Wyeth, the maker of Premarin and Prempro, has settled lawsuits with two Nevada women who blamed the Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) drugs for their breast cancers. Wyeth faces more than more than 5,000 lawsuits over the menopause drugs, which are still on the market.
HRT is used to treat the hot flashes and other symptoms that accompany menopause. In 2002, a major HRT study conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) determined that Prempro, Premarin and similar drugs significantly increased the risk of stroke, blood clots, heart attacks and breast cancer. The study results were so alarming that the NIH canceled the study, citing risk to the study’s participants. The authors of the study suggested that many of the women who used HRT should quit and talk to their doctors about alternatives.
Vesta Woodhouse, 71, and Annie Woods, 61, were among the millions of women who used HRT. Their lawsuits claimed Wyeth failed to adequately warn them about the drugs’ breast cancer risks. Woodhouse took Prempro for 19 months before developing breast cancer. Woods took Premarin, Provera and then Prempro for about five years before developing breast cancer. Provera is an HRT medication marketed by Pfizer. Wyeth settled with both women for an undisclosed amount, but Woods still has a lawsuit pending against Pfizer. That lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial this week.
According to a report on Bloomberg.com, Wyeth has lost four of seven cases over menopause drugs Premarin and Prempro since they began going to trial in 2006. Upjohn has lost both cases that have gone to trial over Provera, which came on the market in 1959. New York-based Pfizer acquired Upjohn in 2003 as part of the $54 billion acquisition of Pharmacia Corp.
<You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
June 14th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
I have been taking premrim 1.25 for foruteen years now,and sence then i have hard lumps in my breasts and i have sever leg cramps it hard to walk at times and sleep is out of the question ,I have sever head aches .
September 18th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
i’ve been on premarin 0.9 for 12 years and i have lumps too.today i went to the doctor and now i go in for a mammogram wed.i’m scared
September 18th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
i’ve been on premarin 0.9 for 12 years and i have lumps too.today i went to the doctor and now i go in for a mammogram wed.i’m scared
September 27th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
my name is laura i took provera and premin and prempros for 15 years got breast cancer had surgery and got heart trouble and have such leg cramps i cant straighten up it is awful these cramps is hard to bear they are so severe .i dont want no one else to suffer like this its to bad .
October 16th, 2009 at 6:48 am
Hello all,Im very sad about all this as I have been takeing premin 1.25 twice a day for over 8 years,i cpmplainded to my docter about my severe headaches,leg pain,AND NOW IM BLEEDING FROM MY NIPPLES,BLACK GUE,Alot when i wash,i had my mamo wedsday thay said no lumps at all,but my breasts feel severe preasure like tere ganna burst,it hurts so bad,now my doc tells me just take one premerin a day not two.iand wants to see me monday,i dont know if i can trust her,Im scared as so many people are saying thay got cancer,well i will find out soon,any advise,thanks linda
October 21st, 2009 at 1:20 pm
I took Premarin for almost 2 years and was diagnosed with breast cancer. Had I known it was made from horse urine I wouldn’t have taken.
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:49 pm
My grandma took premarin for 15 years because her dr said it was safe. By the time she found out she had stage 3 endometrial cancer and past away less than two years after finding out.
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:32 pm
My understanding is that they no longer prescribe Premarin or Prempro unless you have had a hysterectomy. They must have learned from their mistakes.
I had bilatteral mastectomy in August 2008 (after doctors prescribed based on numbers back in the 80’s)- so many women – so much breast cancer