Yaz Birth Control and Potassium Levels

Most women do not give a second thought to the level of potassium they are getting from certain foods. However, if you are currently taking Yasmin birth control, then you may need to worry about the level of potassium in your body. Yasmin birth control has been known to increase the level of potassium. This puts a woman at risk for serious health concerns including cardiac arrest, arrhythmias and changes in nerve and muscle control.

The reason why Yasmin birth control has been associated with higher-than-average levels of potassium is because of the synthetic hormone drospirenone (DRSP). At first, this synthetic hormone was considered a ‘miracle’ ingredient as it was known to put an end to acne and PMS symptoms. However, it has now been discovered that DRSP also increases the level of potassium in your body, a condition also known as hyperkalemia.

Yaz and Potassium Level Warnings

The average woman should have no more than 4,000 milligrams of potassium each day. More than this and a woman can have problems with irregular heartbeats, cardiac arrests and problems with the nerve and muscle control. The kidneys are responsible for monitoring and regulating the level of potassium in the body. The kidneys will remove the excess levels of potassium when necessary. However, another common Yaz side effect is kidney damage which can alter the ability of the kidney’s to perform its duties. If this is the case, then the kidneys may not filter the excess levels of potassium caused by Yasmin birth control.
Although many women will experience no symptoms of potassium problems, others may experience the following:

• An irregular heartbeat
• Slow, weak or missing pulse
• Weakness
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Problems with breathing
• Loss of consciousness

Arrhythmias, Other Cardiac Events, and Yaz

All of these symptoms indicate that your potassium levels are too high and you should consult a doctor right away.

If you have kidney, liver or adrenal disease then you should not take Yasmin birth control due to the increased levels of potassium associated with this drug. Furthermore, women who are currently taking the following drugs should also be concerned about using Yasmin birth control:

• NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (e.g., Motrin, Advil)
• naproxen (e.g., Naprosyn, Aleve) when used long-term
• Potassium-sparing diuretics (spironolactone and others) — the DRSP in Yaz is an analog of spironolactone
• Potassium supplementation
• ACE inhibitors (e.g., Vasotec, Capoten, Zestril)
• angiotensin-II receptor antagonists (e.g., Diovan, Cozaar, Avapro)
• aldosterone antagonists
• heparin

Talk to a Lawyer about Yaz Birth Control and Potassium Levels

Although the makers of Yasmin birth control, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, do mention that taking Yasmin can cause an increase in potassium levels, many women are finding this out too late. If you or someone you love has been affected by Yasmin potassium levels and has experienced any of the unwanted Yaz side effects, then it is important to contact a lawyer about your legal rights. Contact our lawyers today at 800-732-3070 or fill out our short online contact form for a free consultation and legal advice on how to handle your situation. Remember, we work on a contingency basis which means there are no legal fees unless you win your case.