Yasmin (drospirenone, ethinyl estradiol) is a combined hormonal contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy, in treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and in treatment of moderate acne.

This medication should not be used in girls who have not yet had their first period or while pregnant or breastfeeding. Yasmin tablets contain lactose.

A Healthier You with Yasmin

Yasmin is taken the same in all conditions it treats, and will prevent pregnancy regardless of why it's taken. Yasmin comes in tablets, of which there are 21 for each month. The manufacturer recommends taking tablets at the same time each day, to keep levels of the medication consistent in the body and to help remember to take them.

Each of the 21-day tablets is marked with a day of the week; take Yasmin exactly as directed, in the order indicated on the blister packaging.

Take one tablet each day, starting either on the first day of menstrual period or on the first Sunday after menstrual onset. If switching from another hormone-based product, Yasmin should be started the same day the replaced dose would have been due.

Yasmin does not become effective until a week of treatment has elapsed. Alternative measures of birth control should be employed during this time.

Vomiting or diarrhea can interfere with absorption and alternative, non-hormonal contraceptive measures should be taken. Vomiting within three to four hours of a dose constitutes a missed dose; an alternative dose should be administered if this happens. Note that this can mess up the 21-day dosing schedule; keeping an alternative package to the side for such fill-ins may be beneficial.

After reaching the end of the 21-day period, no tablets should be taken for one week. During this no-tablet week bleeding should occur; it may take a couple of months of treatment for this to become the new norm. Bleeding may or may not have finished by the time the week is up and it's time to take the next batch of 21-day pills; treatment should resume regardless.

Getting started is the hardest part of Yasmin for most patients. Once the first month is over---with all 21 pills taken---most patients are good to go, with few problems remembering to take tablets.

Warnings before Use

Drugs or herbal products that induce certain enzymes may decrease the effectiveness of combined oral birth control or increase breakthrough bleeding. Such products include:

• Phenytoin
• Barbituates
• Rifampin
• Carbamazepine
• Felbamate
• Topiramate
• Grisofulvin
• St. John's wort

Significant changes (increase or decrease) in the plasma levels of estrogen and progestin have been noted in some cases of co-administration with HIV protease inhibitors or with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Cigarette smoking increases the risk of serious cardiovascular events from combination oral contraceptive use. This risk increases with age, particularly in women over 35 years of age, and with the number of cigarettes smoked. For this reason, Yasmin should not be used by women who are over 35 years of age and smoke.

Yasmin should also not be used by anyone diagnosed with:

• Adrenal insufficiency
• Renal impairment
• High risk of deep vein thrombosis
• High risk of pulmonary embolism
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• Diabetes mellitus
• Migraine headaches with or without aura
• Breast cancer, now or in the past
• Liver impairment

Common side effects of Yasmin use include:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Tender breasts
• Irregular periods
• Abdominal pain
• Depression
• Irritability
• Mood swings

The above side effects, though fairly common, are usually minor and not cause for concern unless severe enough to be disruptive. In many cases they will stop occurring with a month or two of use, as the body adjusts to treatment.