Yaz and Yasmin are combined oral contraceptives, more commonly known as birth control pills. These drugs are similar in many ways, but they also have some important differences.
Yasmin is Introduced
Yasmin was approved by the FDA in 2001 to prevent pregnancy in women and also for the treatment of moderate acne and premenstrual dysmorphic disorder (PMDD) in women who also needed to prevent pregnancy. At the time, Yasmin was manufactured and marketed by Berlex.
Yaz is Introduced
In 2006, Bayer purchased Berlex and quickly introduced Yaz, which was approved for the treatment of moderate acne and premenstrual dysmorphic disorder (PMDD) in women also seeking birth control. Bayer continues to manufacture and distribute Yasmin.
Different Amounts of Estrogen
Yaz is referred to as low-dosage Yasmin. Both Yaz and Yasmin contain 3.0 mg of the progestin ingredient drospirenone. Yaz contains a smaller dosage of the estrogen ingredient ethinyl estradiol. Yaz contains 0.02 mg and Yasmin contains 0.03 mg.
Different Regimens
Yaz and Yasmin are also different from each other because of their regimen, or how they are taken. They both come in a 28-day supply. Yaz has 24 active pills, followed by 4 inert pills, while Yasmin has 21 active pills followed by 7 inert pills. This means that women taking Yaz receive three extra days of active hormones each month.
Are you taking one of these birth controls?
Source:
http://www.drugs.com/cons/yaz.html
All birth controls are different. They use different ingredients and dosages. While most combined oral contraceptives use the same estrogen ingredient, ethinyl estradiol, they use different amounts of estrogen and different types of synthetic progesterone.
When combination oral contraceptives were first developed to prevent pregnancy in women, they contained a much higher dosage of estrogen than is used in birth control pills today, combined with a progestin. The risk of stroke was very high in women taking birth control pills with a high dosage of estrogen. Over the years, different combinations of estrogen and progestin were developed in an attempt to decrease the risk of serious side effects.
The Newest Progestin, Drospirenone
Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella are known as fourth-generation birth controls because they use yet another type of progestin, drospirenone. The maker of Yaz touted this new birth control as revolutionary in that it would treat the symptoms of premenstrual dysmorphic disorder (PMDD) and moderate acne in women in addition to preventing pregnancy.
It quickly became evident that Yaz caused serious and life-threatening side effects in women. Studies have shown that drospirenone leads to a much greater chance of developing blood clots than other birth control pills.
Did you get seriously ill after taking Yaz, Yasmin or the generic Ocella?
Source:
http://women.webmd.com/features/comparing-birth-control-pill-types-combination-minipills-more
A number of serious medical conditions have been caused in women taking the birth control pills Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella. Having somewhere to turn to find trustworthy medical information is an important part of recovery and living a full life going forward. With so much information on the Internet, it can be difficult to find information that is accurate and unbiased.
Your doctors are your most important allies in getting your health back on track, but you may need guidance on questions to ask doctors. It is helpful to know what your doctor is talking about when you discuss your medical condition, how it was caused and the plan for getting you well.
The following resources are excellent sources of information on the various Yaz side effects such as gallbladder disease, blood clots, stroke, heart attack and pancreatitis:
General Websites for All Conditions:
Healthfinder
This government website has resources on health from over 1,600 government and non-profit organizations to bring you some of the best and most reliable health information on the Internet.
Specific Conditions:
Gall Bladder Disease
Pancreatitis
Heart Attack
Stroke
DVT and Pulmonary Embolism
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute:
Prescription Drugs:
Blood Thinners:
National Institutes of Health – Medline Plus
Source:
http://www.mlanet.org/resources/userguide.html#5
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious side effect of taking the combined oral contraceptives Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella. After suffering from blood clotting on Yaz, you are naturally concerned about your health and may have fears about future medical problems.
The Risk of Pulmonary Embolism
If you are diagnosed with DVT and part of the blood clot breaks free and travels to your lung, this can cause a pulmonary embolism. This can be a deadly condition if the clot is large.
Complications After Treatment for DVT
- Post-thrombotic Syndrome. Post-thrombotic syndrome is a long-term condition caused by damage to the leg vein or the vein valves from a blood clot that remained too long. The damaged veins or valves allow blood to backflow, causing blood and bodily fluids to pool in the leg and cause pain, swelling, skin ulcers, darkened skin or varicose veins. This can also lead to another deep vein thrombosis. Treatment with blood thinner medication may be needed for life.
- Hypercoagulability Disorder. This disorder means you have a higher risk of developing blood clots. This is sometimes discovered only after an episode of DVT, and you will probably be put on blood thinners for life.
Avoiding Future DVT
Once you have had deep vein thrombosis and it has been adequately treated, you are at risk for developing it again in the future. There are ways to reduce the risk:
- Smoking dramatically increases the risk of DVT. It is important to stop smoking.
- Losing weight if you are heavy, overweight or obese.
- Exercise regularly.
- Be cautious when traveling. Do not keep your legs in the same position for long periods of time.
- Faithfully take blood thinners that have been prescribed. The medication can prevent blood clots, but only if it is taken in therapeutic range. You will be tested regularly to measure the effectiveness of blood thinners.
Are you on daily blood thinners because of Yaz DVT?
Source:
http://www.everydayhealth.com/heart-disease/dvt/living/index.aspx
http://clotcare.com/clotcare/index.aspx
In October of 2008, the FDA admonished the manufacturer of Yaz for running misleading ads. One of the allegations was that the spots overstated the pill’s effectiveness.
The FDA said that the ads suggested that Yaz can eliminate symptoms of PMDD. This is because of the background music, “Goodbye To You,” and the visuals of women setting free balloons emblazoned with symptoms, implying that the women are now symptom-free. In reality, clinical trials found an average decrease in symptoms of about 37 points with Yaz as compared to 30 points with a placebo, results that do not support the ad’s claims.
Source:
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/EnforcementActivitiesbyFDA/WarningLettersandNoticeofViolationLetterstoPharmaceuticalCompanies/ucm053993.pdf
It is natural after a devastating medical issue to experience stress and anxiety. It is also common to be angry about what happened to you. If you were injured by Yaz, you may also be feeling guilty that your family and friends have to deal with the aftermath. There are ways you can feel better.
You may be recovering from the physical effects of your medical condition, but the emotional and mental aspects of recovery may just be starting. Group therapy and relaxation training has shown to improve the quality of life of patients and improve the outcome of treatment.
Talk Therapy May Help
After a serious illness, there are many ways that a counselor or therapist can help:
- Connect you to support groups.
- Help you cope with the needs of family and friends.
- Help you deal with or reduce the side effects of ongoing treatment or medications.
- Help you manage any continuing pain.
- Help you through the “after-illness experience.”
Don’t Wait
Being upset about having a serious illness is perfectly normal and reasonable. If you cover up negative emotions, it may be harder to get beyond the feelings. Explore the sense of mourning, loss, fear and anger at Yaz you may be experiencing so you can become stronger and better able to manage your health.
After You Are Well
Once you have recovered from the physical condition of being sick you may need help resuming your life. The symptoms may be gone, but your feelings remain. Are you angry about Yaz? Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Source:
http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/illness.aspx
The oral contraceptive Yaz can cause a number of different side effects, ranging from bothersome to life-threatening. The risk of having any of these side effects is magnified if there is a family history of any of those conditions.
Heredity plays a major role in who we are: It determines our eye color, our height, even our food preferences. Traits are passed on from generation to generation, including the susceptibility to certain diseases or conditions like heart attacks and strokes. If your grandmother had cardiovascular disease and your father had it, your chances of having it are higher than those of someone with no family history.
Yaz contains estrogen, a hormone that can increase the risk of blood clots, which can lead to heart attacks or strokes. Estrogen can also cause gallbladder problems like gallstones. The unique progestin in Yaz, called drospirenone, can raise blood levels of potassium. Elevated potassium can lead to kidney and liver problems and an irregular heartbeat.
A family history of heart attack or stroke, blood clots and other conditions increases an individual’s risk of having the same illness at some point in her life. If people in your family suffer from cardiovascular disease or gallbladder issues, you may be at high risk of adverse effects while taking Yaz.
Do you know your family history?
Sources:
http://www.heartsite.com/html/history.html#FH
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4726
http://www.webmd.com/stroke/news/20030424/stroke-risk-often-runs-in-family
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4610
http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEPC/NIH/gene08.php
http://www.essortment.com/all/heartdiseasehe_rvsr.htm
The birth control pill Yaz is known as a combined oral contraceptive, which means it contains two hormones, estrogen and progestin, a synthetic form of progesterone. There are several combined oral contraceptives on the market, but Yaz is different.
Almost all birth control pills, including Yaz, contain the same form of estrogen, ethinyl estradiol. There are various health risks associated with estrogen, including blood clots, stroke and heart attack. Yaz also contains drospirenone, a newer, and very different, progestin ingredient. Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella are known as fourth-generation birth controls because they contain drospirenone.
Drospirenone is Unique to Yaz
Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella (the generic equivalent of Yasmin) are the only combined oral contraceptives that contain the progestin drosperinone. Drospirenone is believed to raise the potassium levels in the blood of women taking the drugs. This can cause complications and conditions that lead to death and serious side effects.
Are you taking Yaz? Are you worried about side effects from Yaz?
Sources:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165486.php
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/business/11pill.html
http://women.webmd.com/features/comparing-birth-control-pill-types-combination-minipills-more
Women taking oral contraceptives may suffer from headaches ranging from mild to severe. While most headaches—even migraines—are not life-threatening, it’s important to understand when a headache is a symptom of a more serious condition.
Many birth control pills like Yaz use a combination of estrogen and progesterone to prevent pregnancy. These hormones can affect headache-related chemicals in the brain and trigger headaches. Many women taking Yaz and other combination birth control pills have had headaches as a side effect. Higher doses of estrogen seem to improve headaches, while lower doses seem to increase them.
Severe headaches are not necessarily dangerous, but they can be a warning sign of other conditions like stroke, brain aneurysm or severe high blood pressure. Signs to watch for include the “worst headache of your life,” fever, stiff neck, rash, confusion, seizures, weakness, dizziness, loss of balance, numbness or tingling, paralysis, speech problems, vision changes or personality changes or inappropriate behavior. If these symptoms are present, immediate medical attention is required.
Oral contraceptives can increase the risk of developing blood clots and high blood pressure, both of which can raise the risk for a stroke. Untreated high blood pressure can also cause an aneurysm or bulge in an artery as it weakens arterial walls. An aneurysm can burst and cause a stroke.
Have you had severe headaches on Yaz?
Sources:
http://www.medicinenet.com/headache/page6.htm
http://www.doctorslounge.com/neurology/diagnosis/pain/headache.htm
http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/symptoms/headache/overview.html
http://mayoclinic.com/health/headaches/HE00003
http://mayoclinic.com/health/symptoms/GA00054/NSECTIONGROUP=2
http://mayoclinic.com/health/hypertensive-crisis/AN00626
http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/when-call-doctor-migraines-headaches
When you’re having medical problems, it may be difficult to share them with the people you love. But it’s important to have a strong support system in place for when things are uncertain. Sharing your struggles with family and friends can provide you with a release valve and help you work through tough times.
Be honest and direct about the ways that people can help you the most and when you need your space. You’ll find that people want to help, but sometimes don’t know exactly what you need. Communication is key in creating an effective support network.
Sources:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ESN/content/ESN_2_1x_Communicating_with_Friends_and_Relatives_About_Your_Cancer.asp
http://www.networkofstrength.org/support/relationships/ff.php
Live Chat
