Yaz Risks

Yaz and Yasmin are oral contraceptives utilized by women to prevent pregnancy. The medications contain estrogen and a progestin called drospirenone which work to prevent ovulation from occurring, thus preventing pregnancy. Yaz is also approved to treat moderate acne vulgaris (acne) in women who have already experienced their first menstrual period and are 14 years of age or older.

Side Effects

The use of Yasmin and Yaz may cause a patient to experience certain side effects. Common side effects patients may notice following the use of Yaz or Yasmin include:

• Nausea
• Breast pain or tenderness
• Weight gain
• Vomiting
• Breakthrough bleeding during menstrual periods

Serious Side Effects

Though the following serious side effects occur rarely in those using Yaz or Yasmin, patients taking the medications are at risk of experiencing the following conditions:

• Deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in the leg)
• Pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lungs)
• Stroke or heart attack
• Breast cancer
• High blood pressure
• Liver cancer
• Liver tumors
• Severe liver bleeding  

Risk Factors

Certain women are at a greater risk of experiencing certain side effects associated with Yaz and Yasmin. Women over the age of 35 and heavy smokers (15 or more cigarettes daily) are at an increased risk of adverse reactions including adverse cardiovascular effects (blood clots, blockages, heart attack and stroke), increased potassium levels, liver tumors, and breast cancer. Additional conditions that increase the risk of side effects include:

• Migranes
• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Severe chest pains
• Jaundice
• Liver tumors
• High cholesterol
• Blood-clotting disorders

Drug Interactions

Patients taking Yaz or Yasmin may experience additional adverse reactions when taking the contraceptives with certain medications. Drugs that increase potassium levels may negatively interact with the hormone in Yaz and Yasmin, causing a patient’s potassium levels to increase to dangerous levels within the body. Potassium-increasing medications that may react negatively with Yaz or Yasmin include:

• Potassium supplements
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (pain relievers) such as ibuprofen and naproxen that are taken every day or for extended periods of time
• Potassium-sparing diuretics (spironolactone)
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors ( such as Capoten, Vasotec, Zestril)
• Angiotensin-II receptor antagonists (such as Cozaar, Diovan, Avapro)
• Aldosterone antagonists
• Heparin

Black Box Warning

A black box warning appears on all Yaz and Yasmin packaging warning consumers of the increased risk of serious cardiovascular side effects that may occur when patients use oral contraceptives while smoking cigarettes.Patients age 35 and older and heavy smokers who smoke 15 or more cigarettes daily are more likely to experience cardiovascular complications.