Premarin

Premarin is used to reduce moderate to severe symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and sleep disturbances. Premarin was approved by the FDA in 1942 and is derived from the urine of pregnant mares. It has been prescribed to millions of women since its approval. It is a synthetic estrogen and a common medication used for hormone replacement therapy.

In 2003, the FDA and Wyeth, the manufacturer of Premarin, revised the label to include a warning which states that estrogen and estrogen plus progestin therapies should not be used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The warning includes risk information from the Women’s Health Initiative study. This study reported increased risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, invasive breast cancer, pulmonary emboli and deep vein thrombosis in postmenopausal women during five years of treatment with Premarin and similar drugs.

Premarin has also been seen to cause cancer, including endometrial cancer and lung cancer. It is seen that the longer a woman remains on Premarin, the higher her risk becomes for suffering from serious side effects. Another study published in 2009 in The Lancet established that women taking Premarin are 71 percent more likely to suffer from lung cancer than patients who took the placebo.

Serious side effects may include:

• Chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling
• Sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body
• Sudden severe headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance
• Pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in one or both legs
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Migraine headache
• Pain, swelling, or tenderness in your stomach
• Confusion, problems with memory or concentration
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• Swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet
• Breast lumps

Less serious side effects may include:

• Mild nausea, vomiting, bloating, stomach cramps
• Breast pain, tenderness, or swelling
• Freckles or darkening of facial skin
• Increased hair growth, loss of scalp hair
• Changes in weight or appetite
• Problems with contact lenses
• Vaginal itching or discharge
• Changes in menstrual periods, decreased sex drive
• Headache, nervousness, dizziness, tired feeling