Prempro Lawyers

Prempro is used as hormone replacement therapy to treat symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. Prempro contains 0.625 mg of Premarin conjugated equine estrogens with 2.5 mg of the progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (Provera).

Prior to 1996, many patients combined Premarin, made by Wyeth, with Provera, made by Pharmacia & Upjohn, which became a unit of Pfizer in 2003. Wyeth, which combined the two hormones in Prempro, was purchased by Pfizer in 2009.

In the 1970s, Premarin became the leading menopausal drug in the U.S. until doctors began suspecting that it caused endometrial cancer. The problem seemed to disappear when Premarin was combined with progestin, and Wyeth eventually combined the hormones into a single pill. But Wyeth's additional claims that this combination hormone therapy would provide added protection to the heart and bones, help prevent Alzheimer’s disease and depression, and increase sexual vitality were unfounded.

Then in July 2002, a study by the Woman’s Health Initiative (WHI ) revealed that long-term use of Prempro increases the risk for breast cancer, heart disease and strokes. In fact, the study was halted early because it was determined that the health risks exceeded any benefits conjugated equine estrogen and progestin could provide.

Wyeth scrambled to change Prempro's warning label. But by the time of the WHI study, more than six million women had undergone such combination hormone therapy, and more than 8,000 lawsuits have been filed against Wyeth and Pharmacia & Upjohn (both now Pfizer units) over their menopause drugs.

Some experts contend that Wyeth has at least contributed to a breast cancer epidemic. And several juries have indeed faulted the company for failing to warn plaintiffs and their doctors of health risks these juries concluded Wyeth knew were associated with the use of the drugs. But Prempro continues to be available on the market.

There are numerous other side effects associated with Prempro, including:

• chest pain or heavy feeling
• nausea, sweating, general ill feeling
• pain spreading to the arm or shoulder
• sudden weakness or numbness, especially on one side of the body
• sudden confusion, headache, or problems with vision, speech, or balance
• swelling or pain in the lower leg
• abnormal vaginal bleeding
• migraine headache
• swelling, pain, or tenderness in the stomach
• confusion, problems with concentration or memory
• yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)
• swelling of the hands, feet, or ankles
• breast lump

If you or a loved one has suffered or is suffering side effects associated with the use of Prempro or other hormone combination therapy, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact a qualified pharmaceutical injury attorney for an evaluation of your case.

See also:
Hormone replacement therapy
Article: Judge Cuts $78.7M Prempro Damage Award

Videos on Prempro

"Everything You Need to Know About Prempro": This video gives a quick overview on hormone replacement drugs, and discusses how dangerous Prempro is.

"Prempro: The Plaintiff's Perspective": This video discusses how Wyeth, the manufacturer of Prempro, did not perform adequate testing on the drug, and was not truthful about its effects. Two women who had developed breast cancer due to Prempro also share their stories.