Yaz for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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!"

• 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."

• 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."

• Anonymous
• January 15, 2009

"I've been taking Yaz for two years for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), combined with a low dose of Prozac. It has been a great combination for me. I used to have extreme mood swings about a week before my period, even to the point of getting myself in trouble at work. Now, I hardly feel my period coming on, and it's smooth sailing all month."

• Jas...
• January 2, 2016

"I started this pill because I was having crazy mood swings and just not feeling like myself at least 3 weeks out of the month. My doctor prescribed me this, hoping it would also treat my acne along with PMDD. Well, the first month was pretty rough as far as my acne was concerned, but it wasn't as bad as I've read in other reviews. I had a few painful cystic pimples within 2 weeks of taking Yaz. I felt really embarrassed because my old pill (Loestrin) gave me clear skin, and I wasn't used to acne anymore. Well, now I'm about to start my 4 inactive pills, and about 3 days ago my skin just cleared up like MAGIC. I read that it takes about 3 months to level out your hormones. But I finally feel like myself again! No more crazy crying fits!!"

• amk...
• July 4, 2008

"I was on Loestrin 24 for 3 months and noticed a lot more moodiness and irritability, so they put me on Yaz, and immediately I felt better. I have much more energy. I feel better, no bloating, and I'm just generally happy. Much more like I was before I began birth control. I love it."

• sle...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2016

"I just started Yaz almost 4 weeks ago. I am 42 years old, I have my tubes tied, so I don't need this for birth control, but I started having perimenopause issues and I needed something to fix my hormones ASAP. I actually asked for Yaz. The first three days I was extremely tired, but I was also extremely chill. After day 2, things started looking better, and each day after that it gets better and better. This has helped the moods quite a bit, right now, the only con is that my sex drive is lower, but I am going to give my body some more time to adjust to the hormones before I make any changes. I plan on taking this pill back to back to eliminate my periods. I'll check back in another month."

• Fli...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 14, 2019

"I thought it would be useful to share my experience of Yaz for PMDD. I found Yaz so helpful for my moods. Emotionally, it really did balance me out a lot. I felt in control of my life again. No more panic attacks, heavy bleeding, bloating, and no more week-long depression. It was great. For my acne, however, it really flared things up. I persisted through till nine months of taking it. But I decided the skin just wasn't improving, so I gave up hope that it would. Since stopping, my skin has cleared up beautifully. If you are similar to me, persevere for at least six months. But it may not work for you either. Keep looking for something that works for you."

• Bia...
• May 26, 2022

"Day 1 back on this after being off it for 4.5 years. Already feeling the change for the better, and I feel normal again. I feel like I’m getting my life back! I almost lost my life to PMDD a few times, and it’s not a good place to be. Wasn’t functioning before, today was so productive. I feel like this small tweak has already turned things around with my hormones. It’s only Day 1, but wow, I’m so, so pleased to be feeling better and getting things done. I really hope to keep this momentum going."

• Umb...
• October 6, 2014

"I've been on Yaz for over 3 years now. It's the only birth control I've been on, and it's been amazing. I suffer from severe PMDD, and I was placed on it. So far, my PMDD is not fully gone, but it has helped my life tremendously. My period used to be 8 days long and extremely heavy. Now it's around 5 days and very light. I used to get severe cramping, and now I rarely cramp. I also had mild acne, and it's virtually gone now, except for the few I get right before my period. For physical issues from my period, it has been really successful, but for the emotional issues, it has helped mildly. I still get the panic, anger, and depression up to a week before my period, but it has calmed down. Also, no pregnancy scares at all or weight gain."

• dru...
• November 26, 2009

"Took Yaz for PMDD and helped my symptoms related to my PMDD. But, please be aware: I ended up with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). I am a 38-year-old woman who is very athletic and extremely healthy...it's not just a warning for 'smokers'!"

• gui...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 10, 2012

"This is my second day on Yaz. I have been on countless other birth control methods such as Marvelon, Tri-Cyclen Lo, Demulen, and most recently, Aviane. When I was on Marvelon, I never noticed anything while I was taking the pills side effect-wise, but my periods were unbearably heavy. On Tri-Cyclen, my period was light, but it never stopped for three months! On Demulen, I went into a deep depression that I am still getting over. And finally, on Aviane, it was great, but I gained about 40 lbs in the past year. I went on Yaz to help keep me upbeat and happy (coupled with my daily dose of Prozac) and to hopefully help me shed some weight and give me comfortable and short periods. So far, so good. High libido and no negative side effects except slight headache."

• Anonymous
• October 5, 2012

"I have been on Gianvi for about 5 years or more. I have severe PMDD problems, as well as a family history of severe period problems as well (too heavy bleeding, cramps, etc.). Yaz has improved my PMDD symptoms by about 80%. It also makes my periods very light and easy with no cramps. I also have bad hormonal acne, and Yaz clears my skin and makes it glow. I still get 1 or 2 pimples around my period, but that's it. I went off Yaz for 9 months, and it gave me horrible rebound cystic acne that makes me reinstate (my skin was getting ruined!). I am staying on it indefinitely and am fine with that. I love it."