Side effects of YAZ birth control pills

I was on Yazmin for 4 years. I thought it was awesome while I took it but experienced side effects from the very beginning. I never realized all of the side effects I was experiencing could be attributed to my previous birth control pills. I would have crazy leg craps during the night. The kind that rip you out of bed, but I attributed them to my job as a teacher standing all day. I hardly ever get them now and I am off of the pill. I also had more tension headaches and migraines. I would get headaches behind the eyes. I was also always thirsty. I would have to bring a bottle of water with me everywhere I went. Another symptom I attribute to Yazmin was I would get what I call heart hiccups. I have always had them since I was a little kid and they were rare depending on stress and caffeine. When I started taking Yazmin the frequnecy increased and the intensity. So much so I went to the doctor because I thought something was wrong with my heart. He did some tests and found nothing wrong. I never thought it was my BC until I stopped taking it and they went away. I don't think I will ever take BC again. It's not natural. I did lose weight and that was an awesome side effect!

I understand that not all pills work for everyone. For me, Yasmin worked quite well till the generic Ocella came out. Once the generic came out, Yasmin was going to cost me $50. I couldn't justify spending that amount per month on bc, so I switched to Ocella. After 3-4 months, I could tell that Ocella may be a generic but it was definitely not the same pills. My body did not like Ocella. My Dr mentioned that I should use Yaz instead. Yaz sounded like a good option and I took Yaz for about 7 months. During this time, I noticed that my sex drive had greatly diminished and as well as my lubrication from sexual desire. I had a lower sex drive while on Yasmin, but not near as low as on Yaz. I have never had issues with lubrication till Yaz. Additionally, I started noticing that it looked like I was getting a mustache. I mentioned this to my husband and he said it looked like the skin above my upper lip was darker not the hair. After several tests and actually shaving a small portion above my upper lip to just be sure, it was determined that the skin was darker above my upper lip and not my hair. I believe this is melasma and I have since read about others with this side effect from Yaz. You can develop darker skin spots anywhere on your face, but I got to be one of the lucky who look like they have a permanent mustache. After I noticed that Yaz had immensely diminished my sex drive and lubrication from sexual desire and turned the skin above my upper lip dark, I quite Yaz. My desire has definitely returned, but my melasma is still present even after 5+ months. I have my fingers crossed that this will go away soon. Good luck to all of you on the quest to find the best bc pills for you. I am staying away from bc pills for awhile but it would be nice if there was a better option available when I decide to get back on bc.

I just started taking Yaz yesterday (Tues. Oct 06, 2009), and I have been feeling "funny" since. I stumbled across this forum while I was googling side effects of Yaz. So, I've never taken birth control before, and I'm 22. I also have never had very painful periods, just the normal cramps. For about 3 periods before I decided something was wrong, I was having pains that brought me to the floor, pains that were worse than contractions/labor (yes I have a child!). So, my doctor thought I had endometriosis, we did an ultrasound and I do not have that. The reason he put me on Yaz was to help with these ridiculous period pains that I've been having for 3 months, which seems to be the opposite of every other post I've read. A lot of women have posted that Yaz has made their cramps worse! Like I said, I started taking Yaz yesterday, which is the day I started my period, and those horrible pains are gone! I was so excited!

BUT- I have felt nauseous, tired, and dizzy since I started Yaz. I know it's only been two days, so I should probably wait and let my body get used to it. I was just nervous because I also take Quick Trim diet pills and I workout everyday. I started Quick Trim a couple days before Yaz, and when I was just taking the Quick Trim, I felt fine. I'm not sure if it's the Yaz making me feel "awkward" or if it's the Yaz & QuickTrim mix. I'm having similar symptoms to other women who are just on Yaz, so I'm summing it up to my body not being used to the birth control pills yet. I was just surprised that I was already having these symptoms and I've only been taking Yaz for 2 days! I also take Yaz first thing in the morning, then I take my diet pills, then work out, then come back and eat egg whites for breakfast. I don't know if the time of day that I take Yaz will have any effect.

Anywho, I'm going to keep taking Yaz and keep updating what's going on while I'm on it. I've also noticed a lot of women posting that their sex drives have gone down to almost nothing. The past two days for me have been the OPPOSITE! ;-)

I was originally googling to find something about Yaz mixed with Quick Trim or any diet pills, but couldn't find anything. If anyone else has any info on this, please let me know! My dizziness/lightheadedness is a little out of hand! I'm seeing spots & slurring words, and my heart rate goes up when I lay down! I'm tired but when I laid down to take a nap today, my heart was beating like crazy!

Any info would be great! Thanks!
- Angel

I began taking Yaz when it first came out a few years ago. I never had any problems with it, in fact I loved it. I was put on this medication because I had ovarian cysts and my doctor said it would fix that. I did have painful periods at the time but my doctor gave me medication for it and the problem was solved. THEN my husband and I were trying to have a baby - very unsuccessfully even with fertility drugs but I do not think it is related to teh birth control at all. Our circumstances have changed and I have now gone back on Yaz. I am miserable! I burst into tears for no reason I yell at my husband and anyone around me and my entire body is sore. I am suffering from symptoms similar to those of the first trimester of pregnancy but am not pregnant - which is really a mean trick to someone who has been trying for years. I called my doctor but they won't switch the pill until I come back in because they think I can't read a pregnancy test. I'm not sure if the fertility medications changed my body's chemistry or what is going on but I just want something else and fast!

i've been taking Yaz for the past 2.5 years. I was on Alesse, then Ortho TriCyclen, and my gyn switched me to yaz when I started having major crying/freaking out spells the week before my inactive pills on the Ortho. On Yaz, i've had very light 1-3 day periods (eventually i didn't even need to use tampons anymore!). this was a VERY nice change from the 7-8 day HEAVY (like tampon AND big pad at the same time) periods I had before any birth control. my boobs did get a little bigger, my skin is AWESOME now (it was very prone to breaking out before the yaz, even on the ortho), and i haven't experienced any weight gain from the pills. the only weird part is that my gyn had me taking it constantly for the 4 months before my wedding and honeymoon (so i wouldn't have my period for either...just skipped the 4 inactive pills and started a new pack right away). wedding was in June, took the inactive pills in July, had a SUPER light period for a day or so, and have been taking the pills normally since...and no period since July. i've taken several pregnancy tests (all negative!) and my gyn even did a blood test when i went the other day (also negative, and everything else was normal). the skipped periods are solely due to the yaz! i worry a little not having that "reminder" every month, but really that's the worst i've had to deal with. I cramp a little around the end of the pack (very minor compared to the debilitating cramps i experienced before birth control!). i just wanted to post my experience because it has been overall pretty darn pleasant. my doctor said he'd switch me to something else because of all the negative press yaz has been getting, but he said if i wanted to stay on it, he had no problem with that. blood clots, stroke, etc are risks associated with ALL birth control pills. i don't want to switch to anything else and risk crazy side effects, so i'm sticking with my Yaz! if i had to switch, i'd get an IUD instead of a different pill.

Hi all,
I have a rather interesting and different experience with Yaz and I'm wondering if any of you can shed some light. I have been on yaz for 9 months. I too have experienced intense senseless mood swings and headaches, but the last three months have been quite scary. For the last three months while I've been on my period I have passed out randomly. In fact two nights ago I blacked out and landed on my face on the concrete. I went to the free clinic yesterday and they were no help. I have no insurance and am really concerned for my health. Does anyone know if blood clots could be a cause of my fainting (which are known to be caused by yaz, blood clots that is) or if this is something totally unrelated? I am just reaching out trying to get all the information I can. Thanks for reading.

Pauli

Hey, I am on my 2nd month of taking yaz and since i've started i've taken 3 pregnancy tests... a home one last month and went to the doctors a few days ago all negative, they also sent me for blood work... but its so wierd..



my boobs have almost doubled in size and are so sore... i have experienced this on other b.c.'s but not to this extent at all! I have completely lost motivation to work out and stay active... i'm not sure if this is just me being naturally lazy.. or if it's an effect of yaz... but its made me so paranoid that i'm pregnant!



i used to be on elise which i never had a problem with, but my doctor gave me like 8 months worth of yaz for free.. so.. but i've been skepticle just cause i've seen all those law suit commercials about yaz and yasmine.. i spoke with 2 other doctors before i started taking it cause i was nervous my doctor was just trying to get rid of them or something.. they all said it was fine that i had nothing to worry about....

I was taking Yaz for two years. In the first year it was fine, in the first 3 months I felt a bit moody, but I figured that was my body adjusting, which is normal. As the year progressed I was impressed that I stopped having PMS all together (which continued all my time on the pill) and my periods which are normally every heavy and painful all but disappeared. I get the impression that if you actually have PMDD as I did it won't affect your mood because I've known many woman who had normal PMS and ended up getting depressed and anxious from yaz. However much I loved these two benefits as the second year progressed while it didn't make me gain wait if I were to go through a week of unhealthy eating I couldn't loose the weight no matter how hard I tried. In my first year I ate well and didn't gain any weight but I gained about 20 lb's in my second. Also in the second year my libido disappeared making it harder to get turned on and reach orgasm. I also noticed that I was tired all the time, no matter what I did to remedy it. In the past month I have stopped taking the pill do to my fear of the stroke and blood clot problems people even in there 20's report and the negative side effects I mentioned. In just this month my libido is great, I am full of energy and while working out did nothing for me on the pill I have lost 5 lb's in one week and look great. Haven't gotten my period yet and I am getting worried, and I experienced a horrible cramping this morning that made me faint. Hopefully it was just some freak thing, also some pms symptoms but they haven't been bad. I felt very uncomfortable after a time with this pill, it just didn't seem right to feel the way I did. The only thing I experienced while Taking ortho tri cyclen lo years ago was weight gain, but everything else felt like myself. I am interested to see what reports emerge in the years to come regarding yaz and I have a feeling they won't be good.

I have had some very serious problems with yaz. I have been very dizzy, nauseated, fatigued, and I black out. The last time I blacked out I busted out 4 of my front teeth. My mom is a dentist thank God, but we still have to pay lab bills and to correctly fix my teeth it has already been well into the thousands and may take up to 2 years to fix them. My hospital bills have also been in the thousands. I have never had any birthcontrol give me this serious of health problems (the list continues on everything that has happened on while I was on this pill). I have recently gone off it and I already feel so much better. I dont get intense headaches anymore or the feeling like I always have to get sick or more importantly black out! I suggest if others are having this severe of symptoms that you get yourself off ASAP!!!! I promise you will feel so much better!

I never knew Yaz had a lot of negative side effects. i never bothered reading any comments from users til now. I have been using Yaz for more than a year now. I was taking Yasmin before due to PCOS. My OB-GYN recommended Diane first, however I wanted a pill that wouldnt give me any weight gain. Yasmin worked wonders for PCOS and cramps, and my heavy bleeding, but I threw fits like a volcano. I stopped the pill; that eventually led to great hormonal imbalance and I was bleeding all the time. I had an operation ( I developed a polyp due to that imbalance) and my OB told me to start using bcp again. I asked for a lower dose because Yasmin was making me a very angry person. My first month with Yaz gave me bleeding, however that was due to adjustment. Yaz has never failed me. In fact, I (think) it worked wonders for me. I havent gained a single pound since I started using it. I did notice however my breasts became bigger. I do experience tenderness, which I have never linked with Yaz til I read other users' comments. One thing I never associated with Yaz was the depression and fatigue. I thought the depression was part of my life; I had so many troubles during the time I am using it. And it started with Yasmin; since I wasnt getting mad like I used to, I never thought that my sadness and anxiety were side effects. And since I started, I have never felt any sex drive. While this is advantageous to me at this point (as I really am trying to abstain, yes while taking bcp), I am starting to worry about the time when I already want to get pregnant. I also didnt link fatigue, I thought I was just really busy (and I am).

There. I shared my experiences. All pills have side effects. You just have to find the one that works best for you. All the side effects I mentioned aside, I love Yaz.  Hope this helps when your trying to find the right pill. And always consult your doctor.

I agree with you completely! I have been on Yaz for years, and these side effects of mood swings, severe anger for no reason, and depression are all side effects i have. These symptoms have increased over time and have only gotten worse. I am calling my doctor tomorrow and switching to a new birth control. This pill isn't even worth trying out! It has caused me so much pain and has made me lose sight of my happy positive self.

Excuse the pic and the name, this is my husbands account lol.
I have been on yazmine going on about five months now.
When i first started it i felt great but 2 1/2 to 3 months in i started feeling depressed and i would cry over little things and get upset about alot of stuff that wasn't important. It was hard to hold down a job even working just three days a week with a 10 month old i couldn't handle it. I was thinking it was just me because four months prior to being on the pill i had been through alot.
I started thinking it was the pill when i would be sitting there in a great mood and randomly get depressed and i noticed a huge change in my sex drive. I am not interested in sex at all and haven't been since i started this pill. The thought of it just sickens me and i do not get aroused at all. As i continue to take this pill i just feel worse but the only think i have benefited from this is that i rarely have to take midol while being on my period and it is also much lighter but still has not regulated. I am tired and exhausted all the time, i have been in a bad mood for no reason for three days straight. Im moody, snappy, no sex drive, my back aches all the time and i even fall asleep sitting up. This is not like me at all, i have more energy then anyone i know and now days i can't even hold my eyes open. The back pain gets worse everyday and I havent done anything to make it worse. All i know is since i have started this pill i've just been falling apart, i didn't know one pill that was suposed to help could cause so much harm. I do not reccommend this pill.

I have also taken atleast two pregnancy test while bing on yazmine.
My boobs have gotten bigger but they don't hurt.
I guess something about yazmine makes people think they are pregnant because i believe i have seen this on some other post -kay

been taking yaz for 2 months and some change. mood swings, overreact to everything, depression, suicidal thoughts, want to be alone all the time, acne, no desire for sex. discontinued use for a week now and waiting for side effects to go away.

I have spent the last week thinking I have finally lost the plot. I am anxious to the point of panic attacks, depressed to the point I actually thought I may be bi-polar! I am exhausted all the time even when I do sleep for 12 hours straight and the PMS I get for the few days prior to my withdrawal bleed is so severe that I am surprised my husband has not divorced me yet. Until reading some of the blogs online tonight,  I sat here this afternoon seriously thinking I needed some psychological help. This is not a good choice of BC for me and it seems that these side effects are consistent with many YAZ users. At least as I go to bed tonight I know I am not mentally unstable. wondering how long it will take to get myself back to "normal".