Yaz® medication & Warfarin

Yaz® prescription medication, or drospirenone & ethinyl estradiol, is a women’s birth control that offers 99% pregnancy prevention and the only birth control proven to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a condition with emotional and physical symptoms severe enough to impact every day life. PMDD symptoms can include:

  • Anger
  • Irritability
  • Markedly depressed moods
  • Feeling anxious
  • Bloating
  • Change in appetite
  • Headaches
  • Muscle aches 1

Yaz, however, is associated with an increased risk of stroke and heart attack through increased risk of blood clot development. Women over 35 and those who smoke are at further increased risk.1 If a patient is considering Yaz or any oral contraceptive, the benefits and risks should be discussed with a doctor before making this important choice.

If a patient is taking warfarin and begins birth control medications such as Yaz, improving the control of warfarin will decrease the risk of warfarin-related side effects. Home International Normalized Ratio (INR) testing allows you to test your INR at home and to help manage interactions with other medications.

  1. Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, package insert, 2007.