Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs are intended to ease common symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes and mood swings by supplying hormones like estrogen and progestin, which are naturally lost at the later stage of a woman’s life. In the early 1990s, HRT became significantly popular and more than six million women in the United States were taking HRT drugs such as Prempro, Premarin, and Premphase.

First Hormone Replacement Therapy Warning Signs

In 1990, HRT drug manufacturer, Wyeth, contacted the Food and Drug Administration requesting a label change that would indicate that HRT helps protect against heart disease. The FDA denied the request stating that the drug company must produce more data to support their claims. Therefore, Wyeth conducted a randomized controlled HRT study, which found that instead of protecting against heart disease, HRT drugs increased the risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular complications.

Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Study

Around the same time that Wyeth began conducting its HRT clinical trials, the National Institute of Health launched the Women’s Health Initiative study, which was aimed at determining the risks and benefits associated with hormone replacement therapy drugs. The WHI study evaluated more than 16,000 women who were taking estrogen replacement therapy or a combination of estrogen and progestin therapy. The trial began in 1993 and was intended to continue until 2005. However, the hormone replacement therapy side effects were so alarming and occurred at such a frequent rate that the study was halted in 2002. This clinical trial was the only large study evaluating the effects of HRT and found that the drugs significantly increased the risk of:

• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Blood clots
• Breast cancer
• Ovarian and endometrial cancer
• Gallbladder disease
• Hearing loss
• Dementia
• Death

Women involved in the study were advised to immediately discontinue the use of HRT drugs and look for hormone replacement therapy alternatives to alleviate their symptoms of menopause.

Your Legal Rights
If you or a loved one has suffered serious harm as a result of hormone replacement therapy drugs, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your losses including pain and suffering, medical expenses, and more. Please contact us today to learn more about the history of hormone replacement therapy or to consult with a qualified and experienced personal injury lawyer about your legal rights and options.