Drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder User Reviews (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• December 6, 2011

Yasmin (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "I have been on Yaz for 2 months now to fix my newly discovered hormonal imbalance. I felt the effects of the pill after a week. I am far more emotional and am seriously depressed. Major mood swings. On a happier note my periods are regular and last 4 days with little cramping and little to no bloating. Above all I do not feel myself. Once my 3 month trial is done I'm definitely going to explore my options and steer away from birth control. I do not feel myself anymore."

• Anonymous
• July 21, 2009

Yasmin (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "So far I really like Yasmin, I had a mild problem with acne and serious mood swings. I was also having a significant amount of dark coarse facial hair due low amounts of estrogen. I've seen improvements in all 3 areas. I started taking Yasmin on the second day of my period and by the third day, my period was gone. The only downer is that it makes me really tired. I'm always a little cranky because I'm sleepy. It seems as though Yasmin is good for a lot of other problems young women have and it's just a plus that it prevents pregnancy."

• Loz
• January 27, 2020

Loryna (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "Loryna has helped my PMDD somewhat. I also have cut meat mostly and am very active and limit drinking. My issues with this are breast pain, constant bloat. I thought I had a sensitive gut before but have issues where my pants sometimes don’t fit by the evening. I drink tons of water and limit inflammatory foods but it still doesn’t help. I bleed randomly. Right now I have 5 pills left before the white pills and am bleeding. I spotted for a week before that. This happens without rhyme or reason. My skin looks good but to be honest, I take good care of it. I am sure it’s contributing but habits are, too. The headaches I get on this medication are terrifying and sometimes last three days. I felt so validated finding this forum because I thought something was really wrong. My libido is significantly lower and it’s difficult to achieve arousal. I never had an issue with that before. The worst: my blood pressure is now elevated. I just asked my dr about an alternate treatment."

• AMAZING
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2022

Yaz (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "I don’t ever write reviews but I need to help some girl who is potentially going through the same situation as I was 4 months ago…! I was very on and off about whether or not I wanted to try Yaz as I had heard good reviews but then very horrific ones about blood clots that scared me so bad. I went to the doctors twice in one week as I was having the worst panic attacks due to me thinking I would get a clot, however I tried again and the first 2 months I was quite short tempered and very tired and my skin also got worse, however I persisted and the only negatives now 4 months in is that I do tend to get tired more often and sensitive to sad things, along with a lower libido, butttt the pill has completely gotten rid of my PMS and I feel so much more level headed and calm. I also don’t get severe sugar cravings like I used to and have actually lost some weight, my skin is clear and periods are pretty much gone in 3 days! (Also no pregnancy;)"

• Cano
• April 28, 2018

Yaz (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "I started taking Yaz about 6 months ago. I suffer from very severe and painful PMDD & periods (I bloat for like 10 days before my period), have had a fibroid removed, ovarian cyst ruptures etc etc (just bad luck overall with my reproductive system). Docs have put me on a lot of pills in the past. I have to say Yaz is the only pill that has ever helped with my physical symptoms. But, it has also had the most crippling effect on my mental health. I've experienced sadness, anxiety, hopelessness and worthlessness like never before. I cry at the drop of a hat (not normal for me), I can't focus (and I'm in grad school), if my boyfriend doesn't text me back for a couple hours I'm basically on my death bed. It's crazy. I really thought I was going super crazy but I'm pretty sure it's this pill. I'm going to see a doc about it to see what they have to say. It sucks what we have to go through - choosing between pain and discomfort or damaged emotional health!"

• Anonymous
• August 15, 2008

Yaz (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "I took Yaz for 6 months with good results, but not complete relief of my PMDD. Due to an insurance goof up I was unable to get my medication for 2 months (it is more than I can afford out of pocket). During those 2 months I realized how much it had been helping me. My periods were much lighter and the bloating and tenderness were much worse when I was off of them. I'm am back on Yaz now and my doctor has combined it with Zoloft so hopefully I will be back to "normal" soon."

• Missy
• October 15, 2020

Gianvi (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "I have been on Gianvi around 7 months now for PMDD. Prior to Gianvi I had the copper IUD which I didn't like. Every month would get suicidal depression before my period. I did the research found out about PMDD. I started taking Gianvi and my 1st month on it was happiest I'd been in awhile. I felt a lot more balanced and less stressed. Maybe it was placebo affect bc the following months weren't necessarily as great but my PMDD was still WAY better. Last month switched me to loryna which was making me feel so depressed and crazy I stopped taking it after 2 weeks. After a lot of desperate searching I found another pharmacy that carries Gianvi & am back on it. It has only been a few days & I feel back to normal. I haven't had any negative effects, no weight gain & if anything my skin has improved. I know birth control isn't necessarily the most natural or healthy thing but it is better than feeling suicidal every month. I have tried lots of different birth controls & this is the only one I have liked."

• Ellie
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2019

Nikki (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "1st time using birth control and I’m taking it for PMDD & heavy/painful periods. About to finish my 1st pack. I was scared when I first started the pill - lack of emotions, no focus, irritability, a bit of stomach upset. Mood was the worst- I was swinging high and low & felt like I was on a roller coaster. I already struggle with depression/anxiety, so the birth control was worsening my mental health. HOWEVER- I think my body has adjusted to it now & I’m feeling a lot better. My mood is stable & I feel like my focus is back. Been spotting brown & it’s beginning to turn into blood now, but pretty light. I’ve had minor cramping but it’s nothing compared to before. It’s crazy to have my period so light & not painful. Giving the 3 month trial period a chance to make sure this is a good med for me. All I can recommend for other people is to give it a chance. You can always get off it if you need to...don’t judge the pill based on negative symptoms you have in the first few weeks."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 20, 2018

Yaz (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "My period used to be 7 days, with 3 really heavy days where I would have to change a S+ tampon out every 4-5 hours & had cramps that would double me over & send me to the bathroom with diarrhea. My breasts would become sensitive & swell & I would just feel generally disgusting. I only had 1 week/month to actually enjoy life without period-related issues. Now, the only time I cramp significantly is the first couple of days of it, but even then not much. I also might get a single pimple. My period averages 5 days & a regular tampon is sufficient for at least 4 hours even on the heaviest day. It took about 4 months for my body to start getting used to it & now it's been 7 months & I think I've fully adjusted. The only negative side effect that I've noticed is that I have to take it at exactly the same time every day or I'll spot until my next period. I may be able to take it an hour late once, but I once took it a couple of hours late 2 days in a row & I spotted every day for the next 3 weeks."

• Cali
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 28, 2021

Yaz (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "Yaz completely gave me my life back, I had/have really bad PMDD that was affecting my life heavily. I wish PMDD was a more commonly known thing it so easily it gets brushed off as PMS or moodiness as I did for about a year. I didn't know it existed until a few months ago hence not looking for a cure. I think I'll take this forever the improvement is unbelievable PMDD is all but gone. Also worth mentioning I add vitamin b6 in the PMS period but it's definitely predominantly the yaz that's fixed me."

• sadgirl
• February 24, 2020

Gianvi (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "This pill was great for the first couple months. My acne cleared, which was a problem due to my PCOS, and my periods were finally regular. I could feel these mood swings coming on, but I felt like a demon. This all hit me full force after I passed the third month. I was irritated at the smallest things, zero libido, it was an out of body experience. My self esteem plummeted to where I never wanted to even look at myself, severely depressed and anxiety which I have not struggled with in the past and gained 15 pounds out of nowhere. I couldn’t go an hour without crying. One day and almost had to pull over while driving because I couldn’t breathe. The way these hormones hit me was a nightmare, I am never ever going back to the pill. I’ve done too much trial and error for this, it’s not worth my mental health/state of mind. One week off of it and I feel like myself again, thank goodness. Avoid Gianvi if you want to keep your brain the same!!!!"

• yourn...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 3, 2013

Gianvi (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "I took Gianvi for about a year for my PMDD. Since doing it I noticed a very uplifting change in my mood and irritability. I was no longer aggressive and I didn't burst into tears at least once a day before my period so that is a definite improvement. I went off of it, changed it to Loryna and then changed back to Gianvi. Right now I have horrible cystic acne from switching around my medicine but it works wonders on my hormones which to me is the important part."

• Vada
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 10, 2018

Nikki (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "I suffered with SEVERE menstrual cramps and symptoms that’s it put me in the hospital 3x now. I started Nikki to see if it would help. I have no problems with this birth control at all, and I’ve been on it for over a year now! I was switched to Loryna for a time because my pharmacy stopped carrying Nikki and it was nothing but awfulness those couple of months before I was switched back. I have no side effects, the energy I need, and motivation to get up and about. I’ve read lots of bad reviews about this medication, but I’ve had nothing but excellent experiences with this medication! I do wish they would stop slowing removing it from my pharmacies. I’ve had to switch between 4 different pharmacies to find it..."

• Karey
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 18, 2019

Yasmin (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "Yasmin was prescribed by my gynaecologist to balance my hormones. I have struggled with depressive episodes before but been well for the last 1.5 years. I have been on Yasmin for the last 2 weeks and they have been my darkest days, darker than my previous depressive episodes. I couldn't recognize myself, my sex drive has been zero, had no desire to live, and had no interest in my work. Am only a day off Yasmin and I feel much better mentally. I regret not taking seriously the huge list of side effects indicated in the large pamphlet. If you have struggled with depression, Yasmin is not for you."

• texas...
• February 19, 2012

Yaz (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "Started taking Yaz for heavy periods and very severe PMS/PMDD. Two weeks in to the first pack and I started bleeding. Not just normal but really bad bleeding. A week later and I was in the emergency room being admitted for severe blood loss and had 3 units of blood transfused."

• Irrit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2017

Loryna (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "I recently started taking birth control for my PMDD and this is my second pack (Gianvi with my 1st, Loryna for the 2nd). I'm also diagnosed with GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) with Panic Disorder and depressive symptoms. When I was taking Gianvi, I had no anxiety, mood swings, a short period that lasted 4 days (it used to be 7-9), and my relationship around people, especially my boyfriend, is stable. It's only been my third week of using Loryna, and my anxiety and depression is back, I break out easily, I've been feeling this terrible ache in my lower abdomen, and I've been constantly arguing with my boyfriend. I'm definitely calling my doctor to change prescriptions!!!"

• pmsin...
• June 19, 2015

Yaz (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "Well, this was a last resort for my PMDD, which is pretty much destroying my life. I was VERY nervous about taking it - not interested in hair loss, weight gain etc. But I gave it a chance. 3 days in, developed a cluster of hives on left hand, and one on right hand. Extremely itchy. Absolutely no other changes in my products/lifestyle/food/etc.. So I know it's Yaz. Also all over burning/itchiness. Sun & showers make it worse. On day 4, realized I felt less..calm.. more anxious. Also finding it difficult to sleep. Doc claimed 'unlikely Yaz causing this'. Yeah, right. Told me to take Zyrtec for symptoms. Nope. This isn't working for me."

• Erin
• June 18, 2020

Nikki (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "I'm affected by PMDD & really wanted Nikki to work. The first couple of weeks were okay, minor side effects like breast tenderness, but I was okay. Then gradually, little things started bothering me more to the point I was seething from them. I'd suddenly start crying out of nowhere. Then I'd be sad or triggered by something else. I lost interest in activities that brought me happiness & I just sat around in a miserable heap. I couldn't focus on things & sometimes I'd forget about something I had just done. I also had anxiety over the increased risk of blood clots, like there was an invisible guillotine just hanging over my head that could drop any second, & I'd be maimed or dead from it. I really wanted to get to three months hoping side effects would subside & everything would suddenly be okay, but I only made it into my seventh week before I got so depressed it scared not only me but my husband as well. When something makes PMDD sound tolerable, you know it's bad."

• Anonymous
• December 2, 2011

Yaz (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "I have been taking Yaz for roughly around 7 years, it was a miracle pill for my PMDD when I first started taking it. Over the past 3-4 years I have not been feeling up to par. Severe allergies, fatigue, mouth ulcers, no interest in sex, moodiness and stomach pain are just a few of the things I had been experiencing. After a bout of moodiness and having to be talked to twice at work (this never happens, I pride myself in my work ethics) I finally decided to check into the background and rare side effects of Yaz, I have been experiencing all of them! I'm not suggesting this will happen to everyone but if you start to not quite feel yourself it never hurts to check into your medications background. I will stop taking Yaz!"

• Anonymous
• November 12, 2009

Yaz (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "I took Yaz because of my problems with tiredness and heavy mood swings. While on the pill and I noticed it made them 1000000 times worse. However, it did make my periods light which was super nice for a change. I took this pill for only 3-4 months then had to switch because my boyfriend and family were sick of me being moody all the time."

• Holly
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 21, 2012

Gianvi (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "I loved Gianvi. I took it for about 5 years, and noticed minimal side effects. I feel like birth control pills really help stabilize people who have hormonal mood problems to begin with; but if they are fine to begin with, they throw it off balance and cause side effects. I was not fine to begin with. Very irregular, heavy, painful periods, hormonal acne, and PMDD. Gianvi stabilized me. One thing I did notice was my hair growth pretty much stopped for some reason, which was weird. But that was the only side effect. Cleared my skin."

• Tanya...
• May 22, 2010

Ocella (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "I started taking Yasmin when I had a continuous period of bleeding for 2 1/2 months. I took it for 2 years until Ocella came out as the generic form of Yasmin. I had no complaints and it helped regulate all my symptoms and made that time of the month more bearable for me. I could get out of bed and actually function the way I normally do. The only downside I had to taking this is I did develop Gallbladder disease and ended up having an emergency gallbladder removal. I would recommend that anyone who takes this watch what they are eating too and limit lots of fatty foods."

• Sadee
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 15, 2018

Yaz (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "Yaz improved my PMS symptoms however I noticed a dramatic increase of melasma (dark spots) on my face. After researching I found this to be a possible side effect. I stopped taking it approximately 6 months ago and the spots have been fading gradually. Personally I think there are too many potential side effects to risk taking this medication."

• valer...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2023

Yasmin (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "I have tried many different birth control pills. I already have depression, anxiety, and PMDD. I got off Nuvaring for infection reasons and asked to be put on this to help my PMDD. The first day after taking the pill, I was violently angry. It was so bad, and I also felt suicidal. I had to stop taking it immediately. This is a bad birth control pill for me. I don't know about other people maybe it will be okay for some people?"

• Gogog...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 9, 2013

Gianvi (drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol) "First off I'd like to state that before I got on birth control I had HORRIBLE HORRIBLE cramps! I mean completely miserable! But after I got on Gianvi my miserable horrible cramps are gone. Yeah I may have some minor pains here and there but at least I can still function and make it to my classes! Also I've noticed that my weight hasn't changed at all. I'm just happy that I don't become sad and miserable when my period comes. One negative would be that my sex drive has decreased. But hey, it is called "birth control"."