Dinkes & Schwitzer are currently reviewing a
number of cases involving patients who took the pre-menopause drug,
Prempro.
The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI),
a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), undertook
a major clinical trial evaluating the risks and benefits of combined
estrogen and progestin with Prempro being the only combination
drug
tested. However, in July 2002, the NHLBI announced that study had
been halted rather than continuing through 2005 as originally set.
After an average follow-up period of 5.2 years, the study revealed
that there were striking increases in invasive breast cancer, coronary
heart disease, stroke and pulmonary embolism in patients taking
the combination therapy compared to women taking a placebo.
Participants
in the NHLBI study included 16,608 women ages 50 to 79 that had
not undergone a hysterectomy. The decision
to discontinue the study came in May 2002 when the Data and Safety
Monitoring Board (DSMB) held its bi-annual meeting to review the
study's data. Previous DSMB reviews revealed increased rates of
coronary heart disease, strokes and blood clots. During this meeting,
the DSMB reviewed data collected through February 2002, which revealed
for the first time a marked increase in breast cancer for women
who were taking Prempro compared to those in the placebo group.
Findings
showed the following occurred more often in the combination drug
group as opposed to the placebo group:
41% increase in strokes
22% increase in total cardiovascular disease
29% increase in heart attacks
26% increase in breast cancer
100% increase in blood clots
Since that time, a number of reports have examined
the possible effects of Prempro. Thanks to those reports, women
have become much more aware of the risks associated with hormone
replacement therapies.
Serious side effects of Prempro can include
increase
risk of:
Heart disease
Heart attack
Stroke
Breast cancer
Recently, Wyeth, the manufacturer of Prempro, announced
they would change the packaging to include a warning of possible
increased risks of using this drug.
Contact us
if you or a family member have taken Prempro and would like more
information concerning your legal rights.
Put proven injury lawyers
on your side. Contact
Dinkes & Schwitzer at 1-800-933-1212 for
your free legal consultation.
