Taking Hormone Replacement Therapy? Look for Premarin Side Effects.

While there are different hormone replacement therapies (HRT) on the market, perhaps the most popular is Premarin. This prescription medication is a product of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, which, as of 2009, is now part of Pfizer, the pharmaceutical giant responsible for a wide range of drugs. As an estrogen HRT the pill version of Premarin consists of several different hormones, mixed together in a way that is meant to ease and alleviate the annoying, even painful issues that can arise as a woman’s body ceases producing enough chemicals for her body. However, it is this unique combination of hormones that may be causing painful Premarin side effects in some women.

Wyeth began producing the HRT in 1942, by combining different estrogen hormones together in one pill, but has refined the drug considerably since then. At the most basic level, there are three kinds of estrogen present in every pill. The first is called estrone, which is typically secreted by the ovary. The second is equilin, which is unique to horses. Although women do not naturally secrete equilin, it does have effects on the human body, many of which are still being studied today. The final is equilenin, another chemical that is only found naturally in horses, but is given to women undergoing HRT. It is important to note that many people are unsure as to what effect the horse-based hormones have on the human body. However, there is no consensus that they are the cause of unusual Premarin side effects.

Most women who take an estrogen HRT will experience little, if any, complications. Others will experience only very mild complications. These can include, but are not limited to:

Occasional mild nausea or stomach bloating and pain
Sudden breast swelling that results in tenderness and pain
New freckles and dark spots on the face
Acne and increased hair growth
Rapid changes in weight and/or appetite
Unusual vaginal itching or discharge
Altered menstrual periods, decreased libido
Very mild headaches and occasional dizziness

However, in many cases, these are only the tip of the iceberg. In fact, there may be signs that more serious problems are lurking in the background, threatening the comfort, and possibly the life, of the patient. More serious problems include but are not limited to the following list:

Chest pain, pressure, or feelings of heaviness
Sudden weakness, especially if it occurs in only one side of the body
Unusual headache, confusion, or problems with vision, speech, and balance
Pain or swelling of the legs, ankles, hands, or stomach
Memory and concentration problems
Jaundice
A lump of tissue in your breast

These problems are especially troubling, as they are often symptoms of life-threatening complication such as blood clots, stroke, and HRT cancer . And of course, women should always pay close attention to changes in their health that may be signals of osteoporosis or depression.

If you are currently taking an HRT, or know someone else who is doing so, please pay careful attention to the side effects listed above. If you believe that you are experiencing any of these issues, contact a medical professional as soon as you can. If your doctor or physician diagnoses you with a serious problem resulting from this drug, or any other estrogen HRT, contact a qualified attorney today. They will help you to secure and assert your legal rights under United States law, and obtain cash recompense wherever it may be due.