Usually, most severe side effects are rare; that's why the drug is legal in the first place. If most women got high potassium levels, it wouldn't be on the market

That's good.

What about other side effects like weight gain, irratic mood swings, acne, etc.? I was looking through this forum and I seem to hear more bad then good about this pill. I've even read that some women have even lost some hair because of it! Perhaps I'm being too paranoid.

Aside from Yasmin, Diane and Alesse, are there any other BC's that help with acne?

I tried Yaz which is a lower dose, read what I wrote about Yaz in a few forums below this one. My face was soooooooooo disgusting, I forgot to mention in my other forum, it cleared up my face like a miracle, I switched to a generic bc and my face isn't as clear as it was when I was on Yaz. Watch out for moodiness and depression though, I got those side effects, however I lost weight and gains some boobs so that cheered me up. haha. But as for the side effects I got, everyone is different but my face cleared up within a week and my face was terrible, I mean terrible, I even tried Proactive and that didn't help. It's worth a try. I am very sensitive also so you may not experience anything.

That's great to hear! I'll go look for what you wrote.

Aside from the serious side effects, the one that I really don't want is the weight gain. Now if it all goes to my boobs then that's perfectly fine by me! lol Maybe I'll be fine with it. If I can handle the Diane 35 then maybe Yasmin will be okay. I've heard that a lot of people had bad reactions to the Diane.

Online is a great place to her one side of a story, and that's what you get in a place like this. You're only hearing the bad side ^^

As for other pills that help with acne, I was personally put on ortho tricyclen lo.

Well, I have been having a HUGE problem finding the right birth control meathod. I am very very sensitive. Although Yaz gets me emotional it is nothing compared everything else I tried becuase I experience NO side effects. I started it right after I took my IUD out and had a regular period on the first month without any breakthrough bleeding. Remember that everyone works differen't I am speaking only from my experience, I am no doctor but I have tried so many differen't types of bc I am a pro by now. Ha-ha. But you should try it and if you don't get any side effects you should do well. I seriously had my face clear up sooooo quickly and I didn't realise that a hormonal imbalance was why I broke out so badly but Yaz fixed it right up. I am going to get Yaz again this month becuase the generic cramp I tried this month is horrible, I already have a pimple on my chin today too. Haha

Also this is Yaz not Yasmin. Just in case. Yaz is a low dose version of Yasmin and it is also known to work well with hormonal imbalances. My doctor recommended it to me because I have huge hormonal imbalance that has developed cysts in my ovaries but it worked well for my acne even though that is not why I was taking it. IF you don't want the sickness go for Yaz, also I have read in a lot of forums that it decreases people's appetite which makes you lose weight, it doesn't make food not fun but I noticed I couldn't finish that second plate of lasagna anymore. haha. Good luck! Give it a try. Yaz not Yasmine if you don't want the sickness.

Is Yaz available in Canada?

not sure, here is the link http://www.yaz.com/html/index.html

Personally I've been on Yasmin since SEPT 2006 and I love it, I haven't had ANY weight gain, my boobs grew a little which is to be expected with the hormones, I don't have severe mood swings by any means and yasmin is one of the only birth control pills that has a dieretic in it which is suppose to prevent bloating. I recomend it very highly!

Hello, I'm on Yasmin and I feel it is the BC from hell. I was seriously considering an iud until i read up on it. Yasmin made me crazy, i was severely depressed, and uncontrollably moody. My dr. said that Yaz will not be available in canada until at least Jan 09. She suggested I stick it out with Yasmin until I can get my hands on yaz! I have also been on every pill out there. I'm just looking for something that will keep my skin clear and keep me think. But so far it's been to much to ask.

I changed to Yaz about a year ago becuase I just started getting adult acne. However, I recently had blood clots in my leg (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and multiple bilateral pulmonary embolisms (PE) and doctors have said one of the contributing risk factors was being on birth control. I am a 40 yr old, non-smoker who was in excellent health, normal weight/BMI and walked about 1-4 hours a day 7 days a week. Please read the risk warnings before starting on any hormone based form of birth control. When they say it may lead to blood clots they weren’t joking. Honestly, I am lucky to be alive today. Don’t let the same thing happen to you. But talk to the experts…the doctors. If you’re not satisfied with his/her responses, then see another doctor. I’ve since joined a PE support group and found it interesting that nearly all of the woman who cited BC as a contributing factor were on YAZ.

I used to use Diane, it done wonders for my skin,I live by it, however I suffer with terrible side effects which include nausea, depression, mood swings and cannot take it any more so I don�t take Diane 35 any longer. I consulted with a Pharmacist for a herbal remedy in hope that this would not cause any side effects. She suggested evening primrose oil to be taken 3 times a day. Apparently it works the same as Diane 35 to restore hormone imbalance but without the chemicals. I�m picking it up today so I�m not too sure if it works but will keep you posted.