Anyone take Yasmin pill?

[Yorkiegirl]

Have just started taking it. Anyone else use it?

[chapsmum]

I have, the chap was concieved whilst on it!(due to drug interaction!) I thought it was on ly reluctantly prescribed now, It had a lot of bad press. It really was the best pill with the least side effects I ever took (othere than the preg part of it!)

[cupcakes]

I took it for a couple of months before I stopped when trying to conceive. I took it for my nightmare pmt and it was the first thing which really worked. When I get over this whole having another baby thing I'm going to go straight back on it.

[chapsmum]

Just checked,, it is no longer advised to be used by the scottish medicines consortium. It has a number of side effects including some pretty serious ones!

[picnikel]

TBH though the main reason it's not recommended by the SMC is COST, pure & simple!! .

[chapsmum]

no I think you'll find that it is perhaps the heart arrythmias caused by hyperkalemia (high pottasium levels in the blood)?

For a product to be worth the cost it has to first do its job. then do its job as well as the current method, then not cuase any side effects that are worse than the current method, It does not meet any of the three accounts when looking at the larger study groups!

[picnikel]

I work in a FPC - it is mainly due to cost I'm afraid and the unknown DVT risk. We prescribe it happily for PMS.

[Yorkiegirl]

took first one yesterday.
Took 2nd this morning. Then mid morning was overtaken with waves of nausea and have felt very sickly all day. I have got a nasty cough and cold atm but I don't generally get sickness.... could it be the yasmin causing it do you think?

[chapsmum]

picknickle I am aware of the cost, but had a long discussion with my GP re:yasmin Hyperkalaemia is aknown side effect of yasmin. she said that the drospirenone was unnecessary and could be dangerous. I know that its expensive and I know that its still prescribed. It is still on the Americans worst pill of the year list!( can you belive they have a list?)
Anyway like I said before you hate it or you love it, You cannot denigh that it has a lot of bad press. Would be very interested (genuinly) if you have a link to any cochrane papers regarding its saftey as I would consider using it again for my self...TIA

[chapsmum]

Yorkie girl have you taken any Oral contraceptive before?

[Yorkiegirl]

I was on microgynon until a month ago but it was giving me major mood swings so I came off it.

[chapsmum]

I found the first month of any new contraceptive always gave me headaches and nausia (kind of like morning sickness). thats just me though. There are a lot of peopl who simply dont like yasmin, they get stomach cramps migranes etc, then there are some people who swear by it. I dont really think 2 doses would be enough to say. But that is just a guess. Make sure your not dehydrated. One of the hormones in yasmin is derrived from a diuretic. This is how it is supposed to help with the bloating and pmt symptoms. You could make an effort to drink more water over next few days and see if it helps. Sorry I cant be of more help.

[Yorkiegirl]

thanks for the advice. I know I have to give it a bit of time to work. I am drinking for England atm, always seem to be thirsty but if the hormone is a diuretic that will contribute to it won't it?

[chapsmum]

Its not a directly a diuretic(IYSWIM), It is a derivative of one and has some of the same propeties, but that could explain it! hope you feel better soon!

[cupcakes]

Oh god, I can't believe there is doubt over it's safety. This is the first thing which has worked for me.

[chapsmum]

please dont be alarmed, if it wasnt safe it would be prescribed, all contraceptive pills carry an element of risk. There is an added risk for people who have renal imparement with yasmin. I am soory to have implied that is was not safe. I said that it has had some bad press about its safety. and a number of people just dont agree with it (like with most contraceptives!)

[chapsmum]

plus cupcakes, i was aware of risks and continued to use it, after discussions of what to look for) with my gp. I found it to be a great contraceptive (other than falling pregnant on it, but that really was due to drug interaction )

[Bugsy2]

Yes, I take it & my sis, who is a GP takes it herself.
Different pills definitely suit different people. I love Yasmin. It is anti-androgenic & I am noticably less hairy (where you don't want to be hairy). I also have experienced no weight gain and minimal bloating.
I thought it had only been passed for general prescription in the UK fairly recently by the GMC, in the last 2 years or so.

[thirtysomething]

chapsmum just wondering what the drug interaction was if you don't mind sharing the info.? I'm also wondering about possible reduced effectiveness as am on Yasmin and have to take other tablets sometimes for other problems, but have never been warned about interactions except with antibiotics! I find Yasmin great compared to Cilest or Dianette but do find it encourages weight gain!

[Chapsmum]

I was taking doxycycline at anti malarial strength. left a period of 3 weeks after I finished the course, I concieved on the fourth week!

[Sugarmag]

I'm on it as well - just finishing my 3rd month. I was on Dianette for a couple of years but had to stop. My GP told me it's not recommended to take Dianette for too long due to health risks so I've just recently switched.

I think it's ok - no weight gain but more spots than on Dianette. I drink lots of water and always have to get up during the night to go to the loo (was the same with the Dianette) and have always wondered whether this was a side effect of the pills.

The other thing that happened to me last month on Yasmin was that on day 3 of my period I suddenly started bleeding really heavily - like soaking right through everything. I wasn't in any pain adn it only lasted like that for a couple of hours but it was weird. On Dianette my period always got heavier on day 3 but not like that. I plan to check with my GP whether that is normal.

I know about higher risks of DVTs and migraines with both pills (both of which concern me slightly as I do get migraines from time to time and I travel overseas a couple of times a year but as I don't know of any ther contraceptive that suits me I feel willing to take these risks).

I don't know about hyperkalaemia though - what is it? Chapsmum can you tell us more about it?

[Chapsmum]

sugarmag, Hyperkalaemia is a blood condition where there is too much potassium in the blood. it is very serious however unlikely to occur unless you have renal imparement, (which unfortunately I am)
The drospirenone is a derivative of spirinolactone, which is a potassium sparing diuretic. It acts in the same way as other diruretic however the potassium is spared in the blood stream.
Like I said before it is very unlikely unless you have renal imparement.
HTH

[Sugarmag]

ok, thanks for the info.

[dejags]

I was on it - it seriously impaired my libido and made me moody and awful to live with.

I went off it and my libido is much improved and I the moodyness is all but gone.

[muma3]

i use it and cant really say if it has given me any side effects, i have no libido and get really angry and moody premenstral. i have just started my 7 days break and im not going back on as we have decided to go with having no4 !!!

[orchid64]

Hi, I have been taking Yasmin for about 10 days. I felt very nauseous, so took it at night, slightly better, but still churning stomach and very windy(sorry!) and I have a bad taste in my mouth, worse in the mornings, and have waves of dizzyness. I'm willing to tolorate this if I think it will end soon-ish. Any advice please. Thanks.