Premarin is one of the many medications created with a hormonal replacement for menopausal and post-menopausal women in mind. The medicine, which is made by Wyeth and contains conjugated estrogen, has been marketed in the US since the 1940s. Unfortunately, there is controversy around this well-known medication; some individuals have even reported developing cancer after taking it.
Premarin is one of the most well-liked hormone replacement medicines of its kind and is used to treat osteoporosis and hot flashes in female patients. The FDA cautions that it is connected to a rise in ovarian and endometrial cancer, though. Additionally, the medication has been linked to deep vein thrombosis, stroke, cardiovascular illness, and early-onset dementia. Premarin should only be prescribed by medical professionals at the lowest dose feasible to prevent diseases like breast cancer.
Although the FDA is actively evaluating the risks associated with Premarin, it is nevertheless often recommended to women and poses a risk to their lives. According to a 2007 study, estrogen medications like Premarin are among the most harmful ones on the market today and are most likely to produce major health effects when taken.
What Options Are There for Women Whose Use of Premarin Has Caused Problems?
Fortunately, a civil case filed by a victim of Premarin may be able to obtain financial recompense for their losses, medical expenses, and the pain and suffering they have experienced. Premarin lawsuits should not be taken carelessly and can help you speak out against Wyeth’s harmful medications. You will need a strong legal strategy, lots of supporting proof, and paperwork to win.
Side Effects of Premarin
Ovarian cancer, lupus, scleroderma, gallbladder cancer, and stroke have all been connected to the drug Premarin (generic: conjugated estrogens). Premarin is a type of hormone replacement treatment (HRT) that only contains estrogen and is used to treat menopause symptoms. Women without uteruses frequently receive the prescription drug Premarin.
The National Institutes of Health recently discontinued a study in which women were given Premarin estrogen replacement treatment after discovering that the pills not only did not lower the risk of heart disease but also increased the likelihood of a stroke.
The Premarin experiment was the second sizable hormone replacement therapy trial to be discontinued in the preceding two years. Prempro (estrogen and progestin) users were advised to cease taking it in July 2002 due to the risk of heart attack, stroke, and several types of cancer.
A Higher-Than-Usual Risk of Cancer
According to a study that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, ovarian cancer risk is higher than usual for women who use estrogen-only hormone replacement therapy like Premarin for an extended period of time. The researchers found that women who used estrogen HRTs like Premarin for extended periods of time had a 7% increased chance of developing ovarian cancer for every additional year of use.
According to the study, those who used estrogen for at least ten years were twice as likely to get ovarian cancer as those who did not use the hormone, and those who used it for 20 or more years were three times as likely.
The first HRT medication to enter the market was called Premarin. In order to help women with the symptoms of menopause, Premarin was initially introduced in 1942. Premarin continues to be the most prescribed medication worldwide and the most widely used HRT treatment today.
Roughly 11 million women presently use Premarin. This medication’s widespread use is a result of both its long history and a tenacious marketing push by Wyeth.
Settlement of the Premarin Class Action
In order to settle allegations that the Premarin hormone replacement therapy medications were misrepresented, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has agreed to pay $200 million.
Customers from California who purchased Premarin, Prempro, and/or Premphase in California between January 1995 and January 2003 and who are not asserting the settlement covers any personal damage related to the medications.
Plaintiffs in the class action complaint for hormone replacement therapy said that Wyeth Pharmaceuticals misrepresented the risks connected with its Premarin, Prempro, and Premphase medications.
The corporation reportedly asserted between January 1995 and January 2003 that the medications did not raise the risk of breast cancer while lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia. These claims, it was said, were untrue.
Despite numerous back-and-forth motions being submitted in the years that followed, the Premarin class action lawsuit was granted class certification in 2011. These motions comprised appeals, requests for summary judgment, and others.
By agreeing to the settlement of the Premarin hormone replacement therapy class action case, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has not admitted any wrongdoing. Instead, the $200 million settlement resolves the allegations and spares all parties at the expense of further litigation.
The Premarin class action settlement offers two different types of compensation.
An upfront payment of $458.64 is included in the first award choice. Premarin, Prempro, and/or Premphase out-of-pocket expenses incurred by consumers in California between January 1995 and January 2003 are covered by this sum.
Class Members who choose to exercise this option just have to provide broad information about the prescriptions and purchases, not evidence of purchase.
Although the second prize possibility is larger, more evidence is needed. Class Members can get a payout under this option for the number of months they spent paying out-of-pocket for Premarin, Prempro, and Premphase between January 1995 and January 2003.
Payments include $19.11 for each monthly fee incurred by a Class Member. If Class Members submit evidence of purchase for monthly out-of-pocket expenses, they may claim up to 97 months for a maximum payment of $1,853.67.
Class Members must have submitted a legitimate claim form by September 1, 2020, in order to be eligible for the settlement. The exclusion and objection period ended on July 14, 2020.
Who Qualifies?
Customers from California who purchased Premarin, Prempro, or Premphase in California between January 1995 and January 2003 and who are not asserting any personal damage related to the medications.
Possible Award: Up to $1,853.67.
There are two possible forms of payment:
- A $458.64 one-time payment Premarin, Prempro, and Premphase’s average annual out-of-pocket payments from January 1995 to January 2003 are equal to this sum.
- Reimbursement for the medications for up to 97 months, up to a maximum of $1,853.67. Payments include $19.11 per month that a class member personally spent between January 1995 and January 2003 for Premarin, Prempro, and Premphase.
Evidence of Purchase
Just the prescription and payment information is needed for Compensation Option 1. The second compensation option demands documentation of monthly out-of-pocket costs.
Do I Need an Attorney?
If you or a loved one has developed major health issues after taking Premarin, consult a doctor right once. You might also want to get in touch with a qualified class action lawyer who can assist you in defending your legal rights and recovering damages for your injuries.
Do not try to face the pharmaceutical companies by yourself. You have a much better chance of receiving compensation for your legal claims if you have experienced counsel by your side every step of the way. Do not wait any longer. If you have been injured by a defective drug, use LegalMatch to find the right lawyer today.
