Brand Name

Yasmin {Bayer HealthCare}

Generic Name

drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, pronounced dro SPY re known and ETH in il ESS tra dy ol

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Drug Guide

The information contained in the following drug guide is intended as an educational resource only. This guide is not exhaustive and does not contain all available information about this drug.This guide is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment.

The information provided in this guide does not replace the need for the advice and services of medical professionals or the need for medical examination. Always talk to your physician or pharmacist before taking any prescription medication or over the counter drugs (including any supplements) or before making any changes to your treatment. Only your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can provide you with safe and effective advice regarding your drug treatment.

The use of the information in this guide is at your sole risk. This information is provided "AS IS" with no warranties to accuracy or timeliness.

**All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

What is Yasmin?

Yasmin is a birth control medication, used to prevent pregnancy. Yasmin is a combination medication which helps to prevent ovulation and cause changes in your cervical mucus and uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and also harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus. You may also be prescribed Yasmin to treat moderate acne if you are a female at least 14 years of age, and if you also wish to use birth control pills to prevent pregnancy.

Yasmin may also be used for purposes not described in this medication guide.

Key Facts About Yasmin

Some drugs may make Yasmin less effective in preventing a pregnancy, including antibiotics, hepatitis C medications, HIV/AIDS medications, seizure medications, or barbiturate sedatives. You should tell your doctor about all of the other medications you take.

Yasmin does not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS. The only way to prevent these diseases is to use a condom. If your sexual partner develops HIV or a sexually transmitted disease while you are using Yasmin, or if you have any change in sexual relationships you should tell your doctor right away.

You may need to use back up birth control, like a condom, when you first start using Yasmin or if you miss a dose.

Yasmin can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby, and it may also slow breast milk production. You should not use Yasmin if you are breast feeding a baby.

If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are breast-feeding you should not use Yasmin. The hormones in Yasmin can cause birth defects.

Before You Take Yasmin

If you are allergic to ethinyl estradiol you should not use Yasmin.

If you have a history of uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart disease, a blood-clotting disorder, circulation problems or a previous heart attack, stroke or blood clot caused by a birth control pill you should not use Yasmin.

Do not use Yasmin if you are pregnant or if you have recently had a baby.

If you have had diabetic problems with your eyes or kidneys, unusual vaginal bleeding, liver disease or liver cancer, severe migraine headaches, if you smoke and are over 35, or if you have ever had breast or uterine cancer you may not be a candidate for a Yasmin.

Tell your doctor if you have severe migraine headaches (with aura, numbness, weakness, or vision changes), jaundice caused by pregnancy or birth control pills, diabetes, an underactive thyroid or gallbladder disease before using Yasmin.

Tell your doctor before starting treatment with Yasmin if you have depression, seizures or epilepsy, tuberculosis, a history of irregular menstrual cycles, toxic shock syndrome, or easy vaginal irritation.

Let your doctor know if you have a history of fibrocystic breast disease, lumps, nodules, or an abnormal mammogram before using Yasmin.

If you have varicose veins, high cholesterol or triglycerides or if you are overweight inform your doctor before beginning treatment with Yasmin.

Yasmin Drug Interactions

You should inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following:

• ACE inhibitors
• AIDS or HIV drugs
• antibiotics
• barbiturates like phenobarbital (Solfoton)
• bosentan (Tracleer)
• dantrolene (Dantrium)
• hepatitis C drugs
• rifampin
• seizure medications
• St. John’s wort
• tizanidine (Zanaflex)
• tranexamic acid (Cyklokapron, Lysteda)
• tuberculosis medication

Other drugs you take that are not listed may interact with Yasmin. You should tell your doctor about all of the medications you use. This includes prescription drugs, vitamins, supplements and herbal products, and over the counter medications. You should not begin taking a new medication without telling your doctor first.

Directions for Using Yasmin

Use Yasmin exactly as your doctor has prescribed you to. Do not use it in larger or smaller amounts or for shorter or longer than recommended. Yasmin comes with patient instructions for you so you can use this medication safely and effectively. Be sure to follow these instructions carefully.

You will take your first Yasmin pill on the first day of your period, or on the first Sunday after your period begins. You may need to use back-up birth control, like a condom, when you first start using Yasmin.

You should take one Yasmin pill every day, but no more than 24 hours apart. When the pills run out you should start a new pack the following day. You may get pregnant if you do not take one pill each day. Be sure to get your prescription refilled before you run out of Yasmin.

You will start your Yasmin pack by taking one yellow Yasmin pill, beginning on the first Sunday after your menstrual period. You will take one yellow Yasmin pill daily for 21 consecutive days, followed by one white tablet daily on Days 22 through 28. You should take Yasmin in the exact order directed on the package, and at the same time each day, preferably after the evening meal or at bedtime with some liquid.

The Yasmin 28 day birth control pack will contain 7 “reminder” pills to keep you on your regular cycle. Your menstrual cycle will normally begin while you are using these “reminder” pills. You will begin taking your next pack of Yasmin pills the day after you have finished your last white “reminder” pill, regardless of whether your menstrual cycle has stopped or not.

It is normal to experience breakthrough bleeding, especially during the first 3 months of treatment with Yasmin. Tell your doctor if you have bleeding that is heavy or continues daily throughout the month.

If you become ill with severe vomiting or diarrhea you should use back-up birth control.

Store Yasmin at room temperature and away from both moisture and heat.

If you miss one active, Yasmin pill, take two pills on the day that you remember. Then take one pill per day for the rest of the pack.

If you miss two active pills in a row in Week 1 or 2, you should take two pills per day, for two days in a row. Then you will take one pill per day for the rest of the pack. If this occurs you should use back-up birth control for at least 7 days following the missed pills.

Missing two active pills in Week 3, or missing three pills in a row during any of the first 3 weeks will make the rest of your pack ineffective. You must throw out the rest of your current pack of Yasmin and start a new pack the same day, if you are typically a Day 1 starter. If you normally start on a Sunday you should continue taking pills from your current pack, and start your new pack on Sunday. When Sunday arrives throw out your old pack. Be sure to use back-up birth control during this time.

If you miss two or more pills, you may not have a period during that month. However, If you miss a period for two months in a row you should call your doctor as that might be a sign that you are pregnant.

If you miss one of the 7 “reminder” pills, it is fine. Continue taking one pill a day on your schedule, but throw out the “reminder” pill that you missed to avoid confusion. You do not have to use back-up birth control if you miss a reminder pill.

Yasmin Side Effects:

Contact your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• allergic reaction including breathing difficulties, hives and swelling of your face, lips, throat or tongue
• breast lump
• chest pain or a heavy feeling with pain spreading to your arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating and a general ill feeling
• clay colored stools
• depression symptoms
• severe or sudden headache
• jaundice or a yellowing of your skin or eyes
• nausea and upper stomach pain
• numbness and weakness that is sudden, or on one side of your body
• pain and swelling, warmth, or redness in one or both legs
• pattern or severity change in migraine headaches
• swelling in your hands, ankles or feet
• urine which is very dark
• wheezing and cough along with rapid breathing and coughing up blood

Less serious side Yasmin effects may include:

• appetite and weight changes
• bloating
• breast pain, tenderness and swelling, possibly nipple discharge
• contact lens problems
• darkening of facial skin
• decreased libido
• dizziness
• freckles
• hair growth that is increased
• mild headache
• loss of scalp hair
• mild nausea
• nervousness
• stomach cramps
• feeling tired
• vaginal discharge or itching
• vomiting

It should be noted that this is not a complete list of possible side effects of Yasmin. You should contact your physician for a complete list and medical advice regarding these effects.

Yasmin Description and Dosing

Yasmin is available in blister packs of 28 film-coated tablets, which are round and bi-convex. There are 21 yellow tablets each containing 3 mg drospirenone (DRSP) and 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol (EE), and embossed with a “DO” in a regular hexagon on one side. There are 7 inert “reminder” white tablets, embossed with a “DP” in a regular hexagon on one side.

If you believe that you have overdosed on Yasmin you should seek emergency medical help immediately.

Ingredients in Yasmin

Yasmin contains drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol as the main active ingredients.The inactive ingredients in the yellow tablets are lactose monohydrate NF, corn starch NF, pregelatinized starch NF, povidone 25000 NF, magnesium stearate NF, hypromellose USP, macrogol 6000 NF, titanium dioxide USP, talc USP, and ferric oxide pigment and yellow NF. The white inert film-coated tablets contain lactose monohydrate NF, corn starch NF, povidone 25000 NF, magnesium stearate NF, hypromellose USP, talc USP, and titanium dioxide USP.

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The information contained in this drug guide is intended as an educational resource only. This guide is not exhaustive and does not contain all available information about this drug.This guide is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment.

The information provided in this guide does not replace the need for the advice and services of medical professionals or the need for medical examination. Always talk to your physician or pharmacist before taking any prescription medication or over the counter drugs (including any supplements) or before making any changes to your treatment. Only your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can provide you with safe and effective advice regarding your drug treatment.

The use of the information in this guide is at your sole risk. This information is provided "AS IS" with no warranties to accuracy or timeliness.

**All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.