Yasmin

Active Ingredient: Ethinylestradiol, drospirenone.

How does it work?
This medicine is a combined oral contraceptive (often referred to as 'The Pill'). It contains a combination of two synthetic derivatives of naturally occuring sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone, found in the female body. Ethinylestradiol (previously spelt ethinyloestradiol in the UK) is a synthetic version of oestrogen and drospirenone is a synthetic form of progesterone.

During a woman's normal menstrual cycle, the levels of these sex hormones change. Oestrogen levels rise causing an egg to ripen (maturation) and be released from the ovaries (ovulation). This causes levels of progesterone in the body to increase, preventing the release of more eggs from the ovary and preparing the lining of the womb for a possible pregnancy.

Combined oral contraceptives work by over-riding the normal menstrual cycle. Ethinylestradiol prevents the ripening and release of an egg from the ovary. Drospirenone works by tricking the body processes into thinking that ovulation has already occurred. In addition, drospirenone affects the natural mucus at the neck of the womb. It increases the thickness of this mucus making it more difficult for sperm to cross from the vagina into the womb. Drospirenone also acts to change the quality of the womb lining (endometrium). This prevents the successful implantation of any fertilised eggs onto the wall of the womb. When the blood levels of these hormones decrease at the end of each 'cycle' in the packet, a menstrual period occurs.

What is it used for?
Contraception

Warning!
Missed pill: if you forget to take a pill, take it as soon as you remember, and the next one at your normal time. If you are 12 hours or more late, another contraceptive method (e.g. condoms) should be used for the next seven days, whilst continuing with normal pill taking. Read the instructions on your pack carefully regarding missed pills.

Women using this contraceptive for the first time may experience menstrual irregularities such as spotting, breakthrough bleeding or missed periods. Consult your doctor if any breakthrough bleeding persists. If you don't have a withdrawal bleed for two consecutive months you should do a pregnancy test before starting the next month's contraceptive cycle.

Women using hormonal contraceptives should have regular medical check-ups.

It is important to be aware that women using combined hormonal contraceptives appear to have a small increase in the risk of developing a blood clot in a vein or artery (thrombosis), compared with women who do not use these contraceptives. This risk is greater in certain groups of women, particularly smokers. However, this risk must be weighed against the benefits of the contraceptive. Discuss this with your doctor.

You may need to stop using this medicine four weeks prior to any planned surgery and during periods of immobility. You should not usually start using it again until two weeks after you are mobile and moving around again. Discuss this with your doctor.

Women who suffer from a condition called chloasma, which causes yellowish-brown patches of colouring on the skin, particularly the face, should avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet radiation, eg sunbeds or UV lamps, while using this medicine, as they can make this condition worse.

It is important to be aware that women using hormonal contraceptives appear to have a small increase in the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer, compared with women who do not use these contraceptives. However, this risk must be weighed against the benefits of using the contraceptive, which can be discussed with your doctor.

Vomiting and severe diarrhoea may interfere with the absorption of this medicine from the gut and decrease its effectiveness as a contraceptive. If you vomit or have severe diarrhoea within three to four hours of taking a pill, you should take another as soon as possible. If you take the extra pill more than 12 hours later, an additional method of contraception (eg condoms) should be used for the next seven days. Read the instructions in your pack carefully regarding this.

Stop using this medicine and inform your doctor immediately if any of the following occur while you are using this medicine: migraine or severe headaches, disturbance in vision, stabbing pains and/or unusual swelling in one leg, pain on breathing or coughing, sudden breathlessness, sudden severe chest pain, significant rise in blood pressure, itching of the whole body, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), severe abdominal complaints, severe depression, worsening of epilepsy or if you become pregnant.

Use with caution in
Current or previous severe liver disease
Decreased kidney function
Depression
Diabetes
Disorder causing deafness in adult life (otosclerosis)
High blood pressure (hypertension)
High levels of protein and fat compounds (lipoproteins) in the blood (hyperlipoproteinaemia)
History of itchy, blistering rash occurring mainly on the arms/legs during pregnancy (herpes gestationis)
Inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease
Irregular heartbeat caused by very rapid contraction of the top two chambers of the heart (atrial fibrillation)
Life long inherited blood diseases which can cause a variety of symptoms, including mental health problems (porphyrias)
Nervous system disorder in young persons causing involuntary, irregular, jerky movement of the muscles of the face, neck, and limbs (Sydenham's chorea or chorea minor)

Not to be used in
Blood clotting disorders
Current or previous liver cancer
History of blood clot lodged in a vein of the leg (deep vein thrombosis)
History of heart attack
History of migraines
History of small temporary strokes (transient ischaemic attacks)

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

Oral contraceptives should not be used during pregnancy. You should stop taking them and consult your doctor if you do become pregnant.

This medicine may decrease the quantity of breast milk produced and may also be present in breast milk, therefore it should not be taken by breastfeeding mothers. Seek medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
Headache
Breast pain
Changes in blood pressure
Migraine
Vaginal thrush (candidiasis)
Disorders of the menstrual cycle
Changes in sex drive

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the drug's manufacturer.

For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?
If you are taking any of the following medicines at the same time as Yasmin, you should have a blood test during the first month of taking Yasmin to check the amount of potassium in your blood, particularly if have any kidney problems:
- ACE inhibitors, eg captopril
- angiotensin II antagonists, eg losartan
- aldosterone antagonists, eg metyrapone
- long-term non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), eg diclofenac
- potassium supplements.

The contraceptive effect of this medicine may be reduced when it is taken with:
- antiepileptic medicines such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, topiramate, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital and primidone
- antibiotic medicines such as penicillins
- antifungal medicines such as fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole and griseofulvin
- ritonavir
- barbiturates

Tell your doctor if you are taking any of these medicines before starting the pill.

Barrier contraceptives such as condoms should be used whilst taking a short course of antibiotics or antifungals, and for seven days after the course has finished. Barrier contraception, eg condoms, should be used during and for four weeks after stopping a course of rifampicin.

Some women with diabetes may require small increases or decreases in the dose of their antidiabetic medicine while taking this contraceptive. Blood sugar levels should be monitored.

Disclaimer

This Information may change. Therefore, read the product information leaflet provided with the product before using it !

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