The Law office of Mellon Webster & Shelly is representing the interests of women who may face serious health risks as a result of taking estrogen-based drugs, including Prempro®, Premarin®, and Premphase®.

These drugs were developed and sold by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals as "hormone replacement therapy." They have been widely prescribed for the treatment of menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and osteoporosis. The health problems that could be caused by long-term treatment with these drugs were revealed in a recent government study and documented in the Journal of the American Medical Association. A description of that study follows:
On July 9, 2002, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, an agency of the federal government and part of the National Institutes of Health, halted a major clinical trial of the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy involving estrogen and progestin in healthy postmenopausal women. Prempro® was the only estrogen-progestin combination drug tested. The 16,600-patient study was abruptly terminated after researchers determined that the risks of taking Prempro outweighed its benefits.

Women taking Prempro® as part of the study were found to have an increased risk of invasive breast cancer and other serious health problems compared to women taking a placebo. Specific study findings for the estrogen plus progestin group compared to placebo include:

  • 41 % increase in strokes
  • 29 % increase in heart attacks
  • Doubling of rates of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (blood clots)
  • 22 % increase in total cardiovascular disease
  • 26 % increase in breast cancer

Mellon Webster & Shelly also represents women (and their families) who suffered or are suffering from a serious medical condition as a result of treating with one of the Wyeth hormone replacement drugs. If you are one of these women, you may have a legal claim relating to the physical and mental harm caused by these drugs. To discuss your rights with one of our attorneys, contact us today at 215-348-7700.

Related Articles & Links

USA Today - July 9, 2002
"U.S. stops study on hormone therapy" - by Rita Rubin

CNN.COM/Health - July 9, 2002
"Hormone replacement therapy study halted
Increased risk of breast cancer a factor, government says"

JAMA
Conjugated Equine Estrogens and Global Cognitive Function in Postmenopausal Women

For more information, please contact Stephen A. Corr, Esq.,
scorr@mellonwebster.com.