Legal Question in Health Care Law in Illinois

Re: medroxyprogesterone

Yes depending on your specific medical records and medical condition.

Patented in the 1940s, Premarin was marketed to women for decades as a replacement for lost estrogen in menopausal women.

However, following a 1976 study that Premarin use was connected to uterine and endometrial cancer, medroxyprogesterone acetate was eventually added to lower the risks.

Wyeth's combination version of estrogen and medroxyprogesterone, Prempro, came out in 1995.

Wyeth over-promoted Prempro, just as it did Premarin.

The thrust of Wyeth's marketing efforts has been to create a lifelong consumer demand for hormone therapy, and a belief by physicians that the prescription is beneficial to menopausal and post-menopausal patients.

Prempro may increase a woman�s chance of heart disease, breast cancer, stroke, blood clots or dementia. The drug also may cause an increase in abnormal mammograms, even when no tumor is present.

Women who take Prempro or other combination hormone replacement therapies may need more frequent mammograms. In addition, a long-held medical belief that Prempro and similar drugs might prevent osteoporosis is now being questioned.

For all of these reasons you need to seek out and discuss your case with a seasoned medical malpractice attorney.

Let me know if you need more information.

Matt Belcher