Yasmin

Uses of Yasmin and Its Side Effects

Yasmin is a specific combination of two hormones: progestin and estrogen, and it’s taken by women to prevent pregnancy. Basically, it works by preventing ovulation or release of an egg during a menstrual cycle. This medication also makes vaginal fluid thicker to prevent fertilization.

Besides, its intake can make periods more regular, reduces the risk of having ovarian cysts and decreases painful periods and blood loss.

It’s not recommended to start this treatment if women are smokers and over 35 years old. That’s because smoking increases their risk of having heart problems, hypertension and blood clots, and this risk increases with age, too.

Basic Tips on How to Use Yasmin

This medicine should be taken by mouth on a daily basis and without skipping regular doses because it may result in unwanted pregnancy. Each pack contains 21 pills with hormones, and patients need to take a 7-day break before starting a new pack.

Possible Side Effects

The use of Yasmin may result in a set of unwanted side effects, including the following:

• Headaches and sudden weight changes;
• Vomiting and nausea;
• Breast tenderness and bloating;
• Swelling or fluid retention.

Vaginal spotting or bleeding between periods may happen, especially for newcomers. Most women don’t experience any unwanted symptoms when taking Yasmin, but if you notice the following serious adverse effects, it’s necessary to contact your doctor right away:

• Unusual vaginal bleeding changes;
• High potassium blood levels;
• Blood clots;
• Unusual confusion and sweating;
• Shortness of breath;
• Jaw or chest pain;
• Dizziness and fainting;
• Coughing with blood;
• Vision changes and loss of coordination;
• Slurred speech;
• Yellow skin or eyes;
• Dark urine and lumps in breasts;
• Stomach pain and allergic reactions;
• Mood and mental changes.

Important Precautions for Patients

Before women start taking Yasmin, they need to tell their doctors whether they have any allergies to estrogen or progestin.

They also need to share their entire medical history, especially if they have blood clots, adrenal gland issues, uncontrolled or untreated hypertension, cancer, abnormal breast tests, diabetes, heart conditions, liver or kidney problems, unexplained vaginal bleeding, obesity, depression, high cholesterol levels, swelling, history of yellow skin, gallbladder diseases, etc.

Drug Interactions That Must Be Avoided

There are certain medications that shouldn’t be combined with Yasmin to avoid increased side effects and other unwanted results.

They include aromatase inhibitors, ospemifene, tizanidine, raloxifene, tamoxifen, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, NSAIDs, pain killers, water pills, rifamycins, barbiturates and others.

That’s why women need to inform their physicians about all the other pills that they take before starting this treatment. Finally, Yasmin may affect the results of different lab tests.