Important Safety Information about YAZ    Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING
YAZ is associated with increased risks of several serious side effects, including blood clots, stroke, and heart attack. Women, especially those 35 and over, are strongly advised not to smoke because it increases these risks. In addition, YAZ contains drospirenone, a different kind of hormone that for some may increase potassium too much. continue reading below
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If you miss your YAZ birth control pill

If you miss a YAZ® (drospirenone & ethinyl estradiol) pill, don't panic. Review the information below to determine what to do next. Contact your healthcare provider if you have any questions.

Missed 1 pill

If you miss one (1) active pill (pink):

  • Take it as soon as you remember. Take the next pill at your regular time
  • This means you may take 2 pills in 1 day
  • You do not need to use a backup birth control method if you have sex

Missed 2 pills

If you miss two (2) active pills (pink) in a row in Week 1 or Week 2 of your pack:

  • Take two (2) pills on the day you remember and two (2) pills the next day
  • Then take one (1) pill a day until you finish the pack
  • You MAY BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the 7 days after you restart your pills
  • You MUST use another birth control method (such as condoms or spermicides) as a backup for those 7 days

If you miss two (2) active pills (pink) in a row in Week 3 or Week 4 of your pack:

  • If you are a Day 1 Starter: THROW OUT the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack that same day
  • If you are a Sunday Starter: Keep taking one pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, THROW OUT the rest of the pack and start a new pack of pills that same day
  • You MAY BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the 7 days after you restart your pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as condoms or spermicides) as a backup for those 7 days
  • You may not have your period this month, but this is expected. However, if you miss your period two months in a row, call your healthcare provider or clinic because you might be pregnant

Miss 3 pills or more

If you miss three (3) or more active pills (pink) in a row during any week:

  • If you are a Day 1 Starter: THROW OUT the rest of the pill pack and start a new pack that same day
  • If you are a Sunday Starter: Keep taking 1 pill every day until Sunday. On Sunday, THROW OUT the rest of the pack and start a new pack of pills that same day
  • You MAY BECOME PREGNANT if you have sex in the seven days after you restart your pills. You MUST use another birth control method (such as condoms or spermicides) as a backup for those 7 days
  • You may not have your period this month, but this is expected. However, if you miss your period two months in a row, call your healthcare provider or clinic because you might be pregnant

If you miss any of the 4 reminder pills (white) in Week 4:

  • THROW AWAY the pills you missed
  • Keep taking one pill each day until the pack is empty
  • You do not need a backup method of birth control

If you are not sure if you've taken your pills properly or still are not sure what to do about the pills you have missed

  • Use a backup method (e.g., condoms or spermicides) any time you have sex
  • Keep taking one active pink pill each day until you can reach your healthcare provider or clinic

Reminders to:

  • Take YAZ daily
  • Get your prescription refilled
  • Make healthcare provider appointments


What is YAZ Prescribed For? YAZ® (drospirenone & ethinyl estradiol) is indicated for:

  • The prevention of pregnancy in women who elect to use an oral contraceptive.
  • Treatment of the emotional and physical symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in women who choose to use an oral contraceptive as their method of contraception.
  • The effectiveness of YAZ for PMDD when used for more than 3 menstrual cycles has not been evaluated. YAZ has not been evaluated for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
  • Treatment of moderate acne vulgaris
  • In women at least 14 years of age, who have no known contraindications to oral contraceptive therapy and have achieved menarche. YAZ should be used for the treatment of moderate acne only if the patient desires an oral contraceptive for birth control.

Who Shouldn't Take Any Oral Contraceptives (OCs)? Some women should not use OCs, including women who have blood clots, certain cancers, a history of heart attack or stroke, as well as those who are or may be pregnant.

In Addition, Who Shouldn't Take YAZ? YAZ contains drsp®, a different kind of hormone that for some may increase potassium too much. Therefore, you should not take YAZ if you have kidney, liver, or adrenal disease because this could cause serious heart and health problems. Tell your doctor if you are on daily long-term treatment for a chronic condition such as cardiovascular disease or chronic inflammatory disease. Women who take certain drugs (see below) should have their potassium levels checked in the first month of taking YAZ.

What Drugs May Increase Potassium? NSAIDs-ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®), naproxen (Naprosyn®, Aleve®, and others) when taken long-term and daily for arthritis or other diseases or conditions, Potassium-sparing diuretics (spironolactone and others), Potassium supplementation, ACE inhibitors (Capoten®, Vasotec®, Zestril®, and others), angiotensin-II receptor antagonists (Cozaar®, Diovan®, Avapro®, and others), aldosterone antagonists, and heparin.

What Are The Risks Involved With Taking Any Oral Contraceptive (OC)? OCs can be associated with an increased risk of several serious cardiovascular side effects, including blood clots, stroke, and heart attack. Women, especially those 35 and over, are strongly advised not to smoke because it increases these risks. OCs do not protect against HIV infection or other STDs.

The most frequent (greater than 1%) side effects, which may or may not be related to YAZ, that were reported in all YAZ clinical trials included: upper respiratory infection, headache, breast pain, vaginal moniliasis, nausea, abdominal pain, dysmenorrhea, urinary tract infection, accidental injury, sinusitis, emotional lability, suspicious Papanicolaou smear, weight gain, depression, menstrual disorder, and asthenia.

The most frequent (greater than 1%) side effects, which may or may not be related to YAZ, that were either unique to each trial type or occurred in only two types of clinical trials included:

  • In the contraception trial: leukorrhea, diarrhea, vomiting, vaginitis, flu syndrome, moniliasis, allergic reaction, cystitis, tooth disorder, sore throat, infection, fever, surgery, back pain, migraine, dyspepsia, rhinitis, acne, gastroenteritis, bronchitis, pharyngitis, skin disorder, intermenstrual bleeding, decreased libido, pain, increased cough, dizziness, pain in extremity, and pelvic pain.
  • In the PMDD trials: intermenstrual bleeding, decreased libido, nervousness, menorrhagia, pain in extremity, migraine, vaginitis, hyperlipidemia, back pain, diarrhea, increased appetite, enlarged abdomen, and acne.
  • In the acne trials: metrorrhagia, flu syndrome, menorrhagia, gastroenteritis, tooth disorder, infection, vomiting, pharyngitis, sore throat, arthralgia, bronchitis, rhinitis, amenorrhea, and urine abnormality.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

For Important risk and use information, please see the full prescribing information.

BAYER®, the Bayer Cross®, YAZ®, Aleve®, drsp®, Beyond Birth Control and YAZXpress are trademarks of Bayer. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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