yasmin 4 pms/pmdd w/depression - Women's Health Message Board

julie39180 · 06-20-2007, 08:11 PM

anyone out there take yasmin for pms/pmdd with depression? i just started on yasmin on day 4. i also take cymbalta 60 mg. for the depression... i get real depressed 2 weeks before my period and the other parts of the month, im fine. i have been on all kids of depression med. which nothing has helped. so im giving the yasmin a chance. any one have any info good or bad for me????

afchik82 · 07-12-2007, 12:20 PM

I've been on birth control pills for 7 years now and have had many crazy side effects. I've had two periods a month, no periods, periods that lasted 6 weeks, weight gain, mood swings, tender breasts, and depression. I have been on Ortho Tricyclen for about 2 years, but at one point about a year ago my pharmacy switched me to the generic Trinessa. Trinessa was by far the worst. I would get so depressed I would contemplate hurting myself. I would scream at my husband (who I loved dearly the other 4 weeks of the month) and lock myself in my room. I finally switched back to the Ortho and have had less severe PMS, but I still get moody and depressed. I've been taking a B6 supplement (as birth control pills inhibit your body's natural ability to absorb it from your food) and it has helped tremendously. I take between 100-200mg a day. I talked to my doctor and he said it sounded like PMDD, and if I wasn't willing to go on an anti-depressant (that's a last resort to me) then to try Yasmin. Alot of his patients have had success with it. I start mine next week. Let me know how you like it, and I'll let you know how I like it. Aside from the mood swings, Yasmin is supposedly good for your skin and won't make you gain weight. I hope that's true!

jen52983 · 07-12-2007, 02:15 PM

I had a great experience with Yasmin, unfortunately I stopped using it b/c my insurance doesn't cover it and I just couldn't afford it anymore.

I was put on Yasmin to help with severe cramps, depression and mood swings. Yasmin helped me with all of these things and more; no bloating, no cravings, less/no ance breakouts, no aching body, light flow, little/no cramps, and most importantly; no more depression or mood swings.

Now that I've stopped using, I'm starting to ask myself if saving the extra $50 is really worth it, if I'm back to being miserable 2-3 weeks out of the month.

I wasn't on any other meds, so I have no idea how the BC will effect your other medication(s). BC pills are different for everyone, its really just trial and error until you find the one that works best for you. Keep with it for at least 3 months to fully see how it will effect you. My worst side effect with Yasmin was feeling nausiated right after taking it. This lasted for about 2 weeks and lessened if I had a snack with it. Oh, I also head some pretty severe headaches for the first 1-2 weeks. That sucked. Otherwise.. great experience! haha

If your insurance covers Yasmin, then stick with it. If your depression meds seem to treat your depression, then I suggest trying a generic BC just for the financial difference, save some money!

Good luck to ya!

daisy-duke77 · 07-13-2007, 09:25 AM

WOW.........i just posted about PMDD and you ALL sound just like me! I have suffered for years!!!!! and i mean severe! I refuse to take any more anti depressants. My dr just perscribed Sarafem, without telling me this was an anti depressant. I REFUSE to ill the perscription! I have heard of Yaz or Yazmin.............not sure if they are the same pill..........but i have also been on all types of birth control pills in the past, and they all have made me worse with horrible side effects! I now have an IUD and LOVE IT!! Anywayz..........i am going to reasearch along the lines of a natural way to deal with this PMDD! I only have 5to7 days a month that i feel "normal" Otherwise i am out of control! I didnt notice PMS symptoms until i had children. Another thing i have dealt with is...............i have had 3 dr's tell me that there is NO WAY to test hormone levels!!! I am apalled.....as i know there must be a way to check if a woman's hormone's are out of whack! Im scared to death to take anymore anti depressants or birth control pills! It is such a trial and error! The side effects can almost make me more miserable! All i know is that it is definately NOT normal to feel the way we do!!

jen52983 · 07-13-2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daisy-duke77

i have had 3 dr's tell me that there is NO WAY to test hormone levels!!! I am apalled.....as i know there must be a way to check if a woman's hormone's are out of whack!

This is absurd!! What kind of doctors were they?! Of course they can test your hormone levels! What about those men that get their testosterone levels checked?! And what about people who go on meds because one hormone level is higher or lower than it should be?! How do they find that out!?!? Don't people who go to fertility clinics have to have their hormone levels check!?!? Can't they check your hormone levels through blood work?!!? I can't see why they wouldn't be able to!

Because I'm in such disbelief that medical professionals told you this, I'm doing some quick searching online! Here is a blurb of some info I just found:
Here are the specific tests you may want to consider asking for:

FSH Blood Level Measurement
This is the key test to determine whether or not you are in menopause. A sample of your blood is taken to measure the levels of FSH -- follicle stimulating hormone -- in your blood. Because your FSH levels rise when your ovaries stop producing enough estrogen, high FSH levels can signal that your body is entering menopause.

Estrogen (Estradiol) Levels
Estradiol is the primary human estrogen -- and when your ovaries begin to fail, your circulating estradiol levels drop. This is why doctors often give you a serum estradiol concentration test to measure the amount of estradiol in your blood. In this case, the doctor is looking to see if your estrogen levels are lower than normal -- again, a signal of ovarian failure, or, in other words, early menopause.

Other Ovarian Hormones
It's not necessary to determine whether you are definitely menopausal or not, but -- depending on your symptoms -- you or your doctor may also want to test your levels of the other major ovarian hormones: testosterone, progesterone, and luetinizing hormone (LH).

These may not be specific to why you want your hormones checked.. but at least it shows you that there are tests to check hormone levels!! Go to new doctors!