Thread: What was your experience on yaz?

I am 27, have been taking Yaz for a couple of months, and recently decided to discontinue the medication. I did extensive research about the pill before taking my first dose, and was prepared for at least three months of unpleasant side-effects (nausea, headaches, spotting/bleeding, etc.) before seeing results, which, due to the extremely painful and heavy periods I have experienced for some time, seemed like a worthwhile trade-off.

A year or so after my menses started, I began taking a series of hormonal birth control pills, to help alleviate very unpleasant and painful menstrual symptoms (that I later discovered to be endometriosis). I don't remember the brand names of all the pills I tried over the course of a couple years, but I do remember taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen. Because of my adverse reactions to these medications, I stopped hormonal therapy all together for several years. Between 18-21 I was on Depo-Provera for 6-9 months at a time, though I eventually discontinued this as well due to side-effects.

Two months ago, I began taking Yaz to help minimize my pain and bleeding (though I have a ParaGuard IUC as my bc of choice), and was optimistic that, perhaps, this newer formulation of hormones would work better for me. I gave an extremely (probably annoyingly) thorough medical history to my doctor, including details about my previous experiences with hormonal birth control, current diagnoses and conditions (including major clinical depression for which I take medication), symptoms past and present, and just about anything else a doctor might need to know.

Initially, I experienced symptoms of constant, extreme nausea (for about 3 weeks) and occasional vomiting, headaches (for about 10 days), breast soreness, and moderate spotting. However, the spotting was preferable to the three previous months that I'd been bleeding and in pain almost constantly, and I had expected the nausea, breast tenderness and headaches.

Unfortunately, the nausea never went away, but became intermittant. I had a span of about 10 days that I had virtually no pain or bleeding, but it was regrettably short-lived.

Some of the side-effects that I have been experiencing in my second month have included: extreme sleepiness (12-16 hours a day at times) alternating with insomnia (which I have dealt with for some time, but has become worse); very low and sharp abdominal pains; severe stomach aches after eating; sharp pains (almost cramp-like) in my biceps and left shoulder; stiff neck and upper back (possibly from sleeping so much); drastic decrease in urine output, combined with it being much darker and having a strange, strong odor; a feeling of emotional numbness; extreme lethargy; vague muscle pain; mild flu-like symptoms; and sore throat.

The most serious side-effect, however, started not long before my decision to stop the medication. I started becoming teary in situations that would normally not elicit that reaction from me, and finally, being unable to control my very intense crying (with no catalyst) at work over the course of 4 hours (thankfully, it was an overnight shift). Though I have dealt with serious depression for years, these emotional symptoms are completely unlike what I experience during a depressive episode. I felt deeply sad, unhappy and hopeless in a way altogether different from my clinical depression symptoms.

I will be discontinuing the Yaz with my next dose, and will be trying alternative methods to deal with my symptoms of endometriosis. I was very hopeful that, despite the many negative reviews of Yaz that I found online, it would help me regulate my hormones and cycles. Unfortunately, it did not work for me; however, I have also read many positive reviews of this medication, and strongly believe that the success or failure of hormonal treatments depends largely on the body and chemical makeup of the person taking them.

I will be seeing my primary care physician on Dec. 8th, and will be having her check me out to make sure no permanent or serious damage has been done (I'm a bit concerned that the medication may have affected my kidneys and/or bladder). I would STRONGLY encourage those of you who are currently struggling with negative side-effects from this medication to discuss the issues you're having with your doctor, even if you're planning on continuing. And, if your doctor tries to discount your symptoms, find a different one who will listen!

[It is important to note that many of the more minor side-effects, such as nausea, were greatly reduced by making sure that I took my pill at exactly the same time each night (which is a challenge for me), and that I would start experiencing side effects such as cramping, nausea and headaches within a couple hours of the missed dosage time. So if any of you are experiencing unpleasant side-effects, but would like to try sticking it out for a while longer, it might be worth a try to set an alarm and take it at precisely the same time every day, and see if that helps to alleviate any of the symptoms.]

Well I started Yaz at age 22, I was totally healthy and had never been sick a day in my life (other than common colds and a GI illness or two). About four months into taking YAZ, I developed nausea and abdominal cramps that lasted about 48 hours and the nauesa and vomiting progessivly became worse. I went to my primary doctor who sent me to the hospital for IV fluids and tests and I was diagnosed with a "necrotic gall bladder". I went immediatly to the operating room and had it removed. During the sickness I'm sure my body did not absorb the BCP's and I did not recieve them in the hospital. I had 2 periods before restarting YAZ.
Then 2 months later I began having feelings of dizziness. My primary doctor gave me a medication for vertigo. Then I felt weak, like I was going to pass out if I stood from a sitting position or bent over and returned upright quickly...my doctor told me to drink more water. Then I developed headaches and constant arm pit sweating as the previous symptoms became worse. I recieved a prescription antiperperant and started medication for hypertension and added another vertigo medication that basically sedated me. This all occured over a 8 month period after re-starting YAZ and I realized I had gained 22 lbs over that time, when I felt like all the time. I talked to my primary MD and GYN MD and neither offered a solution except both offered me antidepressents and added ANOTHER pill for blood pressure. At the advice of my then fiance I started those: so I am 22 and taking 5 medications/day and generally feel like .
At the advice of my mother I went to see an endocrinologist (my mom thoght I had thyroid issues). She (the new doctor) did a massive amount of blood work and met with me two different times. On the second visit she told me to stop YAZ and see her in two months....I go back and my B/P is low and she tells me there is ALOT of info coming out about YAZ...she tells me I can try stopping B/P, anti-deppressants, and vertigo meds. I go back at 2,4,6 and 8 weeks following that and I have had ZERO dizzy spells, my blood pressure is normal, I do not feel depressed, and I am shedding pounds. The endocrinologist then informed me that she felt YAZ may have been responsible for my gall bladder disease at such a young age. She sent me to see my GYN who said YAZ was a GREAT drug he had never heard of any problems with it. He reluctanly gave me ortho-tricyclene.
I later changed to another GYN and now have a Mirena IUD that is AWESOME

Originally Posted by Mes_T

Stina, have you considered other pills or even an IUD? I just think that those side effects that you're still experiencing aren't necessary...

I have been thinking about an IUD.

I'm not sure if this is supposed to happen, but I still keep feeling my usual mid-cycle ovulation cramps/lower back pain I felt when not on any BC. Always 17 days after my last period, without fail. Aren't you not supposed to ovulate while on BC? I don't get it.