Yaz is a birth control pill that is primarily used for preventing pregnancy, but can also treat acne and symptoms of PMDD in women who desire contraception. It comes in tablet form and is taken once a day. There is only one standard dose of Yaz, regardless of your age, weight, or medical conditions. Common side effects may include diarrhea, headaches, and nausea.
- Preventing pregnancy
- Treating symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
- Treating acne in women who also desire contraception.
Yaz is made by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals.
Yaz is a combination oral contraceptive that contains both an estrogen and a progestin. The drug primarily prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation (the maturation and release of eggs from the ovaries). However, it also prevents pregnancy in two other, minor ways. Yaz alters the cervical mucus (the fluid of the cervix, which is the lower, narrow part of the uterus that is connected to the vagina), making it more difficult for sperm to enter the uterus. Lastly, Yaz alters the lining of the uterus (called the endometrium), making it less receptive to an embryo.
Yaz is different from traditional birth control pills in two important ways. First, the progesterone that it uses (drospirenone) is closely related to
spironolactone, a medication used as a diuretic ("water pill"). Drospirenone has anti-antrogenic activity, which means that it works against testosterone and other "male" hormones. All women have a small amount of these "male" hormones that can cause acne and other problems. Also, drospirenone may increase the level of potassium in your blood, which can be a problem for some women.
Second, Yaz contains 24 active pills and 4 inactive pills, which have no active ingredients, compared to traditional birth control pills, which have 21 active pills and 7 inactive pills. Having fewer inactive pills seems to decrease some of the bothersome symptoms that occur just before and during your period.
Yaz was shown to be an effective birth control method in a large clinical trial. In this study, for every 100 women who used the drug for a year, one or two became pregnant. This is very effective, compared to many other methods of contraception. For instance, up to 14 percent of women using condoms for a year will become pregnant. Studies have also shown that Yaz is effective for treating the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and for treating acne.
General considerations for when and how to use Yaz include the following:
- The medication comes in tablet form. It is taken by mouth once a day.
- You can take Yaz with or without food. If the medication bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
- Each pack of Yaz contains 28 pills. Be sure to take them in order. Once you finish a pack, start a new pack right away. You will probably get your period during the last few days of the pack or, sometimes, during the first few days of the new pack.
- It is very important to take Yaz every day and at the same time each day. Try to pick a time that will be easy to remember, such as at bedtime. If you have trouble remembering, please talk with your healthcare provider, as missing pills increases your risk of pregnancy.
- Make sure you know exactly what to do if you miss any pills. In some circumstances, you may need to use a backup method of contraception, such as condoms, for seven days.
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Yaz will not work if you stop taking it.
Dosing Information for Yaz
There is only one standard dose of Yaz, regardless of your age, weight, or medical conditions.
As always, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Yaz. However, not everyone who uses the contraceptive will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider. Serious side effects are less common.
Common side effects of Yaz include but are not limited to:
(Click Yaz Side Effects to learn more, including potentially serious side effects that you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
Drug Interactions With Yaz
Yaz: What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
You should talk with your healthcare provider prior to using Yaz if you have:
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What If I Take an Overdose of Yaz?
Women who take too much Yaz may experience the following symptoms:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Vaginal bleeding
- Other menstrual irregularities
- High blood potassium (hyperkalemia).
How Should Yaz Be Stored?
Keep Yaz tablets in their original package. The packaging is designed to help you remember to take the tablets each day. Keep the package at room temperature, away from moisture or heat.
Keep Yaz and all other medications out of the reach of children.
What If I Miss a Dose of Yaz?
Missing doses of Yaz increases the risk of pregnancy. What you should do depends on how many tablets you have missed and where exactly you are in your cycle
(see Yaz Dosage). Refer to the patient information that comes with each package of Yaz for more information on what to do if you miss a dose, or consult your healthcare provider.
Yaz comes in one strength, containing 3 mg of drospirenone and 0.02 mg of ethinyl estradiol per active tablet (the 24 pink tablets). The four inactive (white) tablets do not contain any active ingredients.
Is There a Generic Version of Yaz?
Currently, there is no generic version of Yaz licensed for sale
(see Generic Yaz).
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