PREMARIN OVERVIEW
Premarin is the brand name of a hormone replacement therapy (abbreviated as HRT), sometimes sold as
Prempro (the conjugated form of the
drug), and produced and marketed by the company once known as Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.
However, Premarin has since come under intense scrutiny regarding possible
health hazards. Premarin was first released in 1942, and is a drug made from
the estrogen collected from the urine of pregnant horses. In fact, Premarin is
short for “PREgnant MAres’ uRINe.” The drug is available in several different
forms. First, there are the oral pills, which are produced in 5 different doses
(0.3, 0.45, 0.625, 0.9, 1.25 milligram doses). Then there are the liquid IV’s,
which are primarily used for the short-term treatment of internal uterine
bleeding. And, finally, there is the estrogen
cream , sold under the name Estrace, prescribed to women with vaginal
dryness or pain during sex that results from menopause. Estrogen treatments like Premarin are commonly prescribed to
women who have had hysterectomies or who have experienced ovarian failure, as
they tend to develop some or all of the symptoms of menopause, including: - Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness
- Vaginal burning
- Vaginal irritation
One of the lesser-known uses of the treatment, of which
Premarin is only one form, is the treatment of cancer in both men and women.
But using the drug in this manner is far less common, and has dropped in
popularity. The drop in visibility and use is partially due to recent studies
and more than one Prempro lawsuit
showing that Premarin side effects
may include painful, life-threatening cancers. In October of 2007, a Prempro
lawyer successfully sued Wyeth in a Nevada court on behalf of three women.
These three women all developed HRT cancer of the breast. None of the plaintiffs had breast cancer before they
began taking the drugs. A fourth woman was included in the lawsuit. However,
she opted to settle her suit out of court before passing away at the age of 59. It should be noted that, according to many clinicians, there
is a positive link between estrogen and
breast cancer , and that the particular brand name could be irrelevant to
the larger health issues. The victims and lawsuits do not claim that Wyeth
distributed a product that causes problems any more dangerous than other common
HRT side effects . However, the
lawsuits and studies assert that Wyeth distributed products like Premarin that
they knew to be dangerous. Although cancer is a very serious concern for anyone on HRT, most
patients undergoing this common medical treatment will not have to experience
this debilitating and life-threatening complication. But there are a number of
less serious Prempro side effects ,
including, but not limited to, the following maladies and ailments associated
with excess estrogen: - Stroke
- Heart attack
- Mild vaginal bleeding
or spotting
- Breast pain because of
enlargement
- Vaginitis because of
yeast or other bacteria
- Frequent and painful
leg cramps
- More painful
menstruation in women who have not had hysterectomies
For those women who are experiencing troubling side effects, estrogen hormone
treatment could potentially be to blame. The above symptoms are common for
patients taking the oral or IV forms of the drug. Women utilizing the vaginal
cream may also experience some of the following Estrace side effects : - Headaches
- Hyperglycemia (high
blood sugar)
- Loss of hair
- Stomach cramps
- Fluid retention
- High blood pressure
If you are taking Premarin, or any other estrogen hormone
therapy, and are not feeling well, do not hesitate to contact your doctor. Your
discomfort could be a sign of some very serious developing issues. If your
doctor, physician, or other health care professional diagnoses you with any of
the adverse effects listed above, including cancer, find qualified legal help
as soon as you can. Only an experienced attorney can determine your rights
under the law, and help you recover any recompense you may be owed.
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