HRT
Hormone Replacement Therapy®
Do not discontinue taking any medications without first consulting your physician.
In the United States, an estimated 38% of menopausal women use Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to relieve their symptoms of menopause and to prevent several debilitating conditions. However, HRT's estrogen-progestin drug therapy has now been shown to significantly increase the risk for many alarming medical conditions including: strokes, breast cancer, heart attacks, pulmonary embolism, and more.
What is HRT?
Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT, is a popular form of therapy women can choose to help soften the uncomfortable side effects of aging and menopause and works by attempting to counteract the body's natural drop in estrogen. HRT was once simply estrogen replacement, but today a combination of synthetic or organic estrogen and progestin is the standard. Some popular HRT medications include Premarin®, which is estrogen only, and PremproTM, an estrogen-progestin formulation.
What are the benefits?
Since the mid-1960s, drug companies have supported the idea that menopausal women can fight such discomfort as hot flashes, vaginal dryness and night sweats. Prevention of osteoporosis and heart disease, and more recently Alzheimer's, has also been routinely cited in the promotion of these drugs. However, the preventative benefits of HRT have always been controversial and, because of the publicized results of several studies, the claims are now highly suspect.
What are the risks?
On July 9, 2002, a report from a Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study of the effects of estrogen-progestin HRT on postmenopausal women was released. The study was intended to discover if HRT would help prevent heart disease and hip fractures, and if those benefits would outweigh the risks of breast cancer, uterine cancer, and blood clots. The study found that while the combination of estrogen and progestin did have some benefits (lowered risk of osteoporosis and colon cancer), its major effect was to increase potentially fatal health risks:
- 29% increase in heart disease
- 41% increase in strokes
- 26% increase in breast cancer
- A doubling of rates of blood clots (in lungs and legs)
The study's interim results, especially the findings on breast cancer, were definitive and frightening enough that the study was ordered to shut down immediately.
Findings from the WHI studies are still being released, including information that indicates a risk of dementia with HRT use and further evidence that HRT increases the risk of new or recurring breast cancer; WHI studies also indicate that HRT has no positive effect on the prevention of heart disease or Alzheimer's. Other studies on HRT are also being conducted, with one that indicates an increased risk of asthma associated with HRT use and another that cites hearing loss as a risk.
What is being done to protect women?
In response to the information made available by the various HRT studies, the FDA encourages manufacturers of the combination hormones to update their labels to include the new warnings about risks, including:
- The FDA no longer recommends using HRT to prevent heart disease.
- When used to prevent osteoporosis, the risks for osteoporosis must outweigh the risks associated with HRT.
- For the treatment of menopause symptoms, the FDA strongly recommends the lowest dose that is effective used for the shortest time needed.
The FDA is continuing to pursue information about the risks of HRT use from the National Institutes of Health and the manufacturers of HRT.
What should I do?
You should never stop taking any medications without first consulting with your doctor. However, if you are currently using HRT, you should discuss your concerns about possible health risks with your healthcare provider.
Your doctor can explain your options. There are alternatives to hormone replacement therapy that might ease the symptoms and conditions associated with menopause and aging. If you have undergone long-term combination HRT and suffered any alarming side effects, contact our attorneys today for an immediate and confidential evaluation of your case.
Do not discontinue taking any medications without first consulting your physician. This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute medical advice and should not be viewed as such. For medical advice, you should always consult with your physician.
Premarin® and PremproTM are trademarks of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and are used here to identify their pharmaceutical products.
This law firm is not affiliated with, sponsored by or associated with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, the FDA, or the National Institutes of Health.
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