Yaz Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Yaz Tablet (drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol) is a combination oral contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy. It is also used to treat symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and moderate acne in women who also want birth control. Yaz works mainly by stopping ovulation and is taken once daily as directed.

What is Yaz Tablet

Yaz is a birth control pill that contains two female hormones: a synthetic estrogen called ethinyl estradiol and a progestin called drospirenone. It is also used to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and moderate acne in women who also want birth control.

Yaz Tablet uses

• Prevent pregnancy
• Treat symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in women who choose to use an oral contraceptive for birth control
• Treat moderate acne in women at least 14 years old who want an oral contraceptive for birth control

Benefits of Yaz Tablet

• Pregnancy Prevention: Prevents pregnancy when taken correctly.
• Cycle Regulation: Can help regulate menstrual cycles.
• PMDD Support: Approved for treatment of symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in eligible users.
• Acne Support: Approved for moderate acne in females aged 14 years and older who also want oral contraception.

How Yaz Tablet works

Yaz prevents pregnancy mainly by stopping the ovaries from releasing an egg (ovulation). It also changes the normal pattern of hormone release during the menstrual cycle, which is thought to help with PMDD symptoms and acne.

Yaz Tablet dosage

Take one tablet by mouth at the same time every day. Take the tablets in the order shown on the blister pack. It can be taken without regard to meals, but it's best to take it after the evening meal or at bedtime with some liquid, as needed. Swallow the tablet whole with a full glass of water.

If you vomit within 3 to 4 hours of taking a pink active tablet, or have severe diarrhea, treat it like a missed tablet because the hormones may not have been fully absorbed. A single missed pill should be taken as soon as you remember. Use of this product before your first period is not recommended.

Available forms and strengths

Tablet, 3 mg/0.02 mg.

Side effects of Yaz Tablet

Common

• Headache or migraine
• Spotting or irregular bleeding between periods
• Nausea and vomiting
• Breast pain or tenderness
• Mood changes, including mood swings or depression
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Decreased sex drive (libido)
• Weight gain or bloating
• Acne
• Trouble tolerating contact lenses
• Blotchy darkening of skin, especially on the face

Serious

• Blood clots in the legs, lungs, heart, or brain (can cause heart attack or stroke)
• High potassium level (hyperkalemia)
• High blood pressure
• Liver problems, including jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes) and liver tumors
• Gallbladder disease
• Severe allergic reaction (swelling of face, tongue, throat, or trouble breathing)
• Significant changes in or new severe headaches or migraines
• Depression that becomes serious
• Unusual vaginal bleeding or breast lumps

Warnings and precautions

• Do not take Yaz if you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant. 
• Stop taking it right away and tell your doctor if you become pregnant while using it. Taking it by accident in early pregnancy has not been shown to cause birth defects.
• Yaz is generally not recommended while breastfeeding because it can reduce breast milk production, especially before breastfeeding is well established. A small amount of the hormones passes into breast milk.
• Yaz should not be used by people with kidney (renal) impairment, because of the risk of high potassium levels and other serious problems.
• Yaz should not be used by people with liver disease or liver tumors. Stop taking it if yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) occurs.
• There are no known interactions between Yaz and alcohol.
• Be careful before driving or using machines or tools until you know how this medicine affects you.
• Women over 35 years old who smoke should not use Yaz, because smoking while taking this medicine increases the risk of serious heart and blood vessel problems, including blood clots, heart attack, and stroke.
• Yaz can increase the risk of blood clots, which may be higher than with birth control pills containing other progestins. The risk is greatest when first starting the pill or restarting after a break.
• Stop taking Yaz at least 4 weeks before major surgery and do not restart until 2 weeks after, due to increased blood clot risk.
• Yaz can raise blood potassium levels (hyperkalemia), which can be dangerous, especially if you have kidney, liver, or adrenal gland problems or take certain other medicines.
• Do not use Yaz if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure or high blood pressure with blood vessel disease.
• Discuss new, worsening, or severe headaches with your doctor right away, as this may require stopping Yaz.
• Yaz does not protect against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections.
• If you have a history of depression, watch for worsening symptoms, as Yaz may need to be stopped if depression becomes severe.

Storage

• Store at 25°C (77°F); brief exposure to temperatures between 15–30°C (59–86°F) is permitted, such as during travel
• Avoid storing in damp areas like bathrooms
• Keep out of reach of children
• If no longer needed or expired, take it to a pharmacy for safe disposal
• Do not use after the expiry date

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you notice signs of a possible blood clot, such as chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden leg pain or swelling, sudden severe headache, sudden vision problems, weakness or numbness on one side of the body, or trouble speaking.
• Call your doctor right away if you have persistent leg pain, sudden shortness of breath, sudden loss of vision, severe chest pain, a sudden severe headache unlike your usual headaches, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, trouble speaking, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
• Contact your doctor immediately if you have severe abdominal pain, as this could be a sign of a rare liver tumor that can cause internal bleeding.
• Call your doctor if you miss two periods in a row, since you might be pregnant.
• If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call your healthcare provider immediately.

Alternatives

• Levonorgestrel + Ethinyl Estradiol
• Norethindrone + Ethinyl Estradiol
• Drospirenone + Ethinyl Estradiol alternatives