Yaz and postings

I have been on YAZ for about three weeks. This is my first BCP I've been on. Within a few days of taking it, I got headaches everyday, my moods were up and down, and I got cramps in my lower abdomen. It felt like I was getting my period because of the cramping. This may be a little TMI, but I was horny all the time! Now the thought of having sex bores me. I don't want to have sex, I feel like crap every day, and I'm over all having a bad time on this pill. I'm scared to keep going with it, because I don't want something bad to happen, but I know that with any type of pill, until your body gets used to it, your going to have some weird side effects. Can someone please give me some advice what to do? Should I keep taking it or just stop?

I spent yesterday in the emergency room with my 20 y/o daughter. She was experiencing severe cramping and twitching of her right side, swelling of the joints with shooting pains from her shoulders. The symptoms were those of a person with Parkinson's and severe charlie horses throughout their body. After many tests, I was floored when the doctor told me that he believed that it was YAZ that was causing this. She is also anemic, which she has never been. She has been on this medication for a little over one year. I came to this site to convince myself that the doctor was wrong..... isn't this supposed to be the wonder drug? After reading just a handful of the postings, I have found more symptoms that I have dismissed as 'stress from college'. She was placed on this medication for poly cysts caused by accutane! - Now this!!! What is going on with the FDA that they are allowing so many of these horrible side effects!

I was thinking about taking YAZ just for the PMS symptoms I am having. I am bipolar and on lamictal but I am not at a high enough dose to where it will help me with PMS symptoms which are as worse as what is described below. I love my lamictal so I will go up to a higher dose before I try YAZ. I have and IUD so it is not for bc. Just for you to try if you are taking this for PMDD. My gyn prescribed 25mg of zoloft one week before your period starts and during your period. This worked great. I was calm, I didn't overeat, I felt normal. The downside is when you stop taking it you experience withdrawal which for felt just like PMS.
So thanks for the postings they helped me decide to try other things first.

I am 42 and started YAZ three weeks ago. Since starting the pill I have been seriously depressed! I have no energy, no desire to see friends or go out, I have no energy to do any of the things I normally love to do. I have no reason to feel so down! Life is good. I wondered if YAZ could be the culprit and then I saw these postings (thank you for sharing!). I have no doubt YAZ is making me depressed. Other symptoms I have are daily headaches, mood swings (crying, no patience, anger),lack of concentration, forgetfulness and no sex drive. I plan to finish this pack and stop. I started YAZ to help control PMS which seems to be getting worse as I get older. I'd much rather have PMS for 6 days than feel this horrible the entire month.

Thank God i saw these postings. I'm 44 and I'm on my third month of taking YAZ, i thought i was loosing my mind. I have been unmotivated, no energy, depressed, do not feel like doing any of my normal routines, I have not worked out for 3 weeks because i'm so exhausted. I feel like a different person, not my self. I am getting off of this pill today. Can anyone tell me what a good alternative pill would be?

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".