Yaz®
Yaz®, Yasmin® and Ocella® are similar birth control medications manufactured by Bayer Pharmaceuticals. Yaz® was falsely marketed to the public, especially towards females teenagers and young adults for non-approved usage such as headaches and severe acne. Bayer claimed Yaz® would also reduce emotional and physical symptoms of PMS and PMDD. Yaz® was never approved to cure PMS, severe acne, or PMDD symptoms such as irritability before menstruation.
Yaz® differs from Yasmin® and Ocella® due to the progestin hormone in it called drospirenone, which can increase potassium levels in the bloodstream. Hyperkalemia is a serious side effect of Yaz® and can cause dangerous blood clots, stroke, and heart problems such as a heart attack. Smokers are more likely to suffer some of these side effects as well. Other side effects of Yaz® birth control include: blindness; hair loss; hypertension; pulmonary embolism; deep vein thrombosis (DVT); liver cancer and bleeding of the liver; breast cancer; gallbladder disease and gallstones; and cerebral hemorrhage.