Drospirenone / ethinyl estradiol for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• Haf...
• July 20, 2016

"I've been on Yaz for 7 months now, and I am extremely happy with it. I was always a ravenous, aching, emotional mess before my period. It was hard for me to function when I was in uni since I could skip classes and lie in bed and cry. I couldn't do that when I started working, though. Yaz now makes me a functional human being every day of the month, and even gave me clear skin and an increase in appetite as add-on rewards! The adjustment period was shitty for me because I breakthrough bled my way through my first three months on Yaz, had really bad mood swings that came without notice, and then had a two-week long period. After that period, though, my body has accepted Yaz as its own, and my life is stellar!"

• Eva...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2016

"I'm just simply amazed, and I hope this continues to work. I've only taken 2 doses of Yaz, and I went from constantly struggling with physical and emotional symptoms of PMDD and overall hormonal imbalancement to feeling much more at peace with myself. I feel light, and my body feels calm. I had anxiety, anger, I was hypersensitive and so negative - I felt it physically. I would physically shake from anger. I could feel my uterus contract and cramp up when I got hurt and was angry. My PMDD had started early just 3 days ago when my breasts just felt so heavy with cysts that were so painful - it hurt to just get out of bed. I could sleep all day. I was cranky and could not stand being touched by my BF. Constipation and lots of gas as well."

• CCa...
• May 23, 2019

"I got diagnosed with PMDD when I was 16, and I was put on Yaz the day my symptoms started to occur (ovulation), and it worked almost immediately. I haven’t had an issue since with pregnancy or PMDD. This medication does make me slightly nauseous, and since taking it, my appetite has changed a lot, and some foods I once loved now repulse me, but it’s manageable and way better than dealing with PMDD."

• MRG...
• August 17, 2010

"I suffered with PMDD for over 20 years. This included bad acne, terrible mood swings, recurring infections such as bladder and yeast, having to be bedridden the entire week prior to my period, terrible joint pain, and water retention. I had seen all types of doctors, given tests for diabetes to STDs- as they couldn't figure out what was ailing me. I had doctors recommend Prozac and large amounts of Ibuprofen... none of this helped. It was by luck, my doctor was not available and I saw a different physician that prescribed Yaz. I can honestly say this medicine has CHANGED MY LIFE. I feel like a new person and spent 20 years in pain. Thank you Yaz for giving me my life back- I LOVE THIS MEDICATION AND MY NEW LIFE!"

• Gra...
• March 30, 2017

"I started having PMDD when I was 24. I would be depressed and suicidal for 3 weeks every month, and I knew those feelings were not real, so I tried to fight it by exercising, yoga, massage, and oils. After 3 years, I finally decided to try birth control. I've read bad reviews about Yaz, but it's what doctors recommend for PMDD. I decided to give it a shot. The first week, I felt nauseous with migraines. But in the first month, my suicidal idealizations are gone, and I felt like I'm just having normal PMS. I'm starting my 3rd pack and really happy with the results."

• Fin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 10, 2021

"I am 38 years old. Got the Mirena IUD after my last child, who is now 13. The Mirena completely ruined my life. I kept BV the whole 5 years I had the Mirena, as well as recurrent yeast infections and persistent, drenching night sweats. I’m also convinced it ruined my thyroid, as I am now 2 years post-partial thyroidectomy due to a large, unexplained thyroid nodule. I went 10 years after having the Mirena removed before trying any kind of birth control. Due to PMDD and persistent night sweats, I then tried LoLo Estrin and then Balcoltra, but both caused extreme swelling in my legs. I took Yasmin as a teenager with no problems, and I have now completed my first month as a 38-year-old with no issues other than slight nausea. No PMDD, no leg swelling, no night sweats. Oh, and I’ve lost 8 pounds of pure water weight this month. Do not believe the negative reviews!! This has literally saved my life, my job, and my marriage!!!!"

• Eli...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 3, 2016

"I was having pretty heavy PMS and a very irregular menstruation cycle. Now I'm almost on my first year with Yasmin and never have PMS anymore. I feel even happier as my period gets closer. All thanks to Yasmin. It took a little time for my body to get adjusted. Almost for the first 2 months, it made it worse than ever. But I knew that was going to happen, so I was patient. And it ended up extremely well. I recommend it for anyone having severe PMS and emotional problems related to their period. It's also really good to know exactly when to have your period."

• Suz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 8, 2020

"I'm 3 months in on Nikki after switching from an IUD. Acne is about the same, but that's never really been a huge issue. I still have spots here and there, but nothing crazy. I didn't spot, and my periods (which I didn't have on IUD) are light, regular, and only last 3-4 days. What I really wanted was to clear up my mood swings. Once a month, I broke up with my poor boyfriend. I literally went crazy and couldn't think straight. But since I've started this pill, I've had no issues."

• ana...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 29, 2019

"I began using Yaz 7 months ago on my mother and sister's recommendation (my sister also suffers from PMDD and has been taking Yaz for years). For the first few months, I saw a drastic improvement: my mood was better, my skin cleared up, my boobs got bigger, etc. However, I have recently decided to come off Yaz as I was starting to experience negative side effects, mainly the worsening of my mood. I was suffering from immense mood swings and a lot of the time feeling very depressed. My periods were becoming irregular (for example, coming before I had begun the sugar pills), and I also started suffering from severe headaches every day. Now, every experience is different as my sister has had no trouble for years, so I think it is worth a try, however, I strongly suggest you keep some sort of record of all the symptoms you are feeling and keep an eye out as it took me a while to realize things were going downhill again."

• Anonymous
• June 24, 2011

"I had horrible PMDD that lasted 2 weeks every month that translates into half of my life. During PMDD, I suffered from depression, fatigue, and mood swings. I was a completely different person. It interfered with my work, and I was calling in sick at least every other month. I am convinced my boss thought I was faking illness because of the frequency of calling in sick, and I never 'sounded' sick. Anyway, thanks to Yaz, my life has changed so much for the better. Sometimes I will have a little PMS mood swing, but nothing like before. My energy and moods stay consistent through the month now. It is wonderful to feel back in control of my emotions. Thanks, Yaz."

• adh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2023

"Okay, so I’m here for all the people who are terrified and see all these bad reviews. Keep in mind, people are more likely to share bad experiences, so just remember there are good ones too! I used to take Gianvi, and then it sadly was discontinued. CVS started giving me Nikki. It was awful. So the pharmacist looked up other generics of Yaz, and he ordered me Loryna. I figured I’d give it a go. It helps me a lot, I used to have awful cramps, nausea, and migraines before my period. I also would have awful mood swings and would lash out at my husband. I haven’t had that at all with Loryna! I also skip the placebos because my periods are so rough, and that makes my life so much easier. If you’re scared and see all these reviews, just remember, everyone’s different! Give it a try, and if it doesn’t work, it’ll be okay! Just let your ob-gyn or pharmacist know."

• Sha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 15, 2018

"Taking Yaz for 6 months now, and it's been life-changing. The anger, depression, and anxiety have decreased tenfold. I am taking the brand and forking over that $$$ every month. Fearful to take the generic and go through the symptoms again. Anyone else have good experiences with the generic Yaz?"

• ECa...
• October 31, 2018

"Around my 20s, I started having depression, rage, general apathy, and anxiety. It didn't occur to me for years that these symptoms were due to PMDD. I started taking Yaz at 36, and I'm now 43 and have just stopped taking it due to mineral deficiencies detected while checking my bloodwork for something else. Yaz was working for me. No more horrible mood swings, my relationship is better, my skin cleared up. It was great! Now, I have anxiety attacks, depression, it's much easier to gain weight, and I now have increased blood pressure, and my pulse is elevated at rest. Yaz literally saved my life for years, but now, I'm taking natural supplements for mood/mental health, thyroid, and mineral support. Your heart is nothing to play with. If you are taking this for acne only, then don't. Yaz was designed for women who suffer from PMDD; if you don't already have it, then this particular pill may cause symptoms of it. I use Proactiv, and it works like a champ. Good luck to all of you and be well."

• hol...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 27, 2020

"I started taking Nikki mainly for my PMDD. I used to get it so bad the 2 weeks leading up to my period-extreme anxiety about everything, panic attacks, zero energy or motivation, suicidal ideation, and even attempts. I was seriously considering dropping out of university and getting my uterus removed before finally getting prescribed Nikki! It took around 4 months to really notice any difference, but I’ve been on it for about a year now and my mental health has never been better! I feel like a normal person now. Also, I used to have cystic acne (even Accutane didn’t clear it up), but Nikki has made my skin amazing. I haven’t noticed much weight gain or hair loss either. I also skip the placebo pills, so I don’t get my period, and it works perfectly for that."

• ann...
• February 11, 2013

"Like most people have said, Yaz changed my life. I've been on it for a few years for PMDD, and I can really tell a huge difference. Before PMDD, I was severely depressed and suicidal. Now, I'm barely even moody. As a 21-year-old though, I'm worried about relying on Yaz for the rest of my life."

• Cta...
• November 13, 2020

"So I've been on Yaz for over 2 years now for acne, PDD, and birth control! The first year, I took about 5 months to fully transition onto it. I was taking it because I had bad acne and the pain with my periods was crazy! I briefly stopped Yaz after a year, as I started having a bit of spotting in the middle of my packs, so I tried Yasmin for a couple of months, which absolutely did not suit me! My breasts hurt so bad, even when I was just walking. I went back on Yaz just over a year ago, and I've never been happier. I feel normal, I feel like everything is under control. My gynecologist advised me that maybe my body just needed a break for it to come back and continue to be effective. As of now, I have a period every 2-3 months, as I 'skip' my periods as my gynecologist advised, and my skin has been amazing. The pain is hardly there, and I've never been happier. Everyone's body is different, everyone has different levels of progesterone and estrogen in their body, so every pill will affect everybody differently. Find what's right for you!"

• Vic...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 19, 2019

"Best thing ever. Lifesaver. Game changer. I tried other BC but had the worst PMS (PMDD) - heavy, painful periods, depression, anxiety, and acne, which would lead to skin infections/inflamed skin for 2-3 weeks; I was miserable all month. Once I began taking Yaz, it felt like a veil lifted. Horrible PMS became a thing of the past. Physically, my boobs maybe went up a cup, and my skin cleared up. My periods weren’t as heavy or painful. I didn’t have as much of a sex drive, but for me, being sane was worth the trade-off. For me, the brand name worked best. Hands down."

• Tan...
• September 29, 2019

"I took this for one week, and it almost killed me (literally), and I am still trying to fix a relationship. The doctor prescribed it for me to help with PMDD. Within a day, I was nauseated at even the thought of food. I couldn't eat the whole week without throwing up or dry heaving. I had chest pains that felt like a heart attack. It also made me extremely paranoid (hence the relationship fixing). I spent two days with a migraine so bad I was eating Excedrin like candy. I contacted my doctor to say I was not taking it anymore, and she gave me excuses to keep going with it. She told me I needed to get used to it. That night, I found myself laying in bed seriously depressed. I've never been so low in my life. I immediately contacted a friend to talk to me until I fell asleep. I didn't trust myself. And my doctor wanted me to adjust to it for a couple of months? PMDD sucks, but I'll take that any day over the week that almost ended my life."

• LJa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 23, 2018

"I had previously been taking Gianvi primarily for PMDD, but also for birth control. I decided to make a switch from (my beloved) Gianvi to Nikki due to price reasons. I was a little leery at first because of the seemingly mostly negative bad rap it was getting on this site. But I decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did because it was a completely seamless transition! No changes in mood, weight, headaches, etc. I'm very happy with this medication, and I'm glad I decided to give it a try. My wallet is happy too. Remember that people are more likely to complain than compliment, so there are probably many women satisfied with Nikki who haven't written reviews. I was pleasantly surprised. Remember that nothing is permanent, and you can always switch if you are dissatisfied."

• Hap...
• January 14, 2020

"So far, it has been good for me. Please understand that everyone will respond differently to any type of birth control. I had severe PMDD. I'm talking about suicidal thoughts and actions during the week of my period. When my period ended, my PMDD symptoms would just disappear (this is different for any woman with PMDD). While on Nikki, I have no PMDD symptoms, I just had regular PMS. Be aware that this state can change from month to month because PMDD is very complex. There was no EXTREME amount of emotional instability for me. This is one of the reasons why I'm ranking it so high. My last birth control gave me acne, and Nikki cleared that up for me within a month. My sex drive is perfectly fine as well. The only thing that I see as a drawback is that I've been having a few migraines with it. But I have chronic migraines, and when I switch, this typically happens for a few months, but then it slows down. Side note: Nikki is generic for Yaz. They're the same birth control."

• Kik...
• September 15, 2020

"I just finished my first package of Yaz. It has been a patient struggle. I had been having issues with PMS, really violent mood swings, and acne. The first 2 weeks on Yaz were a breeze. The third week I started feeling extremely nauseous and tired, almost like I was drunk. The next days I started getting stomach issues: diarrhea, bloating, migraine. I stayed on it and tried to be patient. I was taking ibuprofen daily to get by. As of today, I'm on the sugar pills, and I had my period for at least 10 days. I really think it made a difference with my cystic acne. I just got one cyst this month. However, my back got full of small flesh-colored pimples I had never had, and I also got them on my chest. I am open to taking two more months of it. It's not all nice, but the body needs to adapt, so I feel it is normal to have these changes. What I did feel for a while was my veins hurting all the time, which didn't happen before. It got better after I started using compression leggings."

• lan...
• November 14, 2019

"I've been struggling to find a pill that works for me for ages. I get anxiety about getting side effects like weight gain and depression, as I have experienced them before on Levlin and Yasmin. The doc suggested Yaz due to its lower dose. I have had minimal side effects so far and feel pretty great on it, except that I have been bleeding for the past 2 months. Sometimes it's really light (spotting) and others not so much. I'm hoping that if I wait it out, my periods will become more regular. After hearing so many negative comments about Yaz, I asked my doc about the blood clots, and she said that all pills increase the risk of blood clots and that it's just because Yaz is a newer pill, it's getting more attention. Also, you are at a much, much higher risk of getting a blood clot if you are pregnant. Everyone's hormones are different, so if this pill works for you, then great, if not, then try another one."

• Mer...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 7, 2018

"I've been taking Yaz for almost a year now, and I am very, very happy with it. I have pre-existing mental health diagnoses that were extremely exacerbated by PMDD. About 10 days before my period, I would become absolutely dead exhausted, severely depressed, with constant muscle and joint soreness, and terrible cramps and heavy bleeding during menstruation. All these symptoms are almost eliminated after taking Yaz. As an added 'plus,' most months I don't get my period AT ALL, which is a real blessing. The only thing I wish would work for me is the acne reduction... I still struggle with the cystic, hormonal acne, and Yaz doesn't seem to have helped that. STILL, if you struggle with PMDD, Yaz is definitely worth a try!"

• Cou...
• July 9, 2015

"I have suffered with PMDD for a long time. Almost got divorced over how emotional I would get once per month and hated how I acted. My children started noticing also my mood. I was not myself right before my period. Since I have been on Yaz for the past 6 months, I have not had my usual monthly freak-out and am in a much better mood. No more emotional rollercoaster. I feel like myself and am not worried about when I am going to freak out again. Yaz is a lifesaver."

• mta...
• April 12, 2009

"I have been on Yaz for a month, and I feel like a different person. I lost 7 lbs of water weight in two weeks, friends and family have noticed how much better I look. I went on Yaz because of severe PMS, which included serious bloating and abdominal heaviness, constipation, depression, fatigue, and irritability to the point where I had been hardly able to leave the house the week before my period. I have energy again now. I'm not feeling terrible half of every month. The only side effect for me has been a thicker, heavier white discharge. I would recommend this to anyone with bad PMS. I love Yaz."