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There are an estimated 6 million women taking the prescription drug Prempro. Prempro is a leading Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) drug that combines estrogen and progestin into one pill. It is prescribed to treat women experiencing menopausal symptoms that include mood swings, hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and osteoporosis.

When first released, it was believed that Prempro could relieve menopausal symptoms, and reduce the risk of osteoporosis and heart complications. Subsequent studies have revealed troubling side effects and risks associated with Prempro. Some of these dangers include increased risk of heart attack, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, blood clots, and stroke.

For almost 40 years, women have been encouraged to take drugs like Prempro to relieve menopausal symptoms – yet these drugs were recommended on unreliable medical evidence. Wyeth pharmaceutical company, who is the manufacturer of Prempro, has no plans to recall the drug. Prempro brings almost $1.4 billion in revenue to Wyeth’s coffer each year.

In response to the Prempro controversy, Wyeth, maker of Prempro, has issued new guidelines that caution against its long-term use and has reduced the drug’s recommended dosage by half. Unfortunately, it may be too little too late for the many women who have suffered adverse effects. Unsafe prescription drugs have been marketed without comprehensive testing or have inadequate warning labels. Multiple medical organizations have issued statements urging women to avoid using combined estrogen-progestin therapy (HRT / Prempro) if at all possible.

In addition to the potentially life-threatening Prempro risks, there is also a long list of other side effects that affect women taking Prempro, Premarin, Femhrt and other combined HRT. (HRT means any combination of the hormones estrogen and progestin.) These side effects include:

In July 2002, the National Institute of Health (NIH) halted a major clinical study of 16,000 women due to alarming preliminary findings. The data suggested that after only one year on Prempro, an otherwise healthy woman faced increased risk of

• Heart attack (by 29%)
• Breast cancer (by 24%)
• Blood clots (by 200%)
• Stroke (by 41%)

The National Cancer Institute also reported in another study that ovarian cancer risk in postmenopausal women increased to 220% if they took estrogen for more than 20 years.

A federal study, released July 9, 2002, includes findings that long-term use of a hugely popular menopause treatment leads to increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease and strokes. This study, called HERS, Heart and Estrogen / Progestin Replacement Study, showed that taking estrogen - Premarin - and medroxyprogesterone - Cycrin, Provera, etc. - in combination - Prempro - actually increased the risk of heart disease during the first year of Prempro therapy for women with pre-existing heart disease. The early increase in the risk of heart disease is believed to be due to an increase in blood clotting from the intake of estrogen.

If you have been taking hormonal replacement therapy for menopausal symptoms, and are experiencing problems regarding Prempro, you should contact your physician immediately. You should also contact an experienced Prempro Lawyer / Attorney for guidance. You may have a legal claim for your injuries. Prompt filing is necessary to preserve your rights.

Raising more red flags is the reported increase in the incidence of ovarian cancer in WHI study participants. Women who took estrogen HRTs for long periods of time had a higher risk of developing the rare form of cancer, and researchers noted a 7 percent increase in risk associated with every extra year of estrogen HRT use. Researchers called the trend “worrisome.”

Are Premarin and Prempro safer in lower doses?
The dose of Prempro used in the WHI study was 0.625 mg, which is the same as 0.625 mg Premarin (conjugated estrogens) plus 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (progestin). It is not known whether Premarin and Prempro are safer in lower doses. Generally, medicines should be used at the lowest effective dose. The FDA cannot make further recommendations until studies are performed using lower doses.

Is it dangerous to abruptly stop HRT? Should Prempro be stopped gradually? Will I bleed if I stop taking Prempro?
It is not dangerous to just stop your HRT. You may get some minimal bleeding if you stop HRT, but that is not dangerous. Your menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes may return if you stop HRT.

Are there alternatives to HRT?
Absolutely, but it depends on what symptoms you are treating or what diseases you are trying to prevent. There are multiple herbal supplements that have been found to help against hot flashes, such as black cohash. There are excellent medications for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. There are estrogen medications that can be applied just to the vagina that help treat vaginal dryness. Exercise and diet can also go along way to prevent the side effects of menopause. You should talk to your doctor about your symptoms and the options available to you. Learn more about Prempro alternatives.

Are the estrogens and progestins in birth control pills (oral contraceptives) the same as those in Prempro and Premarin? Do they have the same risks?
Oral contraceptives also contain estrogens and progestins, but different types and doses. All estrogens have similar side effects. However, the risks of particular side effects may differ since oral contraceptives are used in younger women with different health status compared to postmenopausal women.

As with all estrogens, the use of oral contraceptives 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 such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, and in those who smoke cigarettes.

Personal Injury Law  - A tort is defined as a wrongful injury to a person or his or her property.  Tort law is a complex umbrella of interrelating laws designed to prevent harm or compensate for harm to a person or property.  This harm or injury may be a matter of physical injury, mental injury or financial injury.  The most common forms of personal injury law deal with harm from automobile accidents, decreased or loss of income due to accidents,  product failure or workplace injuries.  Medical malpractice or negligence and legal malpractice or negligence lawsuits are guided by personal injury law.  Personal injury law also includes reputation safeguards such as slander or libel laws.

A civil wrong, or a tort, is recognized by law as grounds for a lawsuit.  The primary aim of tort law is to provide relief through compensation to injured parties  for the damages incurred.  Among the types of recoverable damages are: loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and reasonable medical expenses.  Damages include both present and future expected losses.

Assault, battery, negligence, products liability, trespass, professional malpractice or negligence, products liability, invasion of privacy, defamation, fraud, trespass, professional malpractice or negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress are all examples of torts. Torts  occur when a tortfeasor (the person committing the tort) intends a particular harm to result from his or her misconduct.  Tort law is state law created through individual state courts and generally uses the Restatement of Torts (2nd) as an influential guide.

Prior to accepting an insurance settlement, it is generally wise to speak with a personal injury lawyer to evaluate your situation and to ensure that your interests are protected.  Most personal injury attorneys provide free initial consultations and most will only be paid if you win your case and receive a judgment.   Most frequently, personal injury attorneys will receive a percentage of the settlement awarded to you.  Legal advice can save you time, trouble and money and can insure that you are treated fairly.

Consultwebs.com's Dale Tincher can assist in making recommendations if desired.

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