LETTERS 2005: Thank You For Saving My Life
LETTERS 2004: Premarin Continues to Ruin Health and Lives
LETTERS 2003: HRT Documentary
LETTERS 2002: To All Estrogen and Progestin Users
LETTERS 2001: Premarin and Cycrin Caused Loss of Limbs
and Breasts
LETTERS 2000: Breast Cancer, Stroke and Blood Clot -
LETTERS 1999 WSPA Investigated The Treatment of Mares
in PMU Farms in 1995
LETTERS 1998 Prempro Caused Stroke and Blood Clot
Recommended Reading
Read What Respected Doctors and other Experts Say About HRT
STUDY: HORMONES DON'T PROTECT WOMEN FROM HEART DISEASE
New Study Shows Estrogen with Progestin
Look Into Their Eyes: You Have A Choice, Horses Don't"
The Hers Study
The Women's Health Initiative (WHI)
Why Do 100,000 Women Stop HRT/ERT Each Month?
Alternatives to Premarin, PremPro, PremPhase & Prempac-C
Chart of Common Prescription Estrogen Drugs
Why You May Want To Choose An Alternative
Eating For A Healthy Menopause
Women's Health & Hormones
Remifemin & Promensil are natural plant estrogens
Cenestin is made from yam and soy plants
Fen-Phen & Wyeth-Ayerst Lawsuits
Compounding Pharmacies and Other Sources
Readers Respond
Flyer To Print Out
News/Magazine Articles
Why I Put Up This Website
ReferencesYou can also learn about various horse and
animal welfare organizations who are educating the public about the cruelty involved
in the production process of Premarin.
Premarin (PREgnantMAReurIN) PremPro, PremPhase and Prempac-C are estrogen drugs (used for menopause) made from the urine of pregnant mares that are factory farmed in the remote areas of the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan (about 439), and about 23 in North Dakota. The number of PMU farms in the U.S. is expanding and in addition to North Dakota, they are now in South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana, and Nebraska. Natural Biologics, located in Albert Lea, Minnesota is responsible for this expansion which was reported by Gannett News Service June 2, 1999 in an article titled "Breeding Mares For An Unusual Product." No laws or government regulations oversee the industry, except Wyeth-Ayerst's (the sole manufacturer of Premarin): "Recommended Code of Practice", which is inadequate and loosely enforced according to animal welfare groups that have investigated these farms. (The picture of PMU mares, courtesy of The Animal Protection Institute.)
EQUINE ADVOCATES, INC., a non-profit equine protection organization based in New York, worked with a film crew from the popular nationally syndicated news-magazine show, EXTRA, to expose the truth about how PMU mares are still forced to live and what still happens to most of their foals. EXTRA was the recipient of a 1998 ARK TRUST GENESIS AWARD for Outstanding Syndicated Program which included its outstanding report and expose' on Premarin farms and the plight of Premarin mares and foals in Canada. EQUINE ADVOCATES, INC., was instrumental in assisting them with their undercover investigation.
EQUINE ADVOCATES INC. also participated in a FOX NEWS report on the Premarin issue which aired on Sunday, November 15, 1998. Equine Advocates was also featured in a New York Post article on Wednesday, September 2, 1998, titled "A TOUGH PILL TO SWALLOW - An estrogen replacement drug is being manufactured at the expense of horses' lives." This excellent and compelling article has been nominated for a Genesis Award for Best Newspaper Article.
Equine Advocates Inc. strongly believe that the real way to save these horses
is to focus on women's health and the negative effects this drug can have
on the human body. While every woman in the world may not care about horse
issues, it is safe to assume that every woman IS concerned about a
possible increased risk of breast and uterine cancer. Their booklet "Premarin
Cycle of Cruelty" discusses alternative forms of treating menopausal symptoms through the use of synthetic
drugs, in addition to changes in diet and lifestyle. There are so many different
methods of dealing with menopause today which do not involve cruelty and are
safer for the women who use them. To obtain a copy of "Premarin Cycle of
Cruelty" write to:
Equine Advocates, Inc.
P.O. Box 670217
Flushing, New York 11367-0217
or Fax: (718) 459-3577
Ed. Note: Equine Advocates' national campaign began early in 1998
and continues in 2000. They are waging
an all out war against Premarin production, and are very dedicated to putting an
end to this cruelty, but can only do so much on a very limited budget. Please
consider sending a $5 or $10 donation to Equine Advocates, Inc. to the
above address. Thank you.
HorseERA (The Horse Education and Rescue Alliance) is engaged in a national membership drive. The primary focus of the HorseERA ALLiance is to unite America's horse rescues and enthusiasts to work as a team to find proactive ways of preventing situations that lead to horse slaughter. We seek to do this through education and prevention. The HorseERA ALLiance supports the efforts of any individual, company or group that takes positive, proactive steps to make this a better world for horses. Our fundraising supports Rescue Members, horses sanctuaries, and the development of public education programs that will be administered throughout the country. Members are very much on the pulse of the Premarin problem and are eager to educate the public. Please visit our web site for more information and to fill out a membership application!" "Membership is FREE!"
WOMEN NEED TO KNOW PREMARIN IS A CRUELLY PRODUCED DRUG and that there are safe alternatives that are yam and soybean based that duplicate the female hormone. Premarin contains a mixture of over 10 equine estrogens and numerous unidentified substances (which have unknown side effects) that are many times stronger than a woman's natural hormone. Premarin has been on the market since 1942 and was the first widely used estrogen product and is used in all the large-scale studies on the benefits and risks of hormone replacement. Premarin has been linked to increased cases of breast cancer after being on it for five years or longer. The following are conditions the pregnant mares are forced to endure to produce Premarin:
They are tied up so tightly in tiny stalls they can barely
take more than a step or two, and cannot comfortably lie down on cold concrete floors
without bedding, nor rest their head on the floor. For 7 months of her 11
month pregnancy each mare will be confined to a stall probably smaller in area
than your dinner table. Most mares are only rarely, if ever taken out of
their urine-collection harness and off line for exercise. The continuous standing on
concrete floors (sometimes in their own feces), causes swollen legs, crippling and
many of the mares die as a result of the of the stress and treatment they are subjected
to. Mares with puss ozing sores that aren't treated with antibiotics because it would
contaminate their urine. Investigators at PMU farms have seen horses hit with shovels
and a metal wooden rasp. In excerpts from the PMU Farm investigator's daily logs, one
farmer said "sometimes a mare will get ornery and kick or nip at you because they stand
for so many months...we had to pop them on the nose to keep them in line when that happened."
Mares are denied less water than horses normally receive,
so the estrogen in their urine is more highly concentrated -- farmers are
paid by Wyeth-Ayerst according to the strength of estrogen in the urine.
Straps attached from the ceiling firmly hold a rubber
cup onto the mares' urethra to catch the precious urine causing sores, chaffing
the mares' legs and lower bellies raw, and painful urinary tract
infections.
Approximately 
40,000 foals are slaughtered annually. Foals are allowed to
nurse and be with their mothers for only three or four months instead of
of the normal six month period. Some farmers breed registered horses hoping
to sell the foals as riding prospects. And though a few have
succeeded, many thousands of foals still go to unsheltered
feedlots until they reach a desirable market weight. Then they are slaughtered
and their carcasses shipped to Europe and Asia for human consumption. Some
of the feed lot-raised foals are even shipped live (which is illegal) to
foreign markets at great expense, others replace the exhausted mares on
the production line. Over 50 years, this "harvest" has killed millions of PMU foals.
ACTION YOU CAN TAKE TO STOP THE CRUELTY: Click on CIRCLE OF COMPASSION INITIATIVE to sign a petition boycotting all of the products produced by Wyeth-Ayerst, and American Home Products (Wyeth's parent company). The boycott will be in force until Premarin production is stopped. Names will be added and sent to Wyeth-Ayerst on a monthly basis.
This is a picture of a young horse (by HorseAid in 1991) about to be rendered while still alive. THE PROBLEM - How it's done. THE HORSES SKULLS ARE FRACTURED WITH A RETRACTABLE BOLT! But, often, even that torturous procedure does not leave them unconscious. Horses that are supposed to be unconscious at slaughter can be seen writhing - fully conscious - in terror as a conveyor belt carries them toward a gruesome death.
SOME OF THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF PREMARIN: increased risk of breast or uterine cancer, gallbladder disease, stroke and abnormal blood clotting, (which could lead to death),increase in blood pressure, excess calcium in the blood, depression, dizziness, migraine headaches, swollen breasts, feet or ankles, gastrointestinal problems, nausea, irregular bleeding or spotting, hair loss or development of facial hair, weight gain, vaginal infection with candida, cystitis, bloating, retention of water, jaundice, skin rashes, loss of libido, depletes folic acid and Vitamin B, causes forgetfulness, intolerance to contact lenses. Be sure to read ALL the risks of taking Premarin, PremPro, PremPhase, or PremPac-C on the product insert as most doctors will not discuss them with you. The reason estrogen from female horses' urine has so many side effects is that it is a combination of substances having estrogenic activity, but most of the compounds are foreign to the human female body causing imbalances which create side effects. Premarin should not be considered a natural hormone for the human female. Joel Hargrove, M.D., director of the Vanderbilt Menopause Center, put it succinctly when he said "Premarin is a natural estrogen if your native food is hay"!
Jan. 25, 2000 (Washington) -- "Progestin, when added to estrogen
replacement therapy to lower the risk of endometrial cancer in postmenopausal women, has
been found to substantially increase women's risk of breast cancer, according
to a large, 10-year study sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In addition to
highlighting the already wrenching decision women and their physicians face regarding HRT,
the study and an accompanying editorial in the Jan. 26 JAMA caution against the
use of any long-term pharmacological interventions for menopause. Instead, the authors
recommend short-term HRT and long-term lifestyle modifications."
For each year a woman takes the combination therapy, their risk of breast cancer
rose by 8% compared with that of non-users. After 10 years of treatment, the
risk would then be 80% higher than that of non users, or almost double. In contrast,
the risk of breast cancer for women taking estrogen alone rose by only 1% per year.
Two other recent studies have raised similar concerns, but the magnitude of the
effect of combination therapy in the latest report has surprised and stunned
researchers by how big the increased risk appears to be. Walter Willet
of the Harvard School of Public Health feels "that the potential beneficial effect
of hormones on heart disease had been 'overpromoted'. He also said "that
the recent findings cast doubt on whether combination therapy would turn out to
reduce women's overall death rate, since most of the mortality data have come
from studies of women taking estrogen alone. Previous studies that showed a
moderate increase in breast cancer rates in long-term hormone users almost
exclusively evaluated women who took estrogen alone.
The increased risk of breast cancer is in current users only - in women who used
the combination therapy within the previous 4 years, the risk is 1.4 times that of
non-users. In women who have been off hormones for more than 4 years, the risk
was not significantly elevated.
Andrea Z. LaCroix of Seattle's Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and a key
rersearcher in the Women's Health Initiative, a large government-funded study of
hormone therapy that is due to be completed in 2005 said "We really don't know
anything about mortality" among women on combination therapy, either from breast
cancer or from heart disease. Harvard's Willett suggested that women contemplating
long-term hormonal treatment for protection against osteoporosis or heart disease
should consider other alternatives. Osteoporosis can be prevented by exericse,
calcium supplementation and the risk of heart disease can be reduced by exercise,
avoidance of smoking, reducing fat in the diet and treating high blood pressure
and cholesterol.
References:
Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel, Jan. 26, 2000
The Journal of The American Medical Association JAMA
MIAMI, FL -- May 10, 1999 -- NOVOGYNE PHARMACEUTICALS' VIVELLE-DOT(TM) (estradiol transdermal system), the world's smallest transdermal estrogen delivery system, has been launched in the United States for use in the treatment of the symptoms of menopause. Like the original Vivelle(R) (estradiol transdermal system), Vivelle-Dot is available in four dosage strengths (.0375, .05, .075 and .10 mg/day), and provides prescribing physicians with broad dosing flexibility. In the most commonly prescribed dosage strength (.05 mg/day), Vivelle-Dot is about the size and thickness of a postage stamp. By area, it is about one-third the size of Berlexís Climara(R) and about one-quarter the size of Novartisí Estraderm(R), the current U.S. market leaders. The new patch utilises Noven's proprietary Dot Matrix(TM) adhesive technology and delivers 17(beta)-estradiol through the skin and into the bloodstream. 17(beta)-estradiol is identical to a woman's own estrogen, unlike those estrogen therapies derived from equine sources.
.
FDA APPROVED ALTERNATIVES HAVE BEEN ON THE MARKET FOR 40 YEARS making this cruelty unnecessary.
There are many FDA approved synthetic and plant-based estrogen replacement drugs
which duplicate female human estrogen (17 Beta-estradiol) for human patients. The following are safe and effective
alternatives to Premarin: Plant-Based from yam and/or soybean:
Climara, Estrace, Estraderm, Estratab, Estring, Menest, Ogen, Ortho-EST, and Vivelle. Synthetic:
Alora, Estinyl, Fempatch and Ortho-Dienestrol. Estrogen/Androgen Combination:
Estratest HS, and Estratest.
Intramuscular Estrogen Replacement Products in the United States: Estradiol Cypionate, Estradiol Valerate, Estradiol Cypionate/Testosterone Cypionate.
OTHER OPTIONS IN MENOPAUSE: Bone Builders - New category of osteoporosis drugs that may actually restore bone in addition to preventing additional bone loss. Includes FDA-Approved:
Calcitonin - Osteoporosis treatments based on synthetic forms of the calcitonin hormone occuring in salmon, which inhibits bone loss.
Natural Progesterone- Soy/yam derived progesterones are available from some pharmacies in micronized oral, vaginal suppository, or transdermal gel/cream forms. Some studies have shown benefit from progesterone by itself for hot flashes and bone loss.Anti Estrogens - EVISTA has been approved for the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, and preliminary findings indicate it may protect against heart disease but without the risks of breast and uterine cancer. Several other products are currently being tested for the prevention of osteoporosis.
Herbal Estrogens/Dietary Choices - Milder in effect than traditional HRT, "herbal" therapies with generally measurable estrogenic potential are readily available. Dietary choices that often provide vitamins and calcium complement this option and can include:
Also important are the avoidance of excessive use of caffeine, alcohol, sodas,
high-fat and high-protein diets (high protein has been shown to increase calcium losses).
Note: Herbal and dietary supplements are not subject to the same rigorous FDA
regulations for safety and efficacy as are pharmaceuticals.
Lifestyle Choices - Decreasing or stopping smoking (which data suggests may increase bone loss and also decrease HRT effectiveness). Weight control is very beneficial for decreasing risk of cardiovascular disease. Weight-bearing exercise may help counter bone loss, and aerobic exercise will improve cardiovascular fitness. Relaxation therapies such as yoga and meditation can help reduce stress.
The above Alternative Estrogen Replacement Products and Other Options In Menopause appears here in part from the comprehensive "Facts About Hormone Replacement Therapy" compiled in June 1996, (revised January 1998,) by The Humane Society of the United States as a public service. Individuals may obtain the complete chart of estrogen alternatives free by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to: Estrogen Alternatives, The HSUS 2100 "L" St. NW, Washington DC, 20037. A larger quantity may be ordered for distribution to friends, physicians, HMO's,etc.
{Ed. Note:} Premarin contains the following equine estrogens -
estrone sulfate (53-61%), equilin sulfate (23-30%)
equilenin, 17 a-dihydroequilin, 17 a-estradiol, 17 a-dihydroequilenin and numerous
other horse estrogens. Not one of these ingredients are ever found in a woman.
Premarin also contains numerous unidentified substances which also
have unknown side-effects. Premarin has more of an effect on the liver
than non-horse estrogens do. Equine estrogens are many times more potent
than a woman's estrogen and may be the cause of many unpleasant
and sometimes life-threatening side effects some women have experienced such as:
blood clots, breast and uterine cancer, and growth of uterine tumors. One woman
wrote to me about her nearly fatal experience with PremPro. First she suffered a stroke and
then one year later, a blood clot in her leg. You can read more about her experience in
the paragraphs below.
WYETH-AYERST - WORLD LEADERSHIP IN WOMEN'S HEALTH CARE. This is a statement in many of their ads. Anyone who watched CBS's 60 Minutes II on February 10, 1999 probably would not agree with this. In a report titled THE FEN-PHEN FILES sobering facts were uncovered - promoted as a miracle diet drug, it was used by millions who wanted to lose weight, until a serious side effect became evident. Fen-phen could not only damage your heart but, in fact, could possibly even kill you. Fenfluramine was pulled from the market about 18 months ago. CBS's investigation with US News & World Report reveals that the company that made the drug (Wyeth-Ayerst, knew about another danger years ago.) One woman who took the drug, lost weight, got a fatal disease and sued. Three months after taking the drug, while cooking, she stumbled and nearly fell. She learned from her cardiologist she had a rare disease that's usually fatal: primary pulmonary hypertension. Her heart had become enormously enlarged because it could no longer properly pump blood to her lungs.
Heart and lung specialists have linked these particular symptoms directly to taking Fen-phen. According to pulmonary specialists this woman may only have five years to live. Forty people are known to have died and hundreds are estimated to have primary pulmonary hypertension.
A woman wanting to lose weight for her wedding took the drug for just a few weeks when her symptoms began. Nearly nine months later, she was dead. Recent studies including one by the FDA have discovered some shocking results: anywhere from 200,000 to more than one million people may suffer some type of health damage. It is recommended that anyone who took Fen-phen for more than three months be checked.
Even though documents from Wyeth's Fen-phen files (that were obtained by attorneys) revealed as far back as 1994, the drug company was aware of 41 pulmonary hypertension cases, incredibly, the drug label only listed 4 cases. The FDA was also aware of the increasing problem, however, it wasn't until 2 years later that Wyeth and the FDA finally agreed on a new label. By that time, at least three million people had taken the drug, while Wyeth made profits of more than $50 million. They put the profits of the company over the safety of the patients. They put off making a simple labeling change for 25 months. The documents show that although they kept getting additional cases of pulmonary hypertension and additional reports of death, they did nothing. They knew that they had many more cases of pulmonary hypertension and deaths associated with that than they told doctors about. Wyeth finally pulled the drugs from the market in 1997 because of another medical problem - heart valve damage, a condition where the heart valve malfunctions and blood isn't properly pumped with the potential for death.
{Ed. Note: World Leadership in Women's Health Care? Hardly!
As of May 17, 1999 (reported on CBS) there are OVER 4100 lawsuits pending against Wyeth-Ayerst because of Fen-phen.
Women are unquestionably the major consumers of diet drugs and
diet products. The continued promotion and sale of this drug when Wyeth knew
it was causing deaths and serious health problems to its users, is unconscionable and
shows a callous disregard for the health and safety of women. The complete
transcript of this program is available by sending $8.00 to:
Burrelle's Transcripts, Box 7, Livingston, NJ 07039-0007. Request the
program titled "The Fen-phen Files" that aired on February 10, 1999.}
PAYBACK - AUGUST 5, 1999 - TEXAS WOMAN AWARDED $23.36 MILLION IN HER CASE
AGAINST AMERICAN HOME PRODUCTS, (parent company of Wyeth-Ayerst)
JURY: Drug Company is Liable - $23 million fen-phen verdict could make way for
others.
CANTON, Texas (AP) - A Texas woman who suffered heart-valve damage won a $23 million
jury award Friday in the first verdict involving the diet-drug combination fen-phen.
The $23.36 million award included $1 million each for her physical impairment and
future medical care and $20 million in punitive damages. The rest of the total was
for such things as pain, mental anguish and past medical care.
Wyeth-Ayerst is also the manufacturer of Duract,
an anti-inflammatory that was banned in 1998 for causing liver
damage and deaths.
EATING FOR A HEALTHY MENOPAUSE: Asian women seem to have fewer menopausal symtoms than Western women, and some researchers believe this may be due to their diet which is naturally high in phytoestrogens. There are numerous plants with estrogen-like qualities, including: corn, carrots, apples and oats. Soybeans and soy-bean-based products such as tofu, soy milk and miso soup are thought particularly potent estrogen enhancers - meaning they increase estrogen production in the body. Eat at least one boron-rich food every day. Boron is a mineral found in fruits, vegetables and beans that appears to increase the body's ability to retain estrogen. Boron rich foods include prunes, plums, strawberries, peaches, cabbage, apples, asparagus, figs, and tomatoes. Limit caffeine and alcohol, and drink plenty of water. Eat several antioxidant-rich foods every day. To get plenty of vitamin C and betacarotene, drink a 10-ounce glass of orange juice and eat a carrot every day. Most other fruits and vegetables are also good sources of these nutrients. Cut back on fat - eat no more than 20% to 25% of your calories in the form of fat. To ensure strong bones eat at least two calcium-rich foods every day preferably ones high in vitamin D. Experts recommend 1,500 miligrams of calcium for post-menopausal women who are not on hormone replacement therapy and 1,000 mg for women taking estrogen. Skim milk generally has even more calcium than regular milk. Yogurt, cheese, and some plant foods such as dark, leafy greens and beans also contain significant amounts of calcium. (courtesy of American Health, 6/96 by: Elaine Moquette-Magee, registered dietitian in Pleasant Hill, Calif.)
SOY IN THE NEWS- Soy has certainly been a hot topic this past week. The FDA has officially said that soy is considered a cholesterol lowering food and can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Soy also alleviates some of the symptoms of menopause. It is protective of breast and prostate cancer. Soy contains fiber, protein and vitamin E. Soy takes on the flavor of anything it is cooked with. Soybean and yam are the precursors for several of the alternative estrogen products: Cenestin recently received FDA approval as an alternative brand name estrogen product, it is derived from a mix of yam and soy plants; Estrace available for 22 years and Estratab on the market for 20 years are made from soybean and yam.You may wish to exclude meat from your diet as it has been proven to leach calcium and minerals out of the bone. Also, animal fat is one of the leading causes of heart disease. Do weight bearing exercises such as walking, jogging and weight lifting which will strengthen your bones, give your heart a good workout and keep your weight down which can be another problem for menopausal women. October 26, 1999, NBC Today Show News - One of the largest studies ever - found that women who exercise at least an hour a day reduce the risk of breast cancer by at least 20%. Exercise reduces the amount of estrogen in a woman's body. High amounts of estrogen are thought to cause breast cancer.
NATURAL HELP FOR MENOPAUSE: REMIFEMIN, from the German natural pharmaceutical company Schaper & Brummer which is now available in all 50 states in health food stores and costs around $15.00 per month. It is also available in Toronto, Canada from some drug stores for about $18.00 per month. Worldwide, over 8 million women currently use Remifemin which has been used in Europe since the 1950's. Remifemin is a natural estrogen from clinically studied standardized extract of black cohosh, has no side effects and is scientifically proven to be safe and effective. It is backed by 40 years of research. Clinical studies on thousands of patients have proven Remifemin to be successful in cases of all menopausal complaints as well as in cases of removal of ovaries or hysterectomy. Remifemin is being endorsed by respected physicians throughout the world including Jonathan Wright, M.D., a prominent medical doctor who specializes in women's health problems, Jan de Vries, Ph.D., author, and Michael Murray, N.D., author, teacher, lecturer and practicing naturopathic doctor. For a FREE 36-page booklet, titled "10 Valuable Tips for a Healthy Change of Life and Beyond, call: 1-800-287-5972, Ext. 886.
PROMENSIL is manufactured and marketed world-wide by the Australian Pharmaceutical Company, Novogen ltd. Promensil is a safe, natural, dietary supplement that contains isoflavone plant estrogens from a plant called red clover - these plant-based nutrients help maintain a healthy level of estrogen in a woman's body. Plant estrogens are substances present in plants that are able to mimic the effects of estrogens because their structure is remarkably close to those of human estrogens and the body accepts them as such. At midlife, the bodies own estrogen levels start declining. A woman can feel quite unlike her normal self. Promensil compensates for the decline by adding totally natural plant estrogens.
Natural ovarian hormones have been in widespread use in Europe, Australia, Canada, Japan and other countries for many years, generally with better clinical response and fewer side effects than the synthetic progestins, congugated equine estrogens and synthetic methyltestosterone compounds used in the U.S. Promensil is now available in 2,320 drug stores of Walgreen Co., one of the largest U.S. chains. It is also available in 1,080 pharmacies of American Drug Stores, Inc. Promensil is also currently sold through 8,500 health food stores in the U.S. Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about Promensil.
The Women's International Pharmacy with two locations: Madison, Wisconsin and Sun City West, Arizona. Women's International Pharmacy is dedicated to educating women and men about hormone related disorders. They provide free educational information packets on hormonal disorders that encourage patients to become active and involved participants in managing their health care and will provide a list of doctors that prescribe natural hormones. They also have knowledgeable and friendly pharmacists available to answer your questions on HRT. Women's International Pharmacy, upon physician request, specializes in individually compounded natural hormone prescriptions that may include, but are not limited to, progesterone, estrogens, testosterone, coenzyme Q-10, pregnenolone and DHEA. Their toll free number: 1-800-279-5708. E-mail: info@womensinternational.com Website.
Madison Pharmacy and Bajamar Pharmacy in St. Louis both supply a long list of compounds for patients directly when possible and to doctors. They also provide the saliva test kits for Aeron LifeCycles for testing estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, melatonin and cortisol levels. They can also fax lists of doctors who use their products in your area. That may not mean the doctors named understand bioidentical (natural) hormone replacement optimally, but if they are using these or other compounding pharmacies, it's a start. Madison Pharmacy number is 1-800-225-8025, at 429 Gammon Place, Madison, WI.
Health and Science Research Institute in Crawfordville, Fl offers an OsteoCheck urine test kit for checking a woman's risk of osteoporosis.
Regarding hormone levels, I recommend reading "Restoring Balance," a booklet by Marla Ahlgrimm and John Kells, order from Impakt Communications, 1-800-477-2995 (@$9.95) or 1-888-2229 in Canada, and also Dr. Vliet's discussion in her book, SCREAMING TO BE HEARD, is very good.
Women's Health Access Newsletter by Women's Health America and Madison Pharmacy Associates founder Marla Ahlgrimm, Ph.D. is very helpful. Call 1-800-222-4767 (National Women's Health Hotline) for information. Website Madison Pharmacy number is 1-800-225-8025, at 429 Gammon Place, Madison, WI, where trained RNs are on duty every day to answer questions.
Transitions for Health, tel. 1-800-888-6814, also has a good website,
IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY USING PREMARIN, ask your doctor to switch you to one of the safe and effective plant or synthetic derivatives of estrogen. You may decide not to use HRT (hormone replacement therapy) to treat menopausal symptoms as it does have drawbacks. The links between ERT (estrogen replacement therapy) and endometrial cancer are firm, and the solution to this therapy using both estrogen and a synthetic progestin is under fire for increased incidences of breast cancer.
Before putting a patient on thyroid hormone for clinical symptoms of low thyroid function, a doctor will measure the level of thyroid hormones in the blood. Doctors do not give all patients the same dose of medication if they have high blood pressure, nor the same dose of insulin if they are diabetic, or the same dose of anticonvulsant medication for people with seizure disorders such as epilepsy. Why is it then, that all women are lumped together and given 0.625 mg of Premarin and 10 mg of Provera? Women need to become more assertive, inform themselves and ask more questions and demand answers. If you don't get answers from your doctor, maybe it's time to find one that will treat your needs on an individual basis and really listen to you.
Reference: SCREAMING TO BE HEARD, by Dr. Elizabeth Lee VlietDisclaimer: The information on this website is the result of my research and should not be taken as medical advice. Obviously, hormone replacement therapy should be discussed by a woman and her doctor; however She should be made aware of all alternatives to Premarin and new treatments available so she can make an educated decision. Always consult your doctor when changing medications.
Let Wyeth-Ayerst know they need to seek estrogen alternatives that don't require an unnecessary production line of horses. Let them know you are changing from Premarin and PremPro and tell them why. Send your letters to Robert Essner, President, and Marc W. Deitch, M.D., Vice President, Medical Affairs and Medical Director at: P.O. Box 8299, Philadelphia, PA 19101-8299. A Wyeth-Ayerst toll-free number is (800) 999-9384, or call Dr. Deitch at (610) 971-5500.
American Home Products to boycott: Advil, Aleve, Anacin, Black Flag, Chef Boyardee, Dristan, Easy Off, Jiffy Pop, Neet, Pam, Preparation H, Quick and Easy, Sani-Flush, and Woolite. Be sure to tell John Stafford, American Home Products CEO, at: 5 Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ 07940; or call (212) 878-5000.
WOMEN CAN PROTEST THE CONTINUED USE OF PREMARIN in the major studies at NIH's Women's Health Initiative and other labs around the country, instead of the bioidentical and readily available, and far better alternatives, e.g. estradiol, biodentical (natural) progesterone and (natural) testosterone, as bad science, and more than likely more bad medicine. If you feel that it is wrong for Premarin, and Premarin only to be used in the Women's Health Initiative studies around the country (involving 164,000 women), then you can write, call or e-mail NIH to express your objections.
NIH thus describes it: "Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, the WHI is a 15-year (began in 1993 and will end in 2008) nationwide clinical study that will investigate heart disease, osteoporosis, and breast and colon cancers in 63,000 women ages 50 to 79. Long-term, well-designed studies such as the Women's Health Initiative should be able to answer many of the lingering questions about the true effects of HRT."
Remember that these government-funded PEPI studies, which the WHI began in 1993, are using Premarin in trials involving 164,000 women. Unfortunately, Premarin is most probably the wrong medicine to be tested, or at least the studies' results risk being skewed. The consequences of these trials are potentially vast for women who can expect to be further urged to take Premarin rather than safer and better alternatives. Since these trials won't show anything other than estrogen, in this case Premarin alone, helping cholesterol levels and bone mass, not how alternatives might be an improvement over that.
In other words, testing Premarin against itself in all the protocols except the placebo is like testing a Viagra in all scenarios, instead of looking to see how one drug genuinely compares to all others for the problem in question.
Without using bioidentical or natural alternatives such as estradiol and estriol to level the playing field, the WHI studies are rigging the results in advance--in favor of Premarin. Why?
Write to the Dept. of Agriculture to protest the conditions of the PMU farms. Write to your representatives asking that research on human hormones be done. Genuine human hormones cannot be patented and therefore companies like Wyeth-Ayerst won't do any research on them. Write to Dr. Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health & Human Services, 200 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington D.C. 20201. Let her know you object to the use of Premarin as the only estrogen used in the Women's Health Initiative. Some synthetic and plant-based estrogens have been on the market for 20, 30 and even 40 years, but are never compared in tests with Premarin - WHY?
Write to Dr. Loretta P. Finnegan, Director, Women's Health Initiatives, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892. Protest their use of Premarin only in women's medical studies when it should be tested against 17-Beta estradiol, the natural human female hormone women produce in their bodies.
PETA suggests writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and to women's magazines. A sample editorial letter is available from PETA. You can request a Media Kit which contains many newspaper articles that have appeared in prominent papers throughout the country on the subject of Premarin. PETA will also supply an Action Kit with suggestions for actions you can take to help get the word out. Also available, a very compelling two minute video narrated by Mary Tyler Moore describing Premarin production which also shows an actual PMU farm. Send PETA a blank video along with $3 for postage and they will send you a copy. Phone: (757) 622-PETA also 1-800-KNOW-PMU or write: PETA, 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510.
United Animal Nations Journal summer edition reports the FDA rejected the generic version of Premarin that Duramed Pharmaceuticals had before the FDA for approval and urges you to write a letter to the FDA and let them know you are disappointed and furious that thousands of horses will continue to suffer and be slaughtered because of their not approving the synthetic form of Premarin (Cenestin). Also tell them that their reasoning for not approving the drug has no real basis as Duramed had met all the 1991 guidelines required by the FDA except for one ingredient, delta 8,9-DHES, which was actually an impurity which the FDA previously said was not necessary. Tell the FDA that you suspect corruption and payoffs by Wyeth-Ayerst to be behind this decision. Medicare and HMO's normally require the use of generics whenever possible to reduce medical expenditures. Millions of Americans do not have insurance and this could have been a significant savings for consumers,and insurers as well. Write to: Dr. Wallace Adams, Office of Generic Drugs-FDA, Metro Park #2, 7500 Standish Place, Rockville, MD 20855-2773.
Redwings Horse Sanctuary suggests women consider holding a Women's Health Conference on Premarin and alternative hormone replacement therapy in your local communities. Also bring up the subject whenever possible at any club or meetings you attend.
"I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of the whole human being." Author Unknown
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