Hormone Replacement Therapy (Prempro)

The information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. As of 2011, the Simmons firm is no longer accepting cases involving Hormone Replacement Therapy drugs.

Filing a lawsuit

If you were harmed from taking a Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) drug, you may be entitled to compensation, and we can help you file a pharmaceutical litigation. 

Over 60 years ago, HRT was approved by the FDA to help alleviate or moderate the symptoms of menopause: hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal atrophy. Early on, HRT was also promised to reduce the uterine cancer and other forms of cancer.

As time passed new risks and injuries began to present themselves. Despite the injuries and the pervasive use of HRT medications, drug companies neglected to study the potential risks to women.

In the late 1990s, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI), sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)  and units of the National Institute of Health (NIH) began a study to focus on women’s health and the use of HRT. However, the study was terminated after just five years because the risks of taking the drug outweighed its benefits.

The infamous study, now known as the WHI study, suggested a significantly increased incidence of breast and ovarian cancer in women who used HRT medication.

WHAT IS HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

Hormone Replacement Therapy works to control symptoms of menopause including:

• hot flashes
• night sweats
• vaginal atrophy
  

Some of the more well-known brand names are:

• Prempro
• Premarin
• Provera
• Premphase
• Estradiol
  

Note: Other generic estrogens and synthetic progesterones also exist

HRT Side Effects

The following information taken directly from the Internet site, drugs.com

Common HRT side effects are¹:

Abnormal hair growth; bloating; breast tenderness or pain; changes in sleep patterns; darkening of the skins; dizziness; fatigue; hair loss; headache; irritability; increased or decreased sex drive; lightheadedness; nausea; stomach cramps; stomach upset; weight changes.

More serious HRT side effects are:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); breast lumps; calf pain or swelling; changes in vaginal bleeding (eg, spotting, breakthrough bleeding, prolonged bleeding); chest pain; faintness; leg pain; mental or mood changes (eg, severe depression, memory loss); one-sided weakness; shortness of breath; slurred speech; sudden severe headache; swelling of hands or feet; unusual vaginal discharge, itching, or odor; vision changes; vomiting; yellowing of the skin or eyes

If you are concerned about the risks of taking HRT, please talk to your doctor right away, and discuss any HRT-related problems you may be having.

Resources for Clients

• FDA MedWatch for Prempro