.

Proceed with caution on this pill and watch your moods carefully. Just because you've been on it for a few months doesn't mean you're safe. The majority of my emotional disorder started about 5 months in. I do have some girlfriends that like this but most have found it to bring out "she devil".

Hello again.
I thought I would give an update.
I was on my 7th day of a new pack of YAZ I just stopped taking it. Called my Doctor gave him a heads up. He did say it could be the cause of or agrivating my anxiety. It's getting better slowly, its been a week since I have been off of them. I have been talking to alot of friends, I have learned that this isnt uncommon. Not just for Yaz but many other birthcontrols. Rage, panic attacks ect. All caused from their birthcontrols. If anyone else is having horribly anxiety, call your doc and switch off the yaz and get something that works better for you. Hell being pregnant is better than this!

I cannot thank you people enough for writing about yaz. At first I was on yasmine. I was completely fine, I probably gained 5 pounds but that was it. I was on that pill for almost 2 years. I switched to Yaz because I wanted shorter periods. I immediately gained almost 15 pounds. I became extremely depressed for no reason. I started having sensitivity to light and pain behind and in my eyes. I was on it for about 3 months, now I have stopped taking birth control altogether. It has only been a week or so but I'm starting to think this birth control really messed me up. I have had panic attacks before, but I know what triggers them and probably had them once a year. It was something I could deal with. Now I have been off the pill for a week and have already had 3 severe and a couple less severe panic attacks. I literally cannot leave my house without triggering some sort of anxiety or fear. For right now, I can't live the life I want to. I am 19 years old, I've been trying to get a job and I go to school. The fear and panic in me is so severe, I do not know if I can even drive right now. On Monday, I'm going to my doctor to tell her what this did to me. Good luck to all of you out there.

My 17 year old daughter started taking Yaz, and before she finished the first pack she was going crazy. Severe anxiety, overwhelming feelings, depression, aggression, and finally crying jags, the last of which lasted 2 hours with anxiety, when we finally put 2 and 2 together! What a nightmare week, as things escalated. She also was not thinking rationally, I think because of the anxiety. Of course NONE of this is mentioned on any Yaz list of side effects or any WebMD type pages on the internet!! Damn Big Pharma. They can say anything in the TV adds, the FDA does not regulate them. Luckily, it wore off in 24 hours.

Have been on YAZ for 3 months. Here are my symptoms:
1. Tired all the time.
2. Lost 5 pounds.
3. Lost sex drive.
4. Serious Anger/Rage issues.
5. Haven't actually bled since I started taking them.
6. Anxiety and chest pains.

Was taking Yasmin before I asked to try YAZ. Switching back after this cycle.

I'm 27, 125 pounds... I started taking Yaz one month ago. I had to beg my doctor to give it to me. My periods were so heavy and I was carrying 10 pounds of water weight at all times. My fingers and face was swollen with water. My periods would last sometimes the entire month and were super heavy. I tried several different pills and nothing stopped it. Immediately when starting Yaz I stopped bleeding. I peed for like 4 days straight and lost all the water weight. I also get migraines with my period, and Yaz hasn't seemed to help them at all. The first 3 weeks I had horrid migraine.

The most noticeable change though is that I am extremely emotional. I got angry for the first time in maybe 2 years? I never feel anger. I'm a Buddhist very calm loving and patient... Since taking Yaz I feel like a crazy person. I have almost destroyed my wonderful amazing relationship by being overly emotional. Ive been anxious (never had anxiety before) and depressed and super emotional and inpatient about everything.

I still haven't decided what to do. It's only been one month and physically I feel better as far as not bleeding for months at a time and not holding water. I also feel like I have a normal amount of energy and the headaches that initially were there have subsided. I am horrified if I keep taking this pill though that i will lose my emotional calm and optimism. It's definitely not worth it especially what its been doing to my relationship and my spiritual practice.

Is there anyone that can offer any light to my situation? I love the way I feel physically, but emotionally I cannot do this much longer. Will it stop? Any thoughts would be great, thank you.