Yasmin is a birth control pill used to prevent pregnancy. It does not protect against HIV infection (AIDS) and other sexually transmitted diseases.

Who should not take Yasmin:

Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious adverse effects on the heart and blood vessels from the use of birth control pills. This risk increases with age and with heavy smoking (15 or more cigarettes per day) and is quite marked in women over 35 years of age. Women who use birth control pills should not smoke.

Yasmin differs from other birth control pills because it contains a progestin hormone called drospirenone. Drospirenone can increase potassium in your blood. Women should not use Yasmin if they have kidney, liver, or adrenal disease because it can cause serious health problems. Also, Yasmin should not be used by people who have:

• A history of heart attack or stroke
• Blood clots in the legs, lungs (pulmonary embolism), or eyes
• A history of blood clots in the deep veins of the legs
• Chest pain
• Known or suspected breast cancer or cancer of the lining of the uterus, cervix or vagina
• Unexplained vaginal bleeding
• Yellowing of the whites of the eyes or of the skin (jaundice) during pregnancy or during previous use of the pill
• Liver tumor (benign or cancerous)

General Precautions with Yasmin:

For the majority of women, Yasmin can be taken safely. But some women are at high risk of developing certain serious diseases that can be life threatening or may cause temporary or permanent disability or death. The risks associated with taking Yasmin increase significantly if you:

• Smoke
• Have high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol
• Have or have had clotting disorders, heart attack, stroke, chest pain (angina pectoris), and cancer of the breast or reproductive organs, jaundice, or malignant or benign liver tumors.

What should I tell my doctor or health care provider?

Review all medicines that you are taking with your health care provider, including herbal supplements and non-prescription medicines. Tell your health care provider if you are on long-term treatment with any of the medicines below, because you may need a blood test to find out if Yasmin is right for you.

• NSAIDs — ibuprofen (Motrin^®, Advil^®), naproxen (Naprosyn^®, Aleve^®, and others) when taken long-term and daily for treatment of arthritis or other diseases or conditions
• Potassium-sparing diuretics (spironolactone and others)
• Potassium supplements
• ACE inhibitors (Capoten^®, Vasotec^®, Zestril^®, and others)
• Angiotensin-II receptor antagonists (Cozaar^®, Diovan^®, Avapro^®, and others)
• Heparin

What are some possible side effects of Yasmin? (This is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with Yasmin. Your health care provider can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects.)  

The most commons side effects are:

• Headache
• Menstrual changes
• Breast tenderness
• Abdominal cramps and bloating
• Nausea
• Vaginal discharge

For more detailed information about Yasmin, ask your health care provider.

Posted: 11/16/01