Yaz (drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol) is a prescription oral tablet that’s used to help prevent pregnancy. It’s also used to treat acne and premenstrual dysphoric disorder in certain people.
Yaz basics
Yaz contains the active ingredients drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)
Yaz belongs to a group of drugs called combination birth control pills.
Yaz is a brand-name medication that’s also available as the generic drug drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol.
Yaz is used in adult females* and certain adolescent females to:
- help prevent pregnancy
- treat moderate acne in females ages 14 years and older
- treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)†
Yaz is only prescribed to treat acne or PMDD for people also taking the drug to help prevent pregnancy.
Yaz works to prevent pregnancy by suppressing ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary). The drug treats acne and PMDD by affecting the level of certain hormones in your body, which is thought to treat symptoms of these conditions.
Yaz may also be used off-label for other conditions. (With off-label use, a drug that’s approved for certain conditions is used for another use.) Talk with your doctor to learn more.
* In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.
† PMDD is a group of symptoms that begin about a week or two before your period starts. Symptoms may include agitation, panic attacks, bloating, tender or swollen breasts, and diarrhea.
Like most drugs, Yaz may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Yaz may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.
Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:
- your age
- other health conditions you have
- other medications you take
In addition, side effects of Yaz may vary depending on the condition you’re using it for.
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Yaz. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.
Mild side effects
Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Yaz can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Yaz’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects of Yaz that have been reported include:
- irregular period, such as spotting
- headache
- nausea and vomiting
- breast pain or tenderness
- fatigue (low energy)
- weight gain
- decreased libido (sex drive)
- feeling irritable
- mild allergic reaction*
Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from Yaz can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Yaz, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects of Yaz that have been reported include:
- high blood pressure
- high potassium level
- increased cholesterol or triglyceride level in your blood
- increased risk of blood clots
- liver problems
- migraine
- mood changes, including depression
boxed warning : risk of serious cardiovascular events in people who smoke cigarettes*- severe allergic reaction†
* For more information, see the “What should be considered before taking Yaz?” section.
† To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.
Allergic reactionSome people may have an allergic reaction to Yaz. Allergic reactions were rare in studies of Yaz but did happen.
Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:
- skin rash
- itchiness
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include swelling under your skin, usually in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet. They can also include swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat, which can cause trouble breathing.
Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Yaz. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.
Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Yaz.
How does Yaz compare with Yasmin or Vestura?
Yaz, Yasmin, and Vestura all are combination birth control pills. All three drugs contain the same active ingredients, ethinyl estradiol and drospirenone. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.)
Unlike Yaz and Yasmin, Vestura is no longer available in the United States.
Yaz and Yasmin are prescribed to help prevent pregnancy. But Yaz also has other approved uses. To learn more about how Yaz and Yasmin compare, check out this article.
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about how Yaz compares with other treatment options, including other birth control pills.
Can Yaz be used for PCOS or endometriosis?
Yaz is not approved to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or endometriosis. But in some cases, a doctor may prescribe the drug off-label for these uses. (With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.)
If you have questions about treatment options for PCOS or endometriosis, including Yaz, talk with your doctor.
Does Yaz cause weight loss?
It’s not likely. Weight loss wasn’t reported as a side effect in studies of Yaz. On the other hand, weight gain is a side effect of Yaz.
If you have questions or concerns about a change in your weight and its possible causes, talk with your doctor.
Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Yaz that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.
Form and strength
Yaz comes as an oral tablet that’s available in one strength of 3 milligrams (mg) drospirenone/0.02 mg ethinyl estradiol.
Recommended dosages
Below are recommended dosages for the conditions Yaz is approved to treat. And to learn more about Yaz’s dosage, see this article.
Dosage for helping prevent pregnancy
To begin taking Yaz to help prevent pregnancy, you’ll take one pink tablet on the first day of your menstrual cycle (day 1). The pink tablet contains 3 mg drospirenone/0.02 mg ethinyl estradiol.
You’ll take one pink tablet once per day (at the same time each day) on days 1 through 24. On days 25 through 28 of your menstrual cycle, you’ll take one white tablet per day. (The white tablets are placebo tablets that they don’t contain drospirenone or ethinyl estradiol.)
Then, you’ll go back to taking one pink tablet per day and repeat this cycle throughout your Yaz treatment.
Dosage for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
You’ll only take Yaz to treat PMDD symptoms if you’re also using Yaz to help prevent pregnancy. Your dose will be the same as described under the “Dosage for helping prevent pregnancy” section above.
Dosage for acne
You’ll only take Yaz to treat acne if you’re also using Yaz to help prevent pregnancy. Your dose will be the same as described under the “Dosage for helping prevent pregnancy” section above.
Questions about Yaz’s dosing
Below are some common questions about Yaz’s dosing.
- What if I miss a dose of Yaz? If you miss a dose of Yaz, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next tablet at its usual time. If you miss two doses in a row, you’ll need to use another form of birth control, such as condoms, for 7 days after the last missed dose.
- Will I need to use Yaz long term? Yes, you’ll likely use Yaz long term if you and your doctor agree the drug is safe and working well for you.
- How long does Yaz take to work? Yaz begins working once you take your first dose. But it takes several days to weeks for the drug’s full effects to work. You should use another form of birth control, such as condoms, for at least the first 7 days after starting Yaz treatment. In addition, it may take several weeks for the drug to work to treat PMDD symptoms or acne.
Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use.
Yaz is available as the generic drug drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. Talk with your doctor if you’d like to know about taking generic drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol.
You can visit Optum Perks* to get price estimates for what you’d pay for Yaz when using coupons from the site.
You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.
* Optum Perks is a sister site of Healthline. Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.
Your doctor will explain how you should take Yaz. They’ll also explain how much to take and how often. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.
Taking Yaz
Yaz comes as a tablet that you swallow.
Accessible medication containers and labels
Certain pharmacies may provide medication labels that:
- have large print
- use braille
- contain a code you can scan with a smartphone to change the text to audio
Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend a pharmacy that offers these options if your current pharmacy doesn’t.
Questions about taking Yaz
Below are some common questions about taking Yaz.
- Can Yaz be chewed, crushed, or split? The manufacturer of Yaz hasn’t stated whether you can chew, crush, or split the tablets. Check out this article if you’re having trouble swallowing pills. You can also talk with your pharmacist or doctor.
- Should I take Yaz with food? You may take Yaz doses with or without food.
- Is there a best time of day to take Yaz? There’s no one best time of day to take Yaz. But you should take your dose around the same time every day. This helps keep a steady level of the drug in your body, which helps Yaz work effectively.
There are important considerations to discuss with your doctor before taking Yaz. This includes any medications you may take and health conditions you may have.
Interactions
Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.
Before taking Yaz, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Yaz.
For information about drug-condition interactions, see the “Other warnings” section below.
Interactions with drugs or supplements
Yaz can interact with several types of drugs. These drugs include:
- certain seizure drugs, such as phenytoin (Dilantin) and carbamazepine (Tegretol, others)
- certain antibiotics, including clarithromycin and rifampin (Rimactane)
- certain antifungals, including ketoconazole
- the pulmonary hypertension drug bosentan (Tracleer)
- the heart drugs verapamil (Verelan) and diltiazem (Cardizem, others)
- the herbal supplement St. John’s wort
This list does not contain all types of drugs that may interact with Yaz. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and any others that may occur with use of Yaz.
Other interactions
Yaz can interact with grapefruit or grapefruit juice.Your doctor may suggest that you limit or not consume grapefruit products while you’re taking Yaz. Grapefruit may prevent your body from breaking down Yaz properly. This can increase the amount of Yaz in your body, which raises your risk of side effects such as a high potassium level.
Boxed warning
Yaz has a
Females* older than age 35 years who smoke cigarettes should not take Yaz or other combination birth control pills. Smoking cigarettes increases the risk of serious cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) problems, including blood clots. This increased risk is a rare but serious side effect of Yaz.
If you’re a female older than age 35 years and smoke cigarettes, talk with your doctor about birth control options besides combination birth control pills such as Yaz. They can recommend an option that may be safer for you to take.
* In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to someone’s sex assigned at birth. For information about the difference between sex and gender, see this article.
Other warnings
Yaz can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Yaz is a good treatment option for you.
Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Yaz. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:
- condition that raises your risk for blood clots, such as coronary artery disease, certain irregular heart rhythms, or a previous blood clot, stroke, or heart attack
- cancer affected by hormones, such as breast cancer
- adrenal, kidney, or liver condition
- previous allergic reaction to Yaz
- pregnancy
- breastfeeding
Yaz and alcohol
There is no known interaction between alcohol and Yaz.
If you have questions about consuming alcohol while using Yaz, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
You should not take Yaz if you are pregnant. Yaz is used to help prevent pregnancy.
If you’re taking Yaz and become pregnant, stop taking the drug and call your doctor.
After childbirth, you should avoid taking Yaz or other combined birth control pills for at least 4 weeks if you are not breastfeeding. This is due to an increased risk of blood clots.
Combined birth control pills such as Yaz may reduce breastmilk production. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking Yaz.
Do not take more Yaz than your doctor prescribes. Using more than this can lead to negative effects.
Symptoms of overdose
Symptoms caused by an overdose can include:
- nausea
- vagin*l bleeding
What to do in case you take too much Yaz
Call your doctor if you think you’ve taken too much Yaz. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or go to the nearest emergency room.
If you have questions about taking Yaz, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Questions you may want to ask include:
- How does Yaz compare with other birth control pills?
- What should I know about Yaz versus progestin-only birth control pills?
- How do side effects of Yaz differ from an intrauterine device (IUD), such as Mirena?
- Does my health history raise my risk of side effects from Yaz?
To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.
Disclaimer: Healthline 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.
