This article describes possible side effects of Yaz. You can explore this overview article to learn more about Yaz, including its uses and side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.
Yaz is a brand-name medication that comes as an oral tablet. It’s available in a generic version called drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol. This article describes possible side effects of Yaz.
Yaz has a boxed warning. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Side effects of Yaz in detail” section below.
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More common side effects of Yaz
Yaz may cause mild or serious side effects.
Commonly reported side effects of Yaz include:
- breast pain or tenderness
- headache
- irregular periods
- mood changes*
- nausea or vomiting
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Yaz in detail” section below.
Mild side effects of Yaz
Yaz may cause certain mild side effects. Usually, mild side effects are temporary and are easily manageable. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or bother you.
Mild side effects of Yaz that occurred in studies include:
- breast pain or tenderness
- decreased sex drive
- fatigue
- irritability
- headache
- irregular periods
- nausea or vomiting
- weight gain
Serious side effects of Yaz
Yaz may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from Yaz, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Yaz.
Serious side effects of Yaz that occurred in studies include:
- blood clots and other heart or blood vessel problems*
- gallbladder problems
- high blood pressure
- high potassium level
- increased blood sugar level or lipid level
- liver problems, including liver tumors
- dark skin patches on the face or other sun-exposed areas
- migraine
- mood changes†
* Yaz has a boxed warning for this side effect. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Side effects of Yaz in detail” section below.
† To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Yaz in detail” section below.
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Get free cardAllergic reaction
For some people, Yaz can cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s studies.
In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious. You can learn more about possible symptoms in this article.
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Yaz, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Common questions about side effects of Yaz
Here are answers to some common questions about side effects of Yaz. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Does Yaz have long-term side effects?
Yes, in some cases Yaz may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you take the drug for a long time or after you’ve stopped taking Yaz.
Examples of long-term side effects reported with Yaz include increased risk of:
- cervical cancer
- liver cancer
- breast cancer, which was seen in some, but not all, studies
Studies have mixed results about birth control pills and the risk of cancer. While some studies have showed a correlation between birth control pills and cancer, other studies have not shown this. If you’re concerned about your risk for cancer, talk with your doctor.
Are there Yaz side effects during the first week?
Yes, many of the mild side effects of Yaz can start early, possibly during the first week of treatment. They usually last a few days or weeks and then occur less often. This happens because your body gets used to the effects of Yaz.
Sometimes, these side effects can persist or become severe. In studies, common reasons for stopping Yaz included some mild side effects that became bothersome. The most common ones were headache, nausea or vomiting, and irregular periods.
Talk with your doctor if you have side effects of Yaz that last longer than a few weeks or become severe. Your doctor may recommend a different medication.
Side effects of Yaz in detail
Read on for details some of the side effects of Yaz.
Blood clots and other heart or blood vessel problems
Yaz has a boxed warning for the risk of blood clots and serious heart and blood vessel problems in people who smoke cigarettes. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Blood clots and serious heart and blood vessel problems are possible when taking Yaz. This side effect may be very serious and lead to death. The risk of this side effect may be higher in people taking Yaz than people taking other kinds of birth control pills.
Blood clots can develop in the legs, forming deep vein thrombosis (DVT). They can also occur in the:
- lungs, as a pulmonary embolism
- heart, causing a heart attack
- brain, as a stroke
- eyes and other organs
Symptoms of a possible blood clot include:
- chest pain
- double vision or other vision problems
- pain, swelling, or warmth in your lower leg
- shortness of breath
- sudden trouble speaking, understanding speech, or moving one side of your face or body
The risk of blood clots increases if you:
- are older than age 35 years
- have a personal or family history of blood clots
- have certain kinds of migraine headaches
- have diabetes with kidney, nerve, eye, or blood vessel damage
- have had a stroke or heart attack
- have heart disease or unmanaged high blood pressure
- have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or obesity
- have inherited clotting disorders
- had surgery
- need to stay in bed for a long time
- were recently pregnant or had an abortion
- smoke cigarettes
Ways to manage
Due to this risk, doctors don’t usually prescribe Yaz if you have any of the risk factors listed above. If you smoke, ask your doctor about ways to quit before taking Yaz.
Talk with your doctor about your risk for developing blood clots while taking Yaz. If you develop symptoms of a blood clot, seek emergency medical care right away or call 911.
Emotional fluctuations and mood changes
In studies, mood changes were common in people taking Yaz. This side effect is usually mild, but may be serious in some cases.
Mood changes reported with Yaz include:
- depression
- fast or uncontrollable shifts in mood
- irritability
- mood swings
Having had depression in the past can increase your risk of mood changes with Yaz.
In studies of Yaz for treating premenstrual dysphoric disorder, some people had their irritability and depression worsen or not improve.
Ways to manage
If you experience mood changes while taking Yaz, tell your doctor. They may be able to recommend ways to manage this side effect. If you develop depression, your doctor may recommend stopping Yaz.
Warnings for Yaz
The following sections factors you may want to discuss with your doctor before taking Yaz.
Boxed warning
Yaz has a boxed warning. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see the “Side effects of Yaz in detail” section above.
Other warnings
It may not be safe for you to take Yaz if you have specific health conditions. These are sometimes called drug-condition interactions. Other things may also affect whether Yaz is a safe treatment option for you.
Before taking Yaz, tell your doctor about your health and medications you take. Things to consider include:
- adrenal problems
- angioedema in you or a family member
- cerebrovascular disease
- DVT currently or in the past
- depression
- diabetes
- family or personal history of breast cancer
- gallbladder disease
- headaches or migraine
- heart attack
- heart disease
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol or triglycerides
- kidney disease
- liver disease
- past jaundice due to pregnancy
- dark skin patches on the face or other sun-exposed areas in the past
- possible pregnancy
- pulmonary embolism currently or in the past
- recent pregnancy or abortion
- smoking cigarettes
- stroke
- unexplained vaginal bleeding
- past allergic reaction to Yaz
Yaz and pregnancy
You should not take Yaz during pregnancy.
Doctors prescribe Yaz to prevent pregnancy. Although rare, it’s possible to become pregnant while taking this medication. If you think you might be pregnant, tell your doctor right away and stop taking Yaz.
Yaz and breastfeeding
It’s not recommended to take estrogen-containing birth control pills, like Yaz, while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication. Your doctor may recommend other forms of birth control while you are breastfeeding.
Yaz and alcohol
Yaz is not known to interact with alcohol. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it during treatment with Yaz.
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.