YAZ Concern

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2003
YAZ Concern
5
Sat, 09-16-2006 - 9:14pm

For those of you who have been prescribed YAZ, were any of you given a blood test to check potassium levels?? I am due to start this pill for the first time tomorrow (Sunday), and I will, but frankly the more I read about it the less I like it. I am due to see my Dr. on Wednesday to go over other test results and will discuss it further with him then.

Any feedback??

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-18-2006
In reply to: sugarsmak
Sat, 09-16-2006 - 11:36pm

I wouldn't really worry about it. If you read the package insert, it specifically states who shouldn't take it for the increase and potassium side effect. I did not have my potassium levels tested before I started the pill, but I imagine it is just a precaution your doctor is taking. If they are too high, he will probably look for another option (and I wouldn't worry about starting the pill tomorrow, since you will be seeing him so soon... worse comes to worse, you just stop taking the pill). If you don't take NSAIDs all the time (instead of motrin I take tylenol now, and it's fine for me), and don't use other supplements or products that increase potassium, I really think you will be alright. I think it is responsible of your doctor to check your potassium levels, and I think if you have anything to worry about, he will let you know.

Good luck! I hope it works out for you.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-20-2006
In reply to: sugarsmak
Sun, 09-17-2006 - 1:58am

Hey,

I just started Yasmine about a week ago for the first time. It's my first pill ever, and I'm only taking to regulate my hormones. It's a cousin to Yaz and has the same ingredient that is a diuretic and can cause your normal body water levels to decrease and potassium increase. Like you, I read the book and though, "um, no" on the product. I actually called my NP who seemed insulted that I questioned her judgement on what pill I should be on. I asked for the potassium blood test that they recommend, but was denied by her saying I had no diagnosis. (???) But, I'm already at risk because I'm overweight and well, I was just worried. So anyways, I was kind of afraid to cross that lady again and I decided to go ahead and start it (three weeks later). Most people notice that they pee a lot more, but I have not. I acutally generally retain some water in my legs and was hoping at best that would go away, but it hasn't either. Before I took it I read up like crazy on the possible side effects and their symptoms so I would know if I was experiencing any of them. I take mine at bedtime and when I woke up Monday morning two things happened-I had a terrible charlie horse in my leg and crazy hiccups. So muscle spasms-which can be related to excess potassium. But they can also be related to inbalance electrolytes and given that I had a stomach bug I decided that was the likely cause. I drank gatorade the next night when I took my pill and that problem seemed solved. Anyways, the only other thing I've noticed is nausea. Right now I can't really eat anything without feeling like barfing until about four o'clock in the afternoon. I think today (day 6) it might be starting to ease up. Other than that things still seem okay-even though I do wonder about the potassium myself. I don't need a heart attack. I can't believe I'm not ALLOWED to have mine checked. I have insurance, it's not great, but I mean, geez. Not ALLOWED!? I'm going to bookmark this as I'm really interested to see what your doc says. I may have to switch to a real doc-I'm not sure the NP thing is for me. Good luck though. I was really scared to start medicine at all...not a big fan of it.

Sarah

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2003
In reply to: sugarsmak
Sun, 09-17-2006 - 11:04am

Thanks for the reply-

I didn't have my levels checked either. I just wondered if anyone else had. I am very healthy, no meds (other than YAZ), daily women's multi-vitamin, calcium supplement and fiber supplement. Nothing in a prescription form.

I just hope this pill works for the reason intended, which for me is BTB and hopefully relief as far as heavy periods are concerned. We'll see.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-18-2006
In reply to: sugarsmak
Sun, 09-17-2006 - 11:53am

I hope it works for you too! I take a woman's multivitamin too (it's called "Just Once - Women's One, by Rainbow Light), and I also take extra Vitamin B supplements and Omega 3s.

I didn't have breakthrough bleeding on it (or haven't yet, just starting month 3 now), but I have read about people who have it in the beginning... and Yaz mentions it on its website as something to expect the first month (but it's supposed to go away). I know a few people who had it, stuck it out, and it went away...

As far as heavy periods go - mine have been less than two days long (one was a day and a half and one was less than a day!)... and so light. Even the one when I started the pill (I was a day 1 starter), I think was shortened.

I know everyone is different, and this is just my experience... but I really hope it works out for you!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2006
In reply to: sugarsmak
Mon, 09-18-2006 - 3:46pm

Just thought I'd put in my two cents...

Like you, I was really nervous about bcp of any kind. I probably read up on them too much, and freaked myself out. Anyway, I've been on Yaz for nearly two months and haven't really had any problems. I'm sure your doctor is just being cautious. I like Yaz so far. I hope you have good luck with it.