Yasmin Birth Control Warning: Risk of Heart, Stroke
December 11, 2008
First put on the market in the United States in 2001, Yasmin birth control has since been under heavy scrutiny for possible links to serious side effects like heart attack, stroke, and thrombosis. That, however, hasn’t stopped it from growing in popularity with revenue generated by Yasmin reaching nearly $500-million last year.
As of 12/10/2008 there has been no Yasmin recall by either the FDA or the drug’s manufacturer. Like all prescription oral contraceptives (ie birth control pills) Yasmin is associated with increased risks of several serious conditions, such as: myocardial infarction, thromboembolism, stroke, hepatic neoplasia, gallbladder disease, hypertension, tender breasts, mood swings, depression, weight gain, edema, and others. Yasmin contains the estrogen ethinyl estradiol and the progestin drospirenone, which can can work against the body’s normal mechanism for regulating salt and water balance, a situation that can lead to potentially serious heart and health problems in some high risk patients.
The health risks and side effects associated with Yasmin should be discussed with your doctor prior to being prescribed the drug. If you have already been prescribed Yasmin and are worried about reading online content like this, this, or this you may want to bring the subject up with your doctor. If you have already experienced these adverse health effects while taking Yasmin Click Here to speak to an attorney.
Were you affected? Click Here for a free case evaluation!
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92 Responses to “Yasmin Birth Control Warning: Risk of Heart, Stroke”
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My wife died of a DVT in 2007 most likely caused by taking Yasmin. I miss her more then anything else in the world.
completely messed me up! everything was regular until i started taking yasmin in 2005, i didnt have a menstrual cycle the whole time i was on it(6months). after i stopped taking it it was really wacky and still isnt normal and i am now having fertility problems. do not take!!!!!!
I HAVE BEEN TAKING YASMIN FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW AND I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS AT ALL. I GUESS IT EFFECTS EVERYONE IN DIFFERENT WAYS BUT WE KNEW THAT BEFORE WE STARTED TAKING IT (RIGHT?). THOSE WHO ARE/WERE MORE HIGH RISK SHOULD HAVE TAKEN A DIFFERENT ROUTE DUE TO THE SIDE EFFECT WARNINGS BUT WE STILL ALL KNEW.
I was on it in 2006. It gave me severe, deep cystic acne that caused PERMANENT skin discoloration. I now have big, ugly white spots on my face. I feel UGLY and I have this for the rest of my lift. I also started having bad chest pains while on Yasmin. I was checked out by a cardiologist and found out I had a prolapse and a bicuspid valve … those weren’t caused by Yasmin but it never bothered me until I was on this birth control.
My 18 year old daughter was just released from the hospital with a blood clot on her lung. She had been taking Yazmin for about a year. Yes, she smoked cigerettes ( approx. 6-7 a day) , but that is not the warning that they give women of her age that if they smoke this will happen. She will now have to have her blood withdrawn quite often and take blood thinners for at least 6 mos. Caused by Yazmin? I think so!
i have been takeing Yaz for a little over a year now… i was fine and now the 1st day of my flo i get horriable abdominal pain… im really worried and were not positive yet but yaz could b the problem…
Bridget… If your going to include information in an attempt to disuade people from using this drug, please do yourself and everyone else a favor and use relevant information. Including a tidbit about having a bicuspid valve and then saying that it had nothing to do with Yasmin is a weak argument containing no factual information relevant to the discussion. You simply cannot say that something was unrelated and then conclude that it was caused by the drug simply because its your analysis.
I have on Yasmin for over two years no and have experienced no serious side effects. As of late, my chest has been a little heavier, but I have also picked up smoking in the last six months and can very likely diagnose that such behavior is the source. However, after seeing this warning and the testimonials, I am undoubtedly going to have the problem examined further. Beside that though, very effective birth control and experienced no weight gain, moodiness, depression, or serious medical conditions as of this time.
have been*
I have Been on yazmin for 2 yrs never had any problems til on Friday I stared bleeding and
Clotting really bad and pass out then was took to the hosiptal by ambulance they said I misscarried.
New to Yaz, sudden yellowing of skin, especially under armpits brown spots on fingers like self tanner not washed off. Wonder if snyone else had these symptoms or side effects.
I have been on Yasmin for 5 years and recently suffered a minor heart attack. Before I blame it on Yasmin I had thorough tests by a cardiologist and I am in PERFECT health. No cholesteral problems, no high blood pressure, I workout every day at the gym, no diabetes, no weight problems and on top of all of that I eat very healthy. He performed several tests to check the health of my heart and if there were any defects. To date “I should have never had a heart attack” according to my doctor. That being said, I believe Yasmin is what caused it and I urge any of you to double check side effects on the Yasmin site and determine for yourselves if this product is safe or not. I stopped taking it the day of my heart attack and was urged by the cardiologist to STAY OFF birth control all together.
I hope my story helps someone who has gone through what I have. It’s a terrible feeling to try so hard to keep healthy and still have a serious event like a heart attack. It should have never happened.
I was on Yasmin for 2 years. My doctor actually thought it would be good for me since I have trouble with my potassium being a little low. I felt horrible the entire time that I was on this drug. I was incredibly depressed also which is entirely out of character for me. I had serious jaw pain and chest pain. I have been off of it for 6 months now and I am no longer depressed and no more chest and jaw pain. I think drugs have different effects on people, but I had no idea that this could cause jaw pain. I looked on a site that people talk about how they feel about different drugs and someone mentioned that it gave her terrible jaw pain. I guess like any drug if something weird happens after you start taking it – you should contact your doctor.
I was on Yasmin for about a year and when I got on it I was already irregular. I had a period every other month or longer. Now I’ve been off of it for a year, NO PERIOD! I would recommended not taking birth control.
Yasmin actually ranks the lowest by women among all other forms of birth control as having the most number of undesirable side effects. The added risks should come as no surprise.
I’m 41 years old, non- smoker. About 2 years ago, I started having heavy bleeding, painful cramps, and serious mood swings. all were out of the norm for me. It started when I stopped taking birth control at age 38. My doctor recommened birth control to control the symptoms. Shortly after taking yaz I noticed that the left side of my face looked droopy. Not realizing that it maybe a side affect from the pill. a year later, I went to the doctor because I was worried that something was wrong and afraid that I may have had a lite stroke and didn’t know it. Doctor said she didn’t see anything wrong, she sent me for a kat scan, they said nothing was wrong. I wish I hadn’t waited so long to go to the doctor. I know that something happened to me. After hearing about the recall I am convinced that maybe whatever happened to the left side of my face (similar to a stroke) was possibly caused by this pill. I going to get a second opinion and I will stop taking the pill today.
My daughter was on yasmin for two months and she is 18.She had a pulmonary in both lungs.Alot of Iv’s, breathing treatments sick at her stomach sharp stabbing pains in her back.She in very good health before she took these pills.Never smoked ever and did not drink ,She has to to a lung doc.every week ,blood tests and has to to take blood thinners for a long time. PLEASE USE SOMETHING ELSE. IT’S NOT WORTH THE CHANCE!
Thank you for your comments on Yasmin Birth Control. It sounds like there are other birth control options that are not as risky as Yasmin. Thanks for your input.
i was on Yas for about a year before my wedding in March 2008. i was told that when we wanted to start a family we should stop taking BC atleast a month in advance so as to build up a thicker lining. i stoped taking BC in dec 2007 and i have not had a natural period since then. in june 2008 i was given projesterone to start one, and again in august 2008. its now June 2009 and i miss my periods. people at work say i am SOOO lucky… they aren’t trying to start a family… this is nearly 2 years without a natural menstral cycle… some one let me know if they have had the same problems… and what solution i might be able to use… i’m desperate.
I STARTED YASMIN 2005 AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE THE PERFET PILL FOR E,UNTILL I BEGAN ENDING UP IN THE HOSPITALS WITH ALL DIFFERENT KIND OF EFFECT (GULLBADDER)BEING JUST ONE BUT …EXT…I WAS REALLY SICK THE JUST RECENTY THEY CHANGE THE THE COMERCIALS ON TV AND ALL THESE NEW WARNING WHY DIDNT THEY HEP ME INSTED OF ACTING LIKE EVERYTHINGS OK….I SEE ITS BEEN HAPPENING ALLL OVER ALL THE RECALLS ON TV…BE CAREFULL DONT TAKE THIS PILL!!!!!
I took Yasmin for in 2007-2008 and suffered from pulmonary embolism which almost caused me my life had i not went to the doctor when i did. Not only did the pills give me blood clots, but i also got pregnant after 16years of using bc.
I had no problems with Yasmin. I have been on multiple Birth Controls, including Depo Prevera.. Which made me suicidal. Yasmin has the same effects as any B.C. But it is by far the best one I have tried. I do suggest no one tries Yaz though!
I WAS 32 AND RUSHED INTO THE CATH LAB FOR AN 85% BLOCKAGE TO MY HEART!!!!
I do not have highblood pressure or cholestrol?????
I did take Yasmin.
Doctors could not figure out why I was having chest pain thought it was panic attacks. I passed out or always felt like i was going to.
Then last year I had horrible chest pain. I would not take any of these.
It has been a year since I had a Stent put in to clear the blockage to my heart. I was not able to try for the baby we just started trying for beacuse I was on PLAVIX for a year. I had no clue what could have caused this. Doctors said just a freak thing??
Then I heard about the class action suits and I am sarting to wonder – YA THINK!!!
iI also took ORTO LOW!!!!!
Well I been on yasmin since 2005 and its 09 now I got off aug of 08 and I’m pregnant due aug.15th 09 and I never had a problem.
I have been on Yasmin for 5 years. My sister-in-law recommended it to me since she had been on it for 2 years before me.. Neither one of us has had a problem. If you are afraid of side effects…don’t take prescriptions. Simple.
I have been on Yasmin for over 5 years now. I had very little side effects. In March of 2009 I had a serious episode. I passed out, quit breathing, turned blue, had seizure like shaking, wet my pants and was very confused when I woke up. I had to go to the ER and they ordered that I get testing done to be safe, they thought it was more like a seizure but they werent 100% sure. I got the testing and everything came back normal. I was cleared by both a Cardiologist and a Neurologist. I wasnt able to work or drive for 4 months (thats how long it took for all my testing to be done and results to get back). Im not saying this happened because of taking this birth control, but I am definatly going to get it checked out!
I am 19 years old..i have been taking yasmin since i was 12 years old so about 7years..inorder to help my period..well on christmas 2008 i found out i was 4 months pregnant and in january 2009 for my first dr appointment i found out i had a miscarrige..which i cant blame on yasmin i dont know thought but two weeks after the miscarrige i get back on yasmin and for the last 7 months i have been living in pain..no period i only bleed when i strain to pick something up..hard time breathing..hurts to walk or function at all..and so much more..going to dr.’s to find out whats going on and no news yet..not shure wether its yasmin or what but its scary not knowing what to do…all i want is my life back..already lost my job because i cant live with the pain
I have been on Yasmin for about over two years now and havn’t had any problems on top of the fact that I have been smoking for 3 years. My periods are all regular when I get off the pill for 7days I have about a 3 day period go back on and its fine every month. I was experiencing really heavy cramps and yasmin has greatly lessened them.
I have been on Yasmin for 2 years and I haven’t had any problems.. I went from a very low dose of estrogen to this higher dose and it has made a world of difference. With low estrogen it effected me like I was going through menopause, mood swings, hot flashes, ect. (I was 21). Like other people have said, there are risks with all birth control methods and people react differently from different medications, so you can’t rule it out for everyone. The risks are clearly stated in your prescription and most of the time it effects people who have an underlying condition.
I was taking yasmin for almost 2 years. This June 2009 i suffered a blood blot in my lung (pulmonary embolism) I’m in excellent health but I do smoke 10 cigarettes a day. I’m only 26, and now I will be more prone to blood clots. I have weekly doctor appointments and take blood thinners for 6-9 months. I have no children but when i want to have them i will have to take medication to prevent blood clots. Ive been advised my numerous doctors that I should never again take any form of birthcontrol. This has effected my relationship and my state of mind.This should be taken off the market ASAP!!!
i have been on yasmin for close to a year now, and so far everything’s been fine.
I have been on Yasmine for a year and a half and have had no side effects. I find it awful interesting that many note I did not say all…but many of the blood clot and other problems come from people that smoke. It states CLEARLY in the directions that it is advisable that you DO NOT smoke while on the pill…..at that goes for ALL brands. Those of us that disregard those warnings have no ground to stand on when it comes to complains.
My 16 year old daughter has been on Yasmin since she was 12 years old. It was prescribed to help with her poly cystic ovarian syndrome. She has gained a great deal of weight since starting this pill. She has had to have her gall bladder removed about 2 years ago. They said it was totally non functional and was green in color upon removal. She has very heavy bleeding with her periods. She was holpitalized 2 months ago with severe stomach pain. Her ct scan showed that she had multiple cysts on both of her ovaries. She also has a area of fluid between her ovaries that they are watching to see if it goes away on its own. She also has puss filled knots that come up under her armpits and in her groin area. They are very painful and eventually bust. She has many bad scars from these puss knots. There is also dark skin discoloration under her armpits. I am wondering how much of her symptoms are coming from the Yasmin. I am very concerned about her health and do not know where to turn for answers to these problems.
Hello Crystal, I wasnt going to post on this website until I read your post. I myself have had polycystic ovarian syndrome for roughly 5yrs and I have all the symptoms your daughter has, I actually just took my first pill of Yasmin about 1hr ago and wanted to see what everyone thinks about it. If anything I just wanted to post this to let you know it is the syndrome she has and not the medicine most likely. Ive heard the only way to lose PCOS is by exercising and eating healthy which I do not do but the doctor thinks this medicine is going to help me… I can only pray. I can tell you my symptoms are.. I only get a period maybe 2 times a year, I have horrible acne (for someone who never had it as a child that is), weight gain, facial hair, hair grows alot faster and darker, etc.
Jennifer and Crystal- I wanted to mention too, that I’m 22 and have PCOS as well and was put on Yasmin less than a year ago. So far so good though. I needed it to increase estrogen and progesterone and it’s been amazing in that. I smoke occasionally but hopefully not enough to cause the problems that others have stated. But I maintain a strict diet and exercise regimen that have helped my PCOS symptoms immensely and live a healthy lifestyle. I’m just hoping that all of these risks are worth it, because I’ve heard it is no fun to switch pills. But from the comments it’s making me worry
Sara- I completely agree with you I have been on Yasmin since early 2005, I stopped in 2007 when I had my frist daughter and then I was on it agiain in 2008 briefly and then after my second daughter this year i have been back on Yasmin since March 2009. I have not had any issues at all, I actually love the pill no weight gain I actually have lost a little weight((mind you I am already overweight))
I also have PCOS am 27 and have been on Yasmin for about 1-1 1/2 years. I have had wonderful results as far as with the acne going away and the weight gain stopping. However I have had two miscarriages this year after beening off the pill for almost a year and a half trying to conceive. Wondering if anyone else has this problem? Is is just me or is it the pill? Not for sure. Hoping it is just me because this is the only BC in a long list that I have tried that has worked this well with the PCOS. Anyone else in the same boat as me?
[...] See our earlier post on Yasmin Warnings (with reader [...]
Any birth control pill containing estrogen, including Yasmin, has an increased risk for heart attack and stroke….clearly cited in the package insert. ANY patient of any age who smokes is also at an additional increased risk for heart attack, stroke, thromboembolism. To suggest that an 18 y/o who smokes is not at increased risk for these events is completely wrong.
Every women will respond differently to different birth control pills. Most birth control pills contain estrogen (ethinyl estradiol), therefore, an increased risk for those conditions. Now, if a women gets pregnant, her risk for heart attack, stroke, and blood clots is far greater than her risk on the birth control pill. Hence, risk vs. benefits. Other methods of birth control are available, including abstinence, condoms, progestin only methods, and intrauterine devices.
The risks of all methods are clearly noted on package inserts.
I am 25 and have been on Yasmin since Januaury of this year, I have no complaints or concerns about it what-so-ever. Its doing fine for me… so far so good I guess!
I have taken Yasmine for 3 1/2 years. After I stopped taking it in December of 2008, I haven’t received a period. Additionally, I have seen a huge difference in hair growth. It has been growing faster and darker and in places where there was minimal hair before! i.e. my face. I have just started taking a hormone used to stimulate a period. I haven’t finished the 10-day pill cycle yet, but am hoping for a period.
i started taking yasmin when i was 19 and got off of it when i was 22. I had no problems..I had a little weight gain but i worked it off at the gym. i’m starting back on it again after 2 years.
I’ve been on Yasmin for 4 years now and for a brief blip my insurance switched me to a different and more affordable brand and I was miserable on that one. The other brand made me ill, gave me sever migraines, weight gain, PMDD, severe mood swings, painful cramps, and nearly every other side effect. However once I was back on the Yasmin everything was wonderful, I think Yasmin affects people differently and you should really talk with your Doctor about the pros and cons.
My 29 yr old niece passed away on March 4, 2008. She had been taking Yaz for about 5 months after having her baby. She knew her hormones were out of wack and actually had a drs appointment for the afternoon that she passed away to talk about what she was experiencing . Other then the above issue she was in great health, didn’t drink or smoke. I understand many of the above comments are from women who are upset because it seems to be the answer to some very frustrating female problems. But when I read that my niece should have known all of the risks involved because it is in the fine print, it seems very insensitive to those of us that have suffered loss or those that are experiencing horrible health issues because of it. You’re correct, you have a right to take it, if you want. But do you really think that all of the lawsuits that are being filed are bogus complaints. Obviously there are some huge problems w/Yaz. So stop critisizing those that are trying to figure out if their problems are being caused by Yaz. They’re scared and they should be.
The problem lies with the doctors and drug companies putting stuff in our hands that have too many risks involved. We should never have access to something that is causing so many serious problems. Instead,they promoted it as the best bc pill ever. That is where I feel we have gone wrong, we trust the doctor’s to really know what they are prescribing and all of it’s issues, when really a lot of times I don’t think they do. The FDA is overextended with being over Food and Drugs and a lot of crap is slipping through the cracks. I say if you are experiencing any issues while on Yaz , GET OFF OF IT! It’s not worth losing your life over. I would give anything to have my niece back and I’m sure her husband and two kids would, too!
I have been on Yasmin for over 5 years and I’ve been fine. In fact, it’s the only birth control that works for me. I take Yasmin for hormone balance and as a birth control. I’ve tried other birth control but my periods were terrible and my hormones were so imbalanced that I was having migraine headaches multiple times per week.
I was on yasmin (to treat acne) for just a few months and developed very large cysts in my breast. Was told by the breast cancer specialist to never touch this stuff again. I also now have some weird heart condition called LGL syndrome.
I have been on YASMIN for over 6 years now. I have never had any serious problems linked to being on this pill. I came across this website only because my mom saw a TV Ad suggesting that there may be ongoing lawsuits directly related to this pill. I haven’t done all my research, but as far as I know YAZ and YASMIN are different BC pills. I believe I have heard negative comments about YAZ. For me, YASMIN has given me shorter periods and barely NO cramps, compared to before when my period would linger and the cramps were debilitating. I do know that there is a generic version of YASMIN, but I am picky about my medicine and don’t want to take any risks seeing how I haven’t had any problems thus far. I am willing to pay the extra that my insurance won’t cover. I do know that you SHOULD NOT BE SMOKING if you are on any pill. The risks are apparent and I know I personally would never do anything that was going to increase my risks of experiencing life-threatening health issues.
I took Yasmin for about 9 months. I’m so sorry to all of you who are or know someone who has had major side effects, illness or who has died because of this drug. I knew, the whole time I was on the drug, that something wasn’t quite right. I didn’t experience any of the major side effects, but I did notice changes in mood and I lost my sex drive all together. I’m not saying that’s as big a deal as many of the other side effects, but it does sort of negate the purpose of one going on the birth control pill.
Anyway, keep on writing! It’s good to know what is going on for people with these drugs. As women, we want to feel liberated and in control of our own fertility, but it can come at such a high price. The drug companies need to stop lying to us and sugar coating the risks.
I have been on Yasmin for 2.5 yrs… I have had no side effects. I havent lost weight and I havent gained weight. I am 26 and DO NOT smoke. I do get the occasionally chest pain, but my doctor isnt worried as they are like “twinges” more like muscle spasms. It has helped me with pimples and cramping and I am less “physco” around PMS time.
Every thing affects everyone differently. The side effects listed above are the same of ALL oral contraceptives. Seems Yasmin has grown very popular and may be putting other companies out of business?
Hi everyone
My deepest sincere sympathies to those of you how have lost loved one’s due to this contraceptive. And, for those of you who have had problems as well.
But like the package and your doctor says, it affects everyone differently.
I only really came on here to ease my fiance’s mind. I have been taking alesse for the past 5 years approx. and recently i’ve been getting severe migraines, so my doctor suggested yasmin. I hope I don’t get any migraine’s or anything else for that matter while on yasmin
[...] Yasmin is a birth control pill containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol. Yasmin has been linked to serious, and even fatal, [...]
Hi, iM WHiTNEY && iM 20.i HAVE BEEN 0N YASMiN F0R AB0UT 7 0R 8 M0NTHS N0W.i JUST RECENTLY SAW THE RECALL 0N TV.i HAVENT HAD ANY SYMPT0MS T0 THiS BiRTH C0NTR0L YET.iTS ACTUALLY VERY EFFECTiVE.BUT i THiNK iTS TiME T0 GET 0FF 0F iT N0W B/C PPL ARE DYiNG FR0M iT!i THiNK i WiLL JUST GET 0FF BiRTH C0NTR0L PERi0D.i THiNK iTS JUST SH0RTENiNG EVERY0NES LiFE TAKiNG PiLLS EVERYDAY!i MAY BE Y0UNG BUT i AM VERY SMART && i D0NT THiNK ANYTHiNG G00D CAN C0ME 0UT 0F BiRTH C0NTR0L.YES iT MAY PREVENT Y0U FR0M HAViNG KiDS..BUT THE RiSKS Y0U TAKE TAKiNG THESE PiLLS ARENT SAFE!BUT ANYWAYS…i HAVENT HAD ANY PR0BLEMS WiTH YASMiN iT HELPED MY ACNE.&& iM H0PiNG N0T T0 HAVE ANY EFFECTS FR0M iT 0NCE i ST0P TAKiNG THEM.
I have been on yasmin since I was 13 years old due to ovarian cysts, endometriosis, and severe pain. I am now 26 years old. I owe everything to yasmin! I would lie in bed feeling like someone was digging an ice pick into by stomach very slowly and not to mention all the times I spent in the emergency room from the pain. Yasmin stopped the ovarian cysts from rupturing, stopped me from having unbearable pain during my periods, and gave me a life! All medications have side afftects and can cause deaths. My blood pressure is running high, which I immediately that it was due to yasmin, but then I made a list of everything that I put into my body. The economy and nergy drinks, coffee, nicotine, goodies headache powders, candy, salt, etc. That will cause high blood pressure, heart failure, etc. So, my suggestion is before you assume this medication is bad for you talk to your doctor about it. There may be other alternatives for you depending on what your using birth control for. But for me, Yasmin has been awesome. I recommend it to my friends and anyone I know. I had no side effects from this medication, no weight gain ( I am 5′7 and 128 lbs), my complexion is amazing, and I don’t even complain when it’s “that time of the week”. I also want to add that I am sorry for those who have had health issues and I hope that you all feel better in due time. Thank you for reading my opinion.
im so sorry to all how has lost some one due to this pill and all the people with serious illness.. but i was about take a pill for the first time but now that i look at al these comments im thinking twice about it iv had my gall bladder removed just had a baby and have low blood pressure so im already in serious risks… but im probably sure i would die if i took this so my advice for every one on the pill or about to take it is think twice and change to a diffrent birthcontrol!!!
I was on yasmin for about 2 years. I developed moderate depression, a yeast infection that was persistent and was resistent to over the counter creams (I kept a yeast infection, never went away!) And severely decreased libido. For some strange reason I also developed horrible insomnia that went away promptly after I stopped taking yasmin.
I also had these tiny growths on my inner labia that came and went in about 2 days. They stung when I urinated but never ulcerated or did anything other than disappear as soon as they appeared. The doctor said they were nothing, but guess what? They promptly stopped showing up after I went off yasmin, and I’ve been off of it for over a year now. Good riddence to that God-awful pill!
Hey everyone,
Im Romo, Im 21 years old and i have been on Yasmin since i was 18. I never had any bad side effects from taking the pill, until lately I started having chest pains. I went to my doctor, got an ultrasound of my breasts and found i have a blood clot somewhere in my right breast. I have to get it “drained” next week. I didn’t think much of it, until I started hearing these recall comments from co-workers. The doctors couldn’t give me a straight answer of why this happens. But I am sure gonna do my reasearch on it and see what caused this blood clot. Ill keep everyone up to date…….
I am the mother of one incredible, wonderful woman. She is my only child. I will continue to say “IS” even though she “is” no longer with me. She passed away in her sleep last July 5. I went in to say good morning, and instead found that I would not be saying good morning to her on this earth ever again.
Christine was 23 year 10 months and 21 days old. She did not drink, smoke, use drugs of any kind, except for Yazmin, which I had been convinced by her OB to put her on when she was 16, and experiancing difficulty with her cycle.
My normally loving and happy daughter had the next seven years filled with mood swings, differences in her skin color, chest pains, and weight gain, that I was told were related to depression…. she had nothing to be depressed about, and doctors attempted to convince her to take many other drugs to combat the above mentioned symptoms, never addressing the overall problem… typical.
She was very athletic… she was at the gym almost every day.. and after one of the best nights of out lives together, she never woke up…. what a terrible sight to find your only child the way I found her. That picture never leaves my mind.
The coroner took 14 weeks to complete her autopsy… no drugs, not even alcohol… no aparent cause of death. In order to close the case I was told the lable they were putting on it was “cardiac arithmia.” Two words that are now supposed to make sense of this terrible twist of our lives… Now come to find out that my intuition was right… she never should have been put on a drug every day of the month to take care of a problem that occured one or two days out of some months. It is also clear that some doctors in our area were probably receiving incentives for prescribing this drug… was her doctor one of those…. if so, does her doctor think of that now when she goes home and kisses her children’s faces?
The drug company rushed to meet the need of a clamoring public who want to make the natural cycles of our body dissapear in order to make their sex lives more active with less responsibility…. Families like ours who would never have used birth control for any reason other than medical issues, have been destroyed in the name of the almighty dollar.
Yesterday, a lawyer, trying to convince me to sign with their firm, casually stated that I could look forward to receiving $100,000 to over $1. million if I join in the class action against Bayer… As if a check with more or less zeros buys the time I can never have with her… the time that is irreplaceable… the time she suffered… the time she died alone in her bed…
Damn all of them… damn the rush to profit from our loss. She is the face of your greed. She is the price of your lust… we are the price that can never be repaid.
[...] Yasmin and other combination birth control pills contain synthetic hormones that mimic estrogen and [...]
I’ve been on Yasmin for 8 years. I have not had any bad side effects but in the pass few months every time I go to the doctors my blood pressure has been high. The doctor told me to watch it and if it doesn’t go down I will have to go on blood pressure medication. After reading about the side effect I will no longer take Yasmin… I’m going to monitor my blood pressure to see if it will go back to normal..
I am 23 years old and put on Yasmin about a month ago. I also take levoxyl for thyroid. When they handed me the box of Yasmin I was worried because of the recall, but every side effect is different for everyone. I go to the gym, I don’t eat too bad, don’t drink, don’t smoke…and i have had NO symptoms so far! Things have been great actually. I haven’t gained weight (which is surprising because with thyroid, the results are weight gain). It seems like the people that have had major problems have either been SMOKING, had other diseases, or been on Yasmin for at least a year! This still worries me…but since I have had no symptoms and I’m pretty healthy altogether, I think that Yasmin is fine!
Here ya go, plain and simple:
You must not use YASMIN if:
* you have, or have ever had a disorder affecting the blood circulation. In particular, those conditions relating to thrombosis. Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot. This may occur in the blood vessels of the legs (deep vein thrombosis), the lungs (pulmonary embolism), the heart (heart attack), the brain (stroke), or other parts of the body
* you have or have had a stroke (caused by a blood clot or a rupture of a blood vessel in the brain)
* you have or have ever had a condition that may be a first sign of a heart attack (such as angina pectoris or chest pain) or stroke (such as transient ischaemic attack or small reversible stroke)
* you have or have had a pancreatitis (an inflammation of the pancreas) associated with high levels of fatty substances in your blood
* you have diabetes mellitus with blood vessel damage
* you or someone in your immediate family have or have had high blood levels of cholesterol or triglycerides (fatty substances)
* you have jaundice (yellowing of the skin) or severe liver disease
* you have or have had cancer of the breast or the genital organs
* you have a severe kidney insufficiency or an acute failure of your kidney
* you have or have had a benign or malignant liver tumour
* you have a history of migraine accompanied by e.g. visual symptoms, speech disability, or weakness or numbness in any part of your body
* you have any unexplained vaginal bleeding
* you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant
* you are allergic to any of the ingredients of YASMIN
Tell your doctor if:
If YASMIN is used in the presence of any of the conditions listed below or they appear for the first time or recur or worsen during treatment, you may need to be kept under close observation. You doctor can explain this to you. You should tell your doctor if:
* you smoke
* you have diabetes
* you are overweight
* you have high blood pressure
* you have a heart valve disorder or a certain heart rhythm disorder
* you have an inflammation of your veins (superficial phlebitis)
* you have varicose veins
* anyone in your immediate family has had thrombosis, a heart attack or a stroke
* you suffer from migraine
* you suffer from epilepsy
* anyone in your immediate family has had breast cancer
* you have liver, kidney or gallbladder disease
* you have an increased potassium blood level (e.g. due to problems with your kidneys) and additionally use a diuretic or other medicine that may increase the potassium in your blood (ask your doctor)
* you or someone in your immediate family has or has had high blood levels of cholesterol or triglycerides (fatty substances)
* you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (chronic inflammatory bowel disease)
* you have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; a disease affecting the skin all over the body)
* you have haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS; a disorder of blood coagulation causing failure of the kidneys)
* you have sickle cell disease
* you have a condition that occurred for the first time or worsened during pregnancy or previous use of sex hormones (e.g. hearing loss, a metabolic disease called porphyria, a skin disease called herpes gestationis, a neurological disease called Sydenham’s chorea)
* you have or have had chloasma (yellowish-brown pigmentation patches on the skin, particularly of the face); if so, avoid too much exposure to the sun or ultraviolet radiation
Dear Maggie Lewis:
Amen.
I’ve been on Yasmin for 6yrs. I have loved the product and highly reccomeded it to others, however I’ve recently been diagnosed with gallstones. Which is strange cause there is no family history and I’m a healthy person. The pain has become intolerable and excrutiating. I spend hours every night suffering in pain. I was never made aware of this possible side effect. I do believe it is from the Yasmin b.c. I am stopping my use and am ashamed that I caused myself such harm.
I have been taking yasmin since june of 2009 and all that it has done for me is make my periods lighter and shorter. Also, my moods have been changed. Im not as mean as i was on my other birth control pills. I enjoy taking yasmin, but these warnings for it are starting to scared me. Im 18 years old and ive been through four or five different birth control pills, and been through the shot and the ring. I must say that yasmin is the best pill ive had.
I recently just saw the commercial on TV regarding the dangers of taking Yazmin birth control and I was astonished. I have been using Yazmin as contraceptive for over 6 years. I would like to send my condolences to those people who have lost loved ones as a result of taking this pill. I am currently now 25 years old and frequently have abdominal pains, chest pains, and headaches. I do smoke, and on occasions, I smoke alot which is soooo contraindicated with birth control. I have had MRA’s done on my brain for the headaches and I am currently seeing a cardiologist regarding my frequent chest pains. Also I find myself sometimes to be weirdly emotional. I too have severe joint pains and have been tested for everything from rheumatoid arthritis to lupus, there is no answer as to why I am experiencing these pains, but I know that Yazmin can cause electrolyte imbalances, especially Potassium. Potassium levels are closely related to heart function, as a registered nurse I know this. I am beginning to see that Yazmin could be the reason for my problems. I am a registered nurse and it is scary to know that a pill like this could be on the market and have so many loyal customers but possibly be causing these health concerns. I am going to stop taking the pill today. I am looking in to other forms of contraceptive. To be quite frank, yazmin never really made me feel great, didn’t make my skin clear or help with menstrual cycle pains. I thank all of you for sharing your personal details, one comment at a time, we could be saving eachothers lives. Thanx!!!
I took yasmin for 3 months and felt horrible the whole time. I made me feel lethargic, gave me bad headaches, low mental energy, and less enjoyment during sex. I found out that it lowers the progesterone and heightens estrogen in your body. I found out that progesterone regulates a bunch of other hormones in your body, your thyroid, your mood, sleeping hormones, and adrenaline hormones. If you have too low of progesterone in your body everything is inclined to go out of wack. LADIES: please, our bodies and souls are too beautiful and precious to be doing this too them. Lets take some value in who we are and take the better route for the long run. I’ve been off birth control now for a month and every week I feel so much better and more energetic; and I feel more like how my body should. Our bodies are to be taken care of!
I started taking Yaz in August of 2009, to help with my period, I was perfectly healthy before taking this pill, I am a non-smoker, I just got release from the Hospital last week for an ruptured ovarian cyst, My doctor thinks the cause of that was from the Yaz pills, He told me to throw them out ASAP. It was one of the most painful experiences in my life; I hope no one has to go through that,
I still have quite a bit of pain, they have put me on Oxycodiene and Naproxen and just want to get back to my happy self, and it’s been a struggle.
It’s nice to see that other people have the same issues although I wish none of us had to go through this, when all is said and done we were all trying to do the right thing by being safe,
I am sooo sorry for everyone who has lost someone due to contraceptives…
I took Yasmine for 4 years and in January was almost hospitalized for blood pressure of 180/140. Stroke level. NO ONE at the ER thought it was due to birth control…
To everyone else who is citing what you should/should not do…I am avid runner – All American Runner…I am NOT a SMOKER and do not drink.
I have permanent heart damage due to yasmin. I have high blood pressure. This drug almost killed me and no one knew what was wrong with me. It was so scary.
Please stop posting condeming msgs of Don’t Smoke…etc…this can happen to anyone who is healthy etc…
You need to rail on the Drs who don’t pay attention to the patients medical history or watch the medication prescribed and prescribe it only to receive kickbacks!
Everyone else…get off the drug – if the side effects don’t happen now…they will!!
My 16 year old daughter was skinny (size zero!) and didn’t smoke. She was on Yaz for six weeks and started having leg pain almost immediately. When she walked up stairs, her leg would get very tired and crampy at the back of the upper thigh. After a few weeks with this pain, it was diagnosed as sciatica which is odd for her age.
After another week, she woke up with chest pain so severe that she couldn’t reach over to get her phone off her night stand. She cried silently for hours till I saw her car in the driveway and wondered why she was not at school. I found her sitting up in bed in a puddle of tears and she could only whisper because it hurt to breathe. The doctor diagnosed it as pleurisy (inflammation of the lining around the lungs often after a virus).
Two days later she stood up at a concert for six hours and couldn’t afford the high price of bottled water so she got dehydrated. She came home from the concert asking if one leg looked swollen. She is so skinny that everybody laughed. The she took off her jeans and her leg was blue.
We rushed to the local hospital (we should have called an ambulance!) where they found a small blood clot her her lungs and a large one in her leg. They flew her in a helicopter to a bigger hospital. For the next four days, we watched the clot get bigger and bigger even though she was put on anti-coagulants. They managed to get it stopped before it blocked the blood flow to her kidneys. By the end, it blocked the whole vein from just above her ankle to just below her belly button. You hear ads about clots the size of a pencil eraser on tv – hers was bigger around than a gummy worm and over two feet long!
We learned that 5% of caucasians have a super clotting gene called Factor V (Five) that does NOT mix with birth control. And if you are scandanavian, your chance is closer to 10%. The whole family had to get tested and several how have to be careful to avoid hormones, standing or sitting still for hours at a time, cigarette smoke and dehydration.
Smoother period are not worth dying for!
My daughter is OK now but she spent several horrendous months on home schooling, getting shots in her belly, constant blood tests and doctor visits. Not being able to lay down for a month trashed her spine and she needed lots of physical therapy. She has to wear a compression stocking and her leg gets very tired so she can’t stand up for long periods. Luckily, she has not had the bad swelling that can cause severe leg damage and make the skin fragile and purple.
I would like every woman who goes on birth control to receive a copy of the warning signs of blood clots.
I’ve actually been taking Yasmin for 5 years now. I have had no problems. This does make me worried though. Especially since I have no insurance. Hopefully they will make up their mind soon about whether to recall it or not.
I’ve been taking Yasmin for about 5 years and have not had any problems at all. Periods are short and painless. I will speak to my doctor about it as I don’t want to be careless. It seems these days just about every drug advertised on t.v. has a list of side effects that would make any person think twice about taking anything.
I am 37 years old, have been on Yasmin for 5+ years now and have had no problems. I exercise daily, am a non smoker and drink rarely. I too, like a few of the other women who have posted, suffer from PCOS and other infertility issues. This pill WAS NOT prescribed to me to help with those side effects. My reproductive endocrineologist prescribed Metformin to help with the weight gain, hair growth, acne, etc. He continued/continues the Yasmin because I do not ovulate on my own, so this way I have a “clean bleed” each month. My periods are light and short, which is a plus for me. Unfortunately I was never able to conceive but I do not blame that on the birth control pill. It’s just the way I am made.
I will though, like others, talk this over with my doctor when I go in for my annual exam. We, as women, need to continue to be vigilant and not be uncomfortable in talking with our physicians about problems or concerns. For now I will remain on Yasmin, but if my doctor feels a change would be beneficial, then I will follow that reccomendation.
I hav been taking yasmin for about 3 years and the entire time I have had uncontrollable crying spells at the beginning and end of each cycle, suicidal feelings, feeling like it’s the end of the world, mood swings, irritable behavior, crazy pms, etc. I was supposed to start a new pack on Sunday, but I’ve been off of it for 6 days. The first few days I felt so much better. The last 2 days I’ve been a little irritable because this is a MAJOR hormonal change. Hopefully this will sort itself out. I’d rather get pregnant than feel suicidal.
Actually, it’s not that I get so depressed at the begining and end of each cycle..it’s that I get these horrible feelings whenever I start a new pack of pills.
I LOVE YASMIN……I have had long, heavy, painful periods for years and and had an IYD which I never stopped bleeding with. Now I am totally regular and only have 2 days of cramps since I started taken Yasim a year ago. I am a health, non-smoking, exercising 48 year old. Hopefully I won’t have to take this for much longer…..hello menopause!!
All you people are wondering why you’re having heart problems when you take the pill AND smoke heavily? OH PLEASE!!! Why do you think your doctor tells you not to smoke while on the pill?
Having problems on the pill? Then don’t take it! Use a condom if you’re worried about getting pregnant!
Ummm….you people need to get a clue. For those of you who smoke, why would you give a second thought to a pill causing a heart attack or stroke? I mean that is what you buy when you buy a pack of smokes…..duh…and you are dumb enough to actually pay for the damage. Also let’s get this straight, a blockage in a coronary artery doesn’t happen over night, it’s a slow inisiduous build up of donuts, cigarettes, and doritos. Take a look at your tummy and tell me it’s yasmin’s fault. Whatever
i’m 25 and i’ve been taking Yasmin for almost 3 years in which time i’ve smoked a lot and still i’ve had no problem. it actually helped me lose some weight. so i reckon it depends…
I was on yasmin for two years but a mistake by the doctor and me for not looking the pill up myself I was told to take it all the time with no breaks, as i need to be on a mini pill due to monthly being very very bad, and other health reasons.
I came off it about 4 months ago and went on to a proper mini pill, when I was on yasmin i did get chest pains, but the doctors didnt find anything so weather it was yasmin or not i can’t say, but since coming off it they pains in my chest has stopped.
by the way im 22 from the UK.
i dont smoke or drink, so the pains wherent caused by that, and after reading some of the comments on here i am glad i have come off it now.
I am on the pill for medical reasons only not for contraception.
I been on yasmin for about 2 years now. I’m getting off of it because I’m not wtih anyone… The recalls scare me, but to be honest, I wouldn’t be able to tell if I have any clots or anything.
I’m 22 and I’ve had so many injuries from my ex fiance and from workign with horses it’s hard to tell.
I have 3 totay broken ribs, that cause chest pain if I move wrong (Ya’ll could say heart attack or failure but I doubt it)
I ripped my core on my left side (Which causes me to have pain in my stomach and back at times which ya’ll could say is something else)
I had a dislocated hip that I never went to the doctor for (Which causes my leg to get weak and give out) I have a blown out knee which makes the other leg weak.
I have a fuzed disk in my back which causes back issues.
N a cracked sternum… (Some was caused by my ex fiance)
I’m not concerend to much, I started smokeing a year ago, I used to go through two packs a day, now it’s down to one pack if that.
It hits everyone, weather you smoke or not. It’s like H1N1. Even the healthiest of people get sick.
I read through all of this and realized, most the people who have died are healthy, or so people thought they were. They couldve had an underlying issue.
Now my family, my great uncle has had 4 strokes 3 heart attacks, My father had a minor one, and high blood pressure runs in our family.
One other reason I’m getting off of it,
I do like Yasmin (I’m on the generic brand) it’s a good pill… I’m just done takeing it for right now.
I wish you all the best of luck. I’m very sorry for your losses.
I so far haven’t had any complications, and it’s treated me well, even though I smoke heavily!
I’ve only been on the generic form of yasmin for about a week. i’ve been really tired, but happy. today i wanted to throw up and around my heart was hurting, my breathing was way weird too. it only lasted for about an hour though. do i need to get off of it?
I”ve been taking Yasmin for 2 years now and nothing has happened to me. Thanks to this pill i haven’t missed school or any other activity because of menstrual cramps. It just affects people in different ways.
I’ve been on and off Yazmin for six years now. I love it. Every bcp has risks and side effects. I have never had a negative experience. The decision to add hormones to your body to interrupt a normal and healthy function of that body is dangerous. It will always carry dangers with it. Don’t smoke, don’t add to the risk. If you do, don’t go blaming the pill because you can’t follow directions. Become informed, take responsibility for your body and don’t blame others for your problems and you will be happier and healthier in all aspects of your life.
I switched to Yasmin 5 mo. ago, at the recommendation of my doctor, I am a smoker, I am 28 yrs. old ;
I have had pneumonia twice, three mo ago and just got it again, I have aweful cramping, constant clotting with my period, chest pains that feel like my chest will cave in, a really heavy pain in my lower body ( hard to explain) and depression all of the sudden- I had no idea why and the clinics are swamped with people getting the H1N1 vaccine ( 4.5 hr. waits) I just saw something about Yasmin causing some of my symptoms on tv last night! and am really freaked out! guess I better wait the 4.5 hrs. and get in! makes sense though I never had these issues until I switched.
My condolsences go out to anyone who had loved ones who passed away. I am 22 years old and I was on yasmin for roughly 4 years. Then I switched over to the generic brand called Ocella about a year ago. I have had no issues or side effects as of now. I never suffered any of the symptoms it actually helped regulate my period…. My periods are mostly painless and short. I’m a non smoker, rarely drink, and exercise on a regular basis .However hearing about the numerous television commericals lately has made me become skeptical. I called my primary care yesterday to consult with her to see what reccomends. As of yesterday I stop taking the pill. All and all prescription drugs have there consquences and We need to start worshiping our bodies and find a safer way for contraceptive.
I was on Yasmin for around a year. I had ulcerative colitis that cleared up a few years before going onto it. My Doc didn’t worry about that when putting me on Yasmin. About 5 months on Yasmin later my colitis was back. Tried all the medications for it but nothing worked. I asked both my specialist and gyne if it could be the Yasmin as I’d seen Crohn’s mentioned in the insert and they said no. That if every women on it got ulcerative colitis it wouldn’t be around anymore. I finally decided to get off Yasmin and my digestive system was better within a few months. I now take nothing for it at all. I had to put off getting my diploma because I was so sick and as a result am now struggling to find work.
I am currently 16 and have been on Yasmin since i was 14, so a little over 2 years. So far so good! I have no complanets about the pill and was put on it for suvier cramps and now only have a period every 3 months and cramps are gone! but all this i hear about it scares me a lil so i will talk to my doctor. Bottom line is tho every pill has its side effects and it effects everyone differently!
I have been taking Yasmin for over 10 years off and on between kids. I can tell you that I too was astonished to see the ads on tv about the risks. I began having chest pains about a year or so ago and went to my dr. with my concern. He thought i was nuts because i am only 37 years old and in good health and couldn’t possibly have any heart problems. he gave me a referral to see a cardiologist anyway as he put to put my mind at ease. i never went. I thought I was being silly and it was probably just stress. However, it has been a year since then and these last few months the pain has been more regular and I keep saying “i am going to make an appt” to see the dr. and never do. It wasn’t until I saw this ad on TV that I put it together…it must be the pill. There would be no other medical reason why I would be having heart pains. I am stopping this pill immediately and making an appointment to go the cardiologist ASAP!
Ladies, like I said I have been on this pill for a long time and loved it for years, never had any side effects until this last year. I can only hope the damage is minimal and I will be ok. I would not recommend taking yasmin after what I know now!!!
I have been on Yasmin for 7 years. Prior to that, I had tried many different types of b.c. pill and didn’t like the side effects such as weight gain, breast tenderness, etc. The reason why I chose Yasmin was because many of my friends have suggested that it was a great pill w/ no side effects so I went ahead and got on it.
I will say that being on Yasmin, my weight has stayed the same, my acne cleared up and it kept me regular. I had no complaints up until a few years ago. I am the type of person who ignores pain, etc. The last few years, I have experienced irregular heart beat, such as the panic or feeling of having a heart attack. I had my dr. give me an EKG cause I kept having panic attacks, etc. or feared that something was wrong with my heart. I still do. One year ago, I stopped taking Yasmin and I did not get a period for 6 months!! That has never happened to me before. When I did get my period, there was a blood clot that came out of me. I do have a picture of it cause I was so worried. It was like a bloody jelly fish. I remember breathing real hard like I was giving birth to drive to push it out of me ( sorry to sound so graphic) I thought it was a miscarriage but my dr. said that it was normal to be irregular and that could happen. I honestly thought I was pregnant from not getting a period for so long, The tests came out negative or course. Anyhow, I was very upset and confused and worried when that happened. I had to get back on the pill to get regulated again.. I didn’t like not getting a period. Has this happen to anyone else taking Yasmin? That along with the chest heart prob. I’m worried now after the lawsuit and commercials. I contacted 3 lawyers tonight. And I’m getting off asap!!!!! Please let me know.
I am 23 and have been on Yasmin for almost 7 years… I have never had any problems, but all of these warnings are really freaking me out. I am definitely calling my doctor tomorrow.
I am also 23 and have been on Yasmin for 8 years. Obviously, I have been very happy with the pill. Before going on it I had horrible periods, bleeding for three weeks out of the month, almost the opposite as a regular cycle. After going on Yasmin my cycle was literally like clockwork. I’ve never been off the pill for even a month during those 8 years so I dont know if the pill has effected my body at all but i do worry about how it has effected my fertility for the future. I do feel as if I should have more energy in general for my age as well and wonder if the pill has something to do with this. Now that these warnings have come out I am getting nervous about how Yasmin is effecting my body but I am also very reluctant to get off this pill as I dont want to experience cycles like I did when i was younger. Not sure what I’m going to do.
Im soooo worried….i took Yasmin in June of 2004. I only took the pills for a month or so but i had to go off it because i was having terrible side effects i expierenced terrible migranes, moody, vision problems, i actually blacked out at a red light and then all of a sudden it snapped back but my eyes hurt soooo bad afterwards, My feelings changed insanely, i got a terrible case of anxiety that i have never experienced before it got to the point were i was nervous to leave the house i didnt drive for a year. I lost a year of my life worrying and with my health and i believe now that it was the Yasmin that started it all. Im still on anxiety/depression medicine and i cant help but wonder if i have underlying problems that i dont know about…. What should i do im scared…
i too have had the feelings of heart attack panic attacks and my EKG i just recently had also showed abnormalities…