Prempro is a defective drug. Since the mid 1990’s, women have used Prempro for hormone replacement therapy. Prempro claims have been on the rise in recent years and have lead to many lawsuits against its maker, Wyeth Pharmasuticals.

What Prempro Does to the Body

Prempro is a combination of estrogen and progestin designed to replenish hormone levels in women who have reached menopause. During menopause, a woman’s body has a diminished ability to produce the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This sudden change in hormone levels leads to hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, difficulty sleeping and lessened sexual interest. Prempro, a form of hormone replacement therapy, replenishes these diminished hormones with estrogen and progestin. Women taking hormone replacement therapy often experience relief from these uncomfortable symptoms of menopause.

Why Wyeth Should be Held Accountable

While promoting the drugs ability to ease the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause Wyeth, the manufacturers of Prempro, went on to promote the drug as a “cure all” for aging in women. These claims, however, were unfounded and Prempro was soon found to have many serious health risks. Wyeth, however, knowingly marketed the drug for uses other than those approved by the FDA. They hired ghost writers who submit articles to medical journals touting the drug a cure all for aging in women. Through these articles, and other outlets, Wyeth supported that Prempro would not only ease hot flashes and night sweats, but it could also prevent heart disease, osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s, as well as treat depression, and provide a renewed interest in sex.

These inflated claims by Wyeth on the virtues of their drug lead women to take Prempro for much longer than recommended by the FDA, and for reasons not approved by the FDA. In 2002 a large federal study showed that the risks of long term use of Prempro greatly outweighed any benefits. Women who use Prempro for an extended period of time have a significantly increased risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer, heart disease, blood clots, or suffering a stroke. The risk for these developments is so great that this, and other studies, had to be cancelled for concern for patient safety. Prempro has also been shown to increase the likelihood of abnormal mammograms. Women taking the drug are encouraged to get more frequent mammograms.

History of Prempro

Prempro, which is manufactured by Wyeth pharmaceuticals, was initially approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for short term treatment of hot flashes and other symptoms experienced at the onset of menopause.

Effects of Prempro

The effects of long term use of Prempro have been devastating to women’s health. Numerous studies have revealed the dangers of this drug, and many women have stopped using or have drastically changed the manner in which they use Prempro. Naturally the decline of Prempro’s use among women has seen a reduction in the number of women suffering breast cancer. Unfortunately, though, many women continue to suffer residual health complications from a drug they once thought to be safe.

What to do if you have been injured by Prempro

If you, or someone you love, have experienced the debilitating effects of Prempro, the manufacturer may be liable. The Bradley Law Firm has over thirty years of experience personal injury claims resulting in serious health risk or death. Contact the Bradley Law Firm today and speak to an experienced Missouri personal injury lawyer for free.