Yasmin is a birth control pill containing drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol, which are two synthetic hormones. Yasmin and YAZ birth control pills both contain the same hormones; however YAZ contains a lower dosage that Yasmin.
Both Yasmin and YAZ are prescribed for both birth control and as acne treatments. However, the drugs are different enough that patients who use these brands of birth control should check carefully when having their prescription filled to ensure that the proper medication was dispensed.
Take Yasmin
Yasmin comes in a pill form and in only one dosage level. The same dose is prescribed for anyone who takes Yasmin, no matter how much the patient weighs, the patient's age, the reason for taking the medication (birth control and/or acne control), or other circumstances.
Because Yasmin is a pill, it can only be taken by mouth. The medication should be taken with water or other liquid.
Unless the prescribing physician specifically states that it should be taken at a certain time of day, it is the user's preference as to when to take the medication; however, it should be taken at the same time each day. This will not only ensure that a habit of taking the medication is formed, but will also maintain an even level of the medication in the body.
The medication can be taken either in the morning or at night. Some women, such as those who are just starting to take an oral contraceptive, prefer to take it in the morning, as the possibility of morning nausea is decreased from when the pill is taken at night.
When to Take Yasmin
Patients who are taking an oral contraceptive for the very first time have a choice of when they can start taking Yasmin. It can be taken on the first day that the monthly period starts or on the first Sunday after the monthly period has started.
The first method is called a "day 1 start". Simply speaking, that means that if a patient's period starts on a Monday, and she has chosen that day as her start day, then the first pill in the pack is taken on that day.
A "Sunday start", the second method, means that the user will wait until she is on her period, and then take note of the first Sunday that occurs while her period is continuing. She then takes the first pill on that day.
When her period starts on a Sunday, the user would need to begin taking the pills, but consider it as the "day 1 start" method.
Women who have been on a different type of birth control pill and have switched to Yasmin would begin the dosage on the day they would have normally started their new pack of the former pills.
It should be noted that both methods apply, no matter what the reason is for taking the pill.
What to Look for
Even if the pill is for birth control, women can expect to see an improvement in overall skin tone and health, even if they do not have acne. Women with acne should begin to see a noticeable improvement as soon as enough of the medication has gotten into the body (approximately two to three months). Look for changes in the size of pustules, the number of pimples and other signs of acne that are present, and the frequency with which breakouts occur.
Yasmin birth control pills do have side effects. Minor side effects include mild nausea, bloating, weight gain and breakthrough bleeding. More serious ones may be stroke or the formation of blood clots. Women should immediately consult their health care professional if they experience pain in the calf of the leg or sudden severe chest pain, as both of these may be signs of blood clots.
Stroke symptoms---numbness on one side of the body, slurred speech, and alteration of facial muscles (one side of the mouth droops, or the patient can only smile on one side of the face)-can also occur, and should be addressed immediately.
Tags: birth control, period starts, should taken, Yasmin birth, Yasmin birth control, birth control acne
