Yasmin

Generic name: Drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol

Drug class: Contraceptives

Dosage forms: Tablet

Root of administration: Oral

Dose: 3 mg of drospirenone and 0.03 mg of ethinyl estradiol

Mechanism of action: Yasmin, a combination oral contraceptive pill, works through a combination of mechanisms to prevent pregnancy. The two active ingredients in Yasmin, drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, contribute to its mechanism of action.

Drug usage cases: Yasmin also causes changes in your cervical mucus and uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus. Yasmin is used as contraception to prevent pregnancy.

Drug contra indications: Taking Yasmin can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack. You are even more at risk if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, or if you are overweight. Your risk of stroke or blood clot is highest during your first year of taking birth control pills. Your risk is also high when you restart birth control pills after not taking them for 4 weeks or longer. Smoking can greatly increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack. Your risk increases the older you are and the more you smoke. You should not take Yasmin if you smoke and are over 35 years old. You should not take Yasmin if you have:

an adrenal gland disorder; kidney disease; untreated or uncontrolled high blood pressure; heart disease (coronary artery disease, history of heart attack, stroke, or blood clot); an increased risk of having blood clots due to a heart problem or a hereditary blood disorder; circulation problems (especially if caused by diabetes); a history of hormone-related cancer, or cancer of the breast, uterus/cervix, or vagina; unusual vaginal bleeding that has not been checked by a doctor; liver disease or liver cancer; severe migraine headaches (with aura, numbness, weakness, or vision changes), especially if you are older than 35; a history of jaundice caused by pregnancy or birth control pills; if you smoke and are over 35 years old; or if you take any hepatitis C medication containing ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (Technivie). To make sure Yasmin is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

heart problems, high blood pressure, or if you are prone to having blood clots; high levels of potassium in your blood; high cholesterol or triglycerides, or if you are overweight; depression; liver or kidney disease; underactive thyroid, diabetes, gallbladder disease; or a migraine headache.

Side effects: Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Yasmin: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Yasmin and call your doctor at once if you have:

signs of a stroke – sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), sudden severe headache, slurred speech, problems with vision or balance; signs of a blood clot – sudden vision loss, stabbing chest pain, feeling short of breath, coughing up blood, pain or warmth and swelling in one or both legs; heart attack symptoms – chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating; liver problems – loss of appetite, upper stomach pain, tiredness, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); increased blood pressure – severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears; swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet; a change in the pattern or severity of migraine headaches; or symptoms of depression – sleep problems, weakness, tired feeling, mood changes.

Warnings: You should not take Yasmin if you have: an adrenal gland disorder, kidney disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart disease, coronary artery disease, circulation problems (especially with diabetes), undiagnosed vaginal bleeding, liver disease or liver cancer, severe migraine headaches, if you also take certain hepatitis C medication, if you will have major surgery, if you smoke and are over 35, or if you have ever had a heart attack, a stroke, a blood clot, jaundice caused by pregnancy or birth control pills, or cancer of the breast, uterus/cervix, or vagina. Taking Yasmin can increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack. Smoking can greatly increase your risk of blood clots, stroke, or heart attack. You should not take Yasmin if you smoke and are over 35 years old.

Use during pregnancy or breastfeeding: Do not Yasmin use if you are pregnant or if you recently had a baby. Stop using Yasmin and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant, or if you miss 2 menstrual periods in a row. If you have recently had a baby, wait at least 4 weeks before taking this medicine. The hormones in Yasmin can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. This medicine may also slow breast milk production. Do not use if you are breast feeding.