Yasmin (Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol)

Yasmin Review

Yasmin is a birth control pill used to prevent pregnancy. Yasmin differs from other birth control pills because it contains a progestin hormone called drospirenone. It does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases.

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Yasmin Drug Class and Mechanism

Drospirenone is a synthetic progestin that is an analog to spironolactone. Its molecular weight is 366.5 and its molecular formula is C24H30O3. The compound is part of certain birth control formulations. Drospirenone differs from other synthetic progestins in that its pharmacological profile in preclinical studies shows it to be closer to the natural progesterone. As such it has anti-mineralocorticoid properties, counteracts the estrogen-stimulated activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and is not androgenic. With its activities similar to spironolactone it may lead to less water retention and breast tenderness and improved skin appearance (less acne).

Yasmin Uses

Oral contraceptives come in packets of 21 or 28 tablets to take by mouth once a day. To avoid upset stomach, take Yasmin with food or milk. Take the tablet routinely at the same time every day (e.g., after dinner or at bedtime) to help you remember to take the tablet regularly. Missing doses increases your risk of becoming pregnant. When first starting on Yasmin, use an additional method of birth control until you have correctly taken 7 days' worth of medicine. If you have a 21-tablet packet, take one tablet daily for 21 days and then none for seven days. Then start a new packet. If you have a 28-tablet packet, take one tablet daily for 28 days. The last seven tablets are a different color. These tablets are not birth-control pills; they contain iron (ferrous fumarate) or an inactive ingredient. You should take one tablet daily continuously for 28 days in the order specified in your packet, starting a new packet the day after taking your 28th tablet. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully concerning when to take your first tablet (on the first or fifth day of your menstrual period or on the first Sunday after or on which bleeding begins). Take the oral contraceptive exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Do not stop taking Yasmin without talking to your doctor. If you have recently given birth, wait until 4 weeks after giving birth to begin taking oral contraceptives. Before taking oral contraceptives, ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer's information for the patient and read it carefully.

Yasmin Side Effects

Oral contraceptives may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

upset stomach
vomiting
stomach cramps or bloating
diarrhea
constipation
gingivitis (swelling of the gum tissue)
weight gain or weight loss
brown or black skin patches
acne
swelling of the hands, feet, or lower legs (fluid retention)
hair growth in unusual places
bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods
changes in menstrual flow
painful or missed periods
breast tenderness, enlargement, or discharge
difficulty wearing contact lenses
Some side effects can be seious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately:

severe headache
shortness of breath
severe vomiting
partial or complete loss of vision
double vision
speech problems
dizziness or faintness
weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
crushing chest pain or chest heaviness
coughing up blood
calf pain
severe stomach pain
yellowing of the skin or eyes
severe depression
unusual bleeding
loss of appetite
extreme tiredness, weakness, or lack of energy
fever
dark-colored urine
light-colored stool
rash

Yasmin Pregnancy

Yasmin Overdose

Serious ill effects have not been reported following acute ingestion of large doses of other oral contraceptives by young children. Overdosage may cause nausea, and withdrawal bleeding may occur in females. Drospirenone, however is a spironolactone analogue which has antimineralcorticoid properties. Serum concentration of potassium and sodium, and evidence of metabolic acidosis, should be monitored in cases of overdose.

Non-Contraceptive Health Benefits
The following non-contraceptive health benefits related to the use of oral contraceptives are supported by epidemiological studies which largely utilized oral-contraceptive formulations containing doses exceeding 0.035 mg of ethinyl estradiol or 0.05 mg mestranol.

Effects on menses:

increased menstrual cycle regularity
decreased blood loss and decreased incidence of iron-deficiency anemia
decreased incidence of dysmenorrhea
Effects related to inhibition of ovulation:

decreased incidence of functional ovarian cysts
decreased incidence of ectopic pregnancies

Yasmin More Information

Your healthcare provider will take a medical and family history before prescribing oral contraceptives and will examine you. The physical examination may be delayed to another time if you request it and the healthcare provider believes that it is appropriate to postpone it. You should be re-examined at least once a year. Be sure to inform your healthcare provider if there is a family history of any of the conditions listed previously in this leaflet. Be sure to keep all appointments with your healthcare provider, because this is a time to determine if there are early signs of side effects of oral contraceptive use. Do not use the drug for any condition other than the one for which it was prescribed. This drug has been prescribed specifically for you; do not give it to others who may want birth-control pills.