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 My doctor says that I still need to take Prempro for my osteoporosis,
what should I do?
What are Prempro side effects?
What can be done to lower the risks of Prempro side effects such as
heart attack, stroke, blood clots, or breast cancer while taking
estrogen or estrogen with progestin?
Are the estrogens and progestins that are in birth control pills the
same as those in Prempro? Do they have the same risks?
Are estrogens in patches, vaginal creams, or vaginal rings safer than
tablet forms?
Who should not take estrogens and progestins?
Is the FDA doing anything about Prempro?
What is Premarin? Does it have harmful side effects like Prempro?
Hormone Replacement Lawyer FAQ #1: My doctor says that I still need to take Prempro for my osteoporosis,
what should I do?
Get a second opinion. There are other products on the market
specifically for osteoporosis. Ask your doctor for another
recommendation.
Hormone Replacement Lawyer FAQ #2:What are Prempro
side effects?
Prempro side effects vary from life threatening to benign. Breast
cancer, uterine an ovarian cancer, heart attack, blood clots, dementia,
and gall bladder disease would be considered life threatening. While
benign but still painful Prempro side effects include headache, breast
pain, irregular vaginal bleeding or spotting, nausea and vomiting, and
possibly hair loss.
Hormone Replacement Lawyer FAQ #3:What can be done to lower the risks of Prempro side
effects such as heart attack, stroke, blood clots, or breast cancer
while taking estrogen or estrogen with progestin?
The safety and
effectiveness of medicines are increased when used as directed. Here are
some tips to consider:
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Do a self-breast
examination regularly and have a breast exam and mammogram (breast
X-ray) regularly.
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Ask your doctor or
nutritionist how you can lower your cholesterol, manage high blood
pressure and diabetes, quite smoking, and lose weight to decrease your
risks of heart disease.
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If vaginal bleeding from
taking Prempro occurs, talk to your doctor immediately.
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Consider natural and
plant-derived alternatives to taking estrogen, monitor side effects more
efficiently, use a lower dosage, and only use for a short duration.
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When in doubt and facing
Prempro side effects, contact a Prempro attorney for a free, no
obligation consultation.
Hormone Replacement Lawyer FAQ #4:Are the estrogens and progestins that are in birth
control pills the same as those in Prempro? Do they have the same risks?
Birth control pills also contain estrogens and progestins but different
kinds and different doses. All estrogens have similar side effects.
However, the risks of particular side effects may differ since birth
control pills are used by younger women with a different health status
compared to postmenopausal women.
As with taking any estrogens, the use of birth control pills is also
associated with increased risks of several serious conditions including
heart attack, blood clots, stroke, liver tumors, and gallbladder
disease. These risks are higher in women with underlying risk factors of
high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and cigarette smokers.
Hormone Replacement Lawyer FAQ #5:Are estrogens in patches, vaginal creams, or vaginal rings safer than
tablet forms?
It has not been determined if other forms are safer than tablets.
Estrogens are available in a variety of forms including trans-dermal
patches, estrogen gels, and vaginal creams and rings. Most of the data
on the long-term estrogen health effects come from studies involving
oral estrogen and progestin tablets. Until there is more data, the FDA
recommends that postmenopausal women who take estrogen and progestin in
other dosage forms be similarly warned about harmful health risks.
The amount of estrogen
that enters the blood stream from estrogen-containing vaginal creams and
rings can vary depending on the specific product; how it is used, and
these factors vary from woman to woman. The FDA encourages manufacturers
to provide drug blood level information with the physician prescribing
information. However, it is important to realize that little is still
known about the relationship between estrogen blood levels and potential
health risks.
Hormone Replacement Lawyer FAQ #6:Who should not take estrogens and progestins?
Do not take estrogens and progestins if you:
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think you may be pregnant
or are pregnant
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have unusual vaginal
bleeding
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have or had certain
cancers
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had a stroke or heart
attack in the past year
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have or had blood clots
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have liver problems or
liver disease
Women are advised to
discuss this issue with their health care provider before stopping their
medication. No one should be taking estrogens and progestins
indefinitely.
Prempro FAQ #7:Is the
FDA doing anything about Prempro?
The FDA suggested revising the label to include information about
current approved uses Prempro. The suggested label states that if
Prempro is solely prescribed for vaginal symptoms, health care providers
are advised to consider the use of topical vaginal products. The
suggested label recommends that if the products are prescribed for
osteoporosis, women should be at significant risk for osteoporosis and
that non-estrogen treatments should be considered inappropriate.
FDA is also advising women and their health care providers that hormone
therapy has never been approved for prevention of cognitive disorders
such as Alzheimer's disease or memory loss.
This information is too little too late. If you or a family member are
suffering or have suffered life threatening and harmful Prempro side
effects, consult a Prempro lawyer today for a free, no-obligation
consultation.
Hormone Replacement Lawyer FAQ #8:What is Premarin? Does it have harmful side effects like
Prempro?
Premarin is a conjugated estrogen extracted from pregnant mares' urine (PMU).
It is manufactured by Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, Inc., and is most
commonly prescribed for estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) to relieve
hormonal deficiency symptoms associated with menopause or hysterectomy.
More recently, it has been prescribed to help prevent osteoporosis and
heart disease. Marketed for the past 50 years, Premarin is the most
widely used ERT drug and currently prescribed to more than nine million
American women.
Animal rights groups have drawn attention to Premarin because of the
methods used to collect the pregnant mares’ urine. Each mare is kept
tethered in a narrow stall for four to six months with a rubber cup
positioned over her vulva to collect the urine flow. The cup is held in
place by overhead supports and a partial body harness. The tether and
collection equipment greatly restrict movement and the mare is unable to
turn around or take more than a step or two in any direction.
Some of the long-term disadvantages of taking Premarin include increased
risk of developing uterine and breast cancers.
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