Yasmin vs. Yaz

Yasmin (ethinyl estradiol/drospirenone) and Yaz (drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol) are 28-day oral contraceptive pills prescribed to prevent pregnancy.

A difference is Yaz is also used treating premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and treating moderate acne in females at least 14 years of age.

Common side effects of Yasmin include:

• nausea (especially when you first start taking Yasmin),
• vomiting,
• headache,
• bloating,
• stomach cramps,
• changes in weight or appetite,
• breast tenderness or swelling,
• nipple discharge,
• freckles or darkening of facial skin,
• increased hair growth,
• loss of scalp hair,
• problems with contact lenses,
• vaginal itching or discharge,
• changes in your menstrual periods, or
• decreased sex drive.

Common side effects of Yaz include:

• headache,
• changes in your menstrual periods,
• vaginal bleeding between periods (spotting),
• missed/irregular periods,
• nausea (especially when you first start taking Yaz),
• vomiting,
• bloating,
• stomach cramps,
• breast pain/tenderness/swelling,
• nipple discharge,
• fatigue,
• irritability,
• decreased sex drive (libido),
• changes in weight or appetite,
• mood changes,
• freckles or darkening of facial skin,
• increased hair growth,
• loss of scalp hair,
• problems with contact lenses,
• swelling of the ankles/feet (fluid retention), or
• vaginal itching or discharge.

Yasmin is a birth control pill. It contains two female hormones, a synthetic estrogen called ethinyl estradiol and a progestin called drospirenone.

Yaz is a birth control pill. It contains two female hormones, a synthetic estrogen called ethinyl stradiol and a progestin called drospirenone.

The progestin drospirenone may increase potassium. Therefore, you should not take Yasmin if you have kidney, liver or adrenal disease because this could cause serious heart and health problems. Other drugs may also increase potassium. If you are currently on daily, long-term treatment for a chronic condition with any of the medications below, you should consult your healthcare provider about whether Yasmin is right for you, and during the first month that you take Yasmin, you should have a blood test to check your potassium level.

• NSAIDs (ibuprofen [Motrin, Advil], naproxen [Aleve and others] when taken long-term and daily for treatment of arthritis or other problems)
• Potassium-sparing diuretics (spironolactone and others)
• Potassium supplementation
• ACE inhibitors (Capoten, Vasotec, Zestril and others)
• Angiotensin-II receptor antagonists (Cozaar, Diovan, Avapro and others)
• Heparin
• Aldosterone antagonists

Yaz may interact with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, spironolactone, potassium supplements, ACE inhibitors, and angiotensin-II receptor antagonists (ARBs).

1. Be sure to read the directions before you start taking your pills or anytime you are not sure what to do.
2. The right way to take the pill is to take one pill every day at the same time in the order directed on the package. Preferably, take the pill after the evening meal or at bedtime, with some liquid, as needed. Yasmin can be taken without regard to meals. If you miss pills you could get pregnant. This includes starting the pack late. The more pills you miss, the more likely you are to get pregnant. See "WHAT TO DO IF YOU MISS PILLS” below.
3. Many women have spotting or light bleeding at unexpected times, or may feel sick to their stomach during the first 1-3 packs of pills. NDA 21098 Yasmin FDA Approved 9 Aug 2017 21 If you do have spotting or light bleeding or feel sick to your stomach, do not stop taking the pill. The problem will usually go away. If it does not go away, check with your healthcare provider.
4. Missing pills can also cause spotting or light bleeding, even when you make up these missed pills. On the days you take two pills, to make up for missed pills, you could also feel a little sick to your stomach.
5. If you have vomiting (within 3 to 4 hours after you take your pill), you should follow the instructions for "WHAT TO DO IF YOU MISS PILLS." If you have diarrhea or if you take certain medicines, including some antibiotics and some herbal products such as St. John's Wort, your pills may not work as well. Use a back-up method (such as condoms and spermicides) until you check with your healthcare provider.
6. If you have trouble remembering to take the pill, talk to your healthcare provider about how to make pill-taking easier or about using another method of birth control.
7. If you have any questions or are unsure about the information in this leaflet, call your healthcare provider.

1. Be sure to read the directions before you start taking your pills or anytime you are not sure what to do.
2. The right way to take the pill is to take one pill every day at the same time in the order directed on the package. Preferably, take the pill after the evening meal or at bedtime, with some liquid, as needed. Yasmin can be taken without regard to meals. If you miss pills you could get pregnant. This includes starting the pack late. The more pills you miss, the more likely you are to get pregnant. See "WHAT TO DO IF YOU MISS PILLS” below.
3. Many women have spotting or light bleeding at unexpected times, or may feel sick to their stomach during the first 1-3 packs of pills. NDA 21098 Yasmin FDA Approved 9 Aug 2017 21 If you do have spotting or light bleeding or feel sick to your stomach, do not stop taking the pill. The problem will usually go away. If it does not go away, check with your healthcare provider.
4. Missing pills can also cause spotting or light bleeding, even when you make up these missed pills. On the days you take two pills, to make up for missed pills, you could also feel a little sick to your stomach.
5. If you have vomiting (within 3 to 4 hours after you take your pill), you should follow the instructions for "WHAT TO DO IF YOU MISS PILLS." If you have diarrhea or if you take certain medicines, including some antibiotics and some herbal products such as St. John's Wort, your pills may not work as well. Use a back-up method (such as condoms and spermicides) until you check with your healthcare provider.
6. If you have trouble remembering to take the pill, talk to your healthcare provider about how to make pill-taking easier or about using another method of birth control.
7. If you have any questions or are unsure about the information in this leaflet, call your healthcare provider.