YASMIN (Drospirenone; Ethinyl estradiol) – Complete Guide

Yasmin is a prescription medicine used to treat Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, trouble concentrating, lack of energy depression, sleep, joint or muscle pain, headache appetite changes, breast tenderness, and weight gain.), moderate acne (in girls who are at least 14 years of age and have started getting their periods and plans to use birth control pills), and prevent pregnancy.

It is a combination of two hormones: estrogen (Ethinyl estradiol) and progestin (Drospirenone) and is prescribed as a combined oral contraceptive consisting of 21 light yellow tablets with active ingredients and 7 white inactive tablets.

The YASMIN pack contains 21 active tablets and 7 inactive tablets (28 tablets). The first course of the YASMIN pack is started on day 1 of the cycle (first day of the menstrual period) from the silver section of the pack by selecting the tablet for that day of the week (e.g. “FR” for Friday). The tablet is swallowed with some liquid. Thereafter one tablet must be taken daily for 28 days following the direction shown by the arrows. It does not matter at what time of the day the tablet is taken, but once you have selected a particular time, the tablet should be taken at the same time each day.

Withdrawal bleeding usually starts on day 2 or 3 after starting the inactive tablets and may not have finished before the next pack is started. Each subsequent pack is started in the silver section the day after the last tablet of the current pack. If you start YASMIN during the latter part of the week, the very first cycle may be slightly shortened.

You should start with YASMIN on the day after the last active tablets of your previous combined oral contraceptive, but at the latest on the day following the usual tablet-free or inactive tablet interval of your previous combined oral contraceptive. In case you have used a vaginal ring or transdermal patch, you should start using YASMIN on the day of removal, but at the latest when the next application would have been due. If you follow these instructions, it is not necessary to use an additional contraceptive method.

You may switch any day from the minipill, from an implant or the IUS on the day of its removal, and from an injectable when the next injection would be due, but in all these cases you are advised to use an additional barrier method for the first 7 days of tablet-taking.

If you are breastfeeding and want to take YASMIN, you should discuss this first with your doctor, who will advise you.

Your doctor will advise you.

There has not yet been any clinical experience of overdose with YASMIN. There have been no reports of serious harmful effects from overdose in preclinical studies. If you have taken several tablets at a time, you may have vomiting, nausea, or vaginal bleeding. If you discover that a child has taken YASMIN, ask your doctor for advice.

• If you are late in taking an active tablet (less than 12 hours), the reliability of the pill is maintained.
• If you are late in taking an active tablet (more than 12 hours), the reliability of the pill may be reduced. The more active tablets you have missed, the higher the risk that the contraceptive effect is decreased.

Missed 1 tablet in the first 7 days of active tablet-taking (days 1 to 7):

Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember and that also means taking two tablets at the same time and then take the next tablet at the usual time. And for the next 7 days, use extra contraceptive precautions (barrier method). If you have had sexual intercourse in the week before missing the tablet, there is a possibility of becoming pregnant, so tell your doctor immediately.

Missed 1 tablet in the second 7 days of active tablet-taking (days 8 to 14):

Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember and that also means taking two tablets at the same time and then take the next tablet at the usual time. If you have taken all your tablets correctly in the 7 days before the missed tablet, the reliability of the pill is maintained and you need not use extra contraceptive precautions.

Missed 1 tablet in the third 7 days of active tablet-taking (days 15 to 21):

You may choose either of the following options, without the need for extra contraceptive precautions.

1. Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember and that also means taking two tablets at the same time and then take the next tablet at the usual time until the active tablets are used up. The 7 inactive tablets must be discarded, (i.e. after taking the last light yellow tablet discard the current pack). Start
   the next pack right away, with the first light yellow tablet from the silver section. You may not have
   withdrawal bleeding until the end of the active tablets in the second pack, but you may have breakthrough bleeding on active tablet-taking days.
   or
2. Stop taking tablets from your current pack, have a tablet-free break of 7 days or less (also count the
   day you missed your tablet), and then continue with the next pack, starting in the silver section with
   the active tablet (light yellow) for the appropriate day of the week. If you have forgotten tablets in a pack and you didn’t have your period as expected, you may be pregnant. Consult your doctor before you start the next pack.
3. Inactive tablet-taking: Missing the white tablets can be disregarded. However, the missed inactive tablets should be discarded to avoid unintentionally prolonging the inactive tablet phase.

What to do if:

If you have severe diarrhea or vomiting after taking active tablets, the active ingredients of the tablet may not have been completely absorbed. If you vomit after taking your tablet within 3 to 4 hours, this is like missing a tablet. Therefore, follow the advice for missed tablets. If you have severe diarrhea, contact your doctor. Vomiting or diarrhea while taking the inactive tablets does not have an influence on contraceptive reliability.

You want to delay a period:

You can delay your period if you start with the next pack of YASMIN tablets immediately after finishing
the active tablets of your current pack (do not take the inactive white tablets). You can continue with this pack until it is empty, to get a period approximately 3 weeks later than usual. While using the second pack you may have some breakthrough bleeding or spotting on active tablet-taking days.

You have unexpected bleeding:

With all pills, for the first few months, you can have spotting or breakthrough bleeding between your periods. You would need to use sanitary protection, but continue to take your tablets as normal. Spotting or breakthrough bleeding usually stops once your body has adjusted to the pill (usually after about 3 tablet-taking cycles). If it continues, becomes heavy, or starts again, tell your doctor.

You have missed a period:

If you’ve missed a period, consult your doctor.

When you want to stop taking YASMIN:

You can stop taking the YASMIN tablets at any time you like. If you do want to get pregnant, it is recommended that you wait until you have had a natural period before trying to conceive. This helps you understand when the baby will be due.

• Store at or below 30 ºC.
• Keep the medicines out of sight of children.
• Do not use the tablet after the expiry date.
• Return any unused medicine to your pharmacist.
• Do not dispose of unused medicine in toilets.

The active ingredients are: ethinylestradiol (0,03 mg) and drospirenone (3 mg) and the other ingredients are macrogol 6000, magnesium stearate Ferric oxide pigment yellow (E172), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, lactose monohydrate, pregelatinized starch, talc, titanium dioxide (E171). maize starch, povidone K25.

• Mood swings or depression

• Reduced sex drive

• Migraine

• Headache

• Nausea

• Abdominal pain

• Breast pain, bleeding between periods, genital tract bleeding (vaginal bleeding) not further specified

• Increased weight

• Less frequent side effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, fluid retention, breast enlargement, rash, urticaria (hives), contact lens intolerance, vaginal discharge, breast, discharge, erythema nodosum, or multiforme (skin disorders)

Do not use YASMIN, if you have any of the conditions or diseases listed below. If you do have any of these diseases or conditions. tell your doctor before starting YASMIN. Your doctor may tell you to use a different type of contraceptive pill or a different (non-hormonal) method of birth control.

• If you have or have ever had disorders affecting the blood circulation: like thrombosis (blood clot) in the blood vessels of the legs (deep vein thrombosis), the lungs (pulmonary embolism), or other parts of the body. Contact your doctor if you show symptoms of thrombosis, myocardial infarction, or a stroke (such as unusual cough, pain in the chest that may reach the left arm, breathlessness or difficult breathing, severe or prolonged headache or migraine attack, partial, double, or complete loss of vision, speech disability, sudden change to your hearing, sense of smell, or taste, dizziness, weakness or numbness in any part of your body, severe pain in your abdomen or swelling in either of your legs)

• If you have or have ever had a condition that may be the first sign of a stroke (such as transient ischaemic attack or small reversible stroke) or a heart attack (such as angina, pectoris, or chest pain).

• If you have or have had a heart attack caused by a blood clot or a rupture of a blood vessel in the brain.

• If you have a history of migraine accompanied by speech disability or weakness or numbness in any part of your body or visual symptoms.

• If you have jaundice.

• If you have diabetes mellitus (along with blood vessel damage).

• If you have or have had cancer that may grow under the influence of sex hormones (e.g. breast or the genital organs).

• If you have or have had a benign or liver tumor.

• If you have an acute failure of your kidney or severe kidney insufficiency.

• If you have undiagnosed vaginal bleeding.

• If you are allergic to ethinylestradiol or drospirenone or any of the other ingredients of YASMIN tablets ( it may cause itching, rash, or swelling).

• If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant or think you might be pregnant.

If any of these conditions appear for the first time while taking the pill, stop taking it and consult
your doctor (use non-hormonal contraceptive measures in the meanwhile).

General notes:

You should not have sexual intercourse and you should take extra precautions, e.g. use a condom or another barrier method. Do not use temperature methods. These methods are unreliable because
YASMIN alters the changes in temperature and cervical mucus that typically occur during the menstrual
cycle.

Another important note is that oral contraceptives do not protect against HIV infections (AIDS) and
other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Women should be advised that additional measures should be taken to prevent the transmission of STDs and HIV infection.

Tell your doctor before starting to use YASMIN:

• If you smoke, especially if you are older than 35 years of age;

• If you have diabetes;

• If you are overweight;

• If you have high blood pressure;

• If you have superficial phlebitis (inflammation of your veins);

• If you have a heart valve disorder or rhythm disorder;

• If you have varicose veins;

• If anyone in your immediate family has had a thrombosis, a heart attack, or a stroke;

• If you suffer from migraine;

• If you suffer from epilepsy;

• If you have an increased potassium blood level (due to problems with your kidneys) and also use diuretics that may increase the potassium in your blood.

• If you or someone in your immediate family has or has had high blood levels of cholesterol or if anyone in your immediate family has had breast cancer;

• If you have Crohn’s disease

• If you have liver or gallbladder disease;

• If you have ulcerative colitis (chronic inflammatory bowel disease):

• If you have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE);

• If you have haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS);

• If you have sickle cell disease, sickle cell anemia, or other sickle cell conditions);

• If you have a condition (e.g. hearing loss, porphyria, herpes gestationis, Sydenham’s chorea) that occurred for the first time or worsened during pregnancy or previous use of sex hormones;

• If you have or have had a yellowish-brown pigmentation patch on the skin called chloasma, particularly on the face if so, avoid exposure to the sun or ultraviolet radiation.

• If you have hereditary angioedema such as swollen tongue, face, pharynx, difficulty swallowing, or hives together with difficulty breathing.

If any of the above-mentioned conditions appear for the first time, worsen or recur while using the pill, you should contact your doctor.

• Yasmin and cancer: Breast cancer has been diagnosed slightly more often in women who use the pill than in women who don’t use the pill.
• The risk factor for cervical cancer is a persistent human papilloma virus infection. There are studies indicating that long-term use of the pill can increase the risk, but is not fully proven.

Contact your doctor as soon as possible if:

• you notice any changes in your own health, (check the above-mentioned conditions and do not forget about the items related to your immediate family);
• you feel a lump in your breast;
• you are going to use other medications;
• you’re planning to have surgery (consult your doctor at least four weeks in
• advance);
• you have heavy vaginal bleeding;
• you forgot tablets in the first week of the pack and had sexual intercourse in the seven days before;
• you have severe diarrhea;
• you miss your period twice in a row or think if you’re pregnant (do not start the next pack until told by your doctor).

YASMIN cannot be used by women who are pregnant, or who think they may be pregnant. Consult your doctor if you think you might be pregnant. It also cannot be used during breastfeeding (consult your doctor for more information).

Some medicines can make YASMIN less effective in preventing pregnancy. These include medicines
used for the treatment of epilepsy, tuberculosis, and HIV infections, antibiotics for some other infectious
diseases; and the herbal remedy St. John’s Wort (used for the treatment of depressive moods).
Medicines like erythromycin, ketoconazole, and cyclosporin may inhibit the metabolism of YASMIN.
The pill may also interfere with the working of other medicines,(medicines containing cyclosporine, or anti-epileptic lamotrigine).