This is my posting for women out there to hear a story (maybe close to theirs) - I want to educate and warn people. Visit http://www.medications.com/effect/view/38589 for any additional info.

I am 20. I have Panic Disorder with agoriaphobia, Anticipatory Anxiety, Irritability Anxiety, ADD, Bipolar Disorder, Chronic Constipation and Chronic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (which was not caused by untreated STDs or STIs). I started having all of these issues after I started taking Yaz birth control. I started having anxiety and panic attacks after a month of taking the pill. August - I delevoped PID. November - Anxiety and Panic attacks grew worse becoming a multiple interruptions in my DAILY life. Then depression set in. I had been seeing a Neurologist (who had prescribed Cymbalta then Lexapro). After the suicidal thoughts became severe and I was unable to function in life he admitted me to a hospital. Almost immediately a psychiatrist (whom I cherish dearly now) discharged me and set up an appointment for me with him the next day. I was then diagnosed with all the mental disorders/illnesses. I know take klonopin 1 mg, luvox cr 150 mg, seroquel xr 300 mg, vyvanse 140 mg, promethazine and lunesta 3 mg. I was on short term disability for 4 weeks (which my employer and the disability insurance company made an extreme hassle). I started to show significant signs of improvement and progression to recovery. The medication had finally eliminated panic and anxiety attacks from my every day life. I started to have symptoms resembling the ones I had with PID (back in August 08 which I was on STD & bedrest for 3 weeks). I saw my gyno on Jan 13th & she prescribed an antibotic, mild pain reliever and the reinstatement of Yaz. After a week of the birth control, my depression and anxiety/panic came back at full strength. I received a letter from my employer saying that my short term disability application for 1/15/09 to 2/15/09 had been denied and if I did not return to work by a certain date they would consider it my "voluntary resignation from [my] postion with the company". I started looking for (and still am) government funded insurance and prescription coverage from any source (even CVS & Walmart). I started noticing my constipation issues and decided to check the interactions and individual side effects of my medications to see if they were perhaps the cause. Then I stumbled across this website and the many women (ages varying from 17 - 50) who posted their stories of panic attacks caused by Yaz and Yasmin. I realized that my problems started after taking the birth control. And when I had stopped I started to recover mentally. I wasn't 100% or even 30% better but it was improvement. And when I started taking it again, I went downhill - ending up almost where I had began. When I was getting better I could maintain a level of calmness and go to stores and restraunts. Now, my agoriaphobia is back at full strength. I don't want to leave my house (my comfort zone) for anything. Not even a walk around the block. If anyone has any advice or any information regarding insurance, prescription, legal or recovery help - PLEASE message me. I'd leave my email but I've noticed that the website omits them. For those of you who are looking for help, this is what I've found so far: 1) Yaz takes about 6 months to be fully out of your system. 2) Seroquel's main website offers a free online self help program for bi-polar patients. 3) Seroquel's manufacturer offers a Patient Assistance Program. 4) Lunesta's main website offers help. Search "Dream Kit". 5) You can receive a card from your psychiatrist called Sleep & Save (Powered by McKesson) that will pay up to $25 on the next 4 prescriptions. You can activate this card online or by using the toll free number they provide on the back. Read the back of the card CAREFULLY! The cards offer is not valid for Medicare, Medicare Part D, Medicaid or any other federal or state funded assistance, programs or insurance. 6) You can receive a card from your psychiatrist for Luvox CR that saves up to $25 on 3 prescriptions of Luvox CR. Read the back of the card. Read the Patients part. THEN read the Pharamists section: it states how to place the claim under an Insured patients insurance. It also states for UNINSURED Customers/Patients (like me): the pharmacist is to submit the claim for Luvox CR to PDM using the BIN #. This means you will still have to pay for the full amount minusing the $25 Luvox CR is paying for. 7) PanicCenter.net offers a free online program for recovering from Panic Disorder/Anxiety Disorders. You will have to register (create an account). They require all participants take a Anxiety Assessment. After you've completed the assessment it will show all the questions, your answers and their professional summaries. They ask that you print this off and take it to your psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist or counselor. 8) The same creators of PanicCenter.net also have the following programs/websites available: DepressionCenter.net, AlcoholHelpCenter.net, HealthyWeightCenter.net and StopSmokingCenter.net 9)CVS offers a Prescription Program for 9.99 annually per person - check their prescription drug list though. Most of my medications were not covered under the program. 10)Walmart offers a Prescription Program - $4 for 30 day supply and $10 for a 90 day supply. Make sure to check their drug list too - none of my medications were covered. 11)There are tons of "Assistance Programs" and "Prescription Drug Coverage Programs" but most of these websites end up pushing or "recommending" you to another website. Finding coverage, assistance and help is time consuming and it definitely requires patience. I recommend signing up or creating accounts with as many websites as possible to receive emails, updates on laws, updates on providers, updates on medications, updates about recent studies, legal advice and community resources. I recommend the following websites: www.Xubex.com www.RevolutionHealth.com www.IHealthRecord.org www.FamiliesUSA.org www.FamilyWize.org www.ADAA.org (Anxiety Disorders Association of America) www.PanicCenter.net (And the other .net Centers listed above) www,familyaware.org (Families for Depression Awareness) www.Citizens.org (Citizens for Health) www.ChangeHealthCare.com (Track Consumer Prices) www.LegalMedsDirect.com www.UniCare.com www.123FeelBetter.net (2 week free trial Wellness Program) www.AnxietySymptomRelief.com anxiety.today.com - I recommend this for the Overcoming Self Defeating Thoughts Step by Step & Tips www.anxiety-and-depression-solutions.com (Search The 7 Aspects of Wellness AND Five Minutes for Wellness - These articles will greatly help with tips for self help and recovery.) (Check Prices at Borders vs Amazon vs Half.com) Books: 1)Panic Attacks Workbook: Guided Program for Beating the Panic Trick by David Carbonell - most recommended cognitive therapy workbook by mental illness professionals (pyschiatrists, therapist, cognitive behavioral therapists, psychologists, etc) 2)Healing the Trauma of Abuse: A Womans Workbook by Mary Ellen Copeland 3)Anxiety and Depression for Dummies - I'm not to fond of the title but it is a recovery workbook. 4)The Mindfulness and Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety by John Forsyth and George Elfert (PHDs for both) 5)Life After Trauma: A Workbook for Healing by Dena Rosenbloom 6)The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression: A Step by step Program by Willam Knaus 7)The Self-Esteem Workbook by Glenn Schiraldi 8)The Self-Esteem Guided Journal: A Ten Week Program by Matthew Mckay and Catharine Sutker 9)Recovery from Panic Disorder: A Therapist's Transformation as Both Patient and Healer by Eileen McPhilips Portner 10)Surviving Panic Disorder: What You Need to Know by Stuart Shipko After my regression during recovery my depression hit me hard. Here are two quotes that helped me have a want to find hope and recovery again: 1)Emotional wellness is our core - 7 Aspects of Wellness 2)Be aware that relapse is a normal part of change and recovery. This may include the return to drug use or deterioration in mental health or behavior. Please message me for any reason at all. I know that support is the most needed thing for Anxiety and Panic patients - actually all mentally ill patients.