Question:
Hormone Replacement Therapy-can we take Premarin?

I haven't seen this question posed. I am post-menopausal and take Premarin daily. Will I be able to take it after surgery which is scheduled in 3 days (lap RNY)? Someone said that the time released meds don't work as well after surgery? Cindy    — Cindy R. (posted on February 5, 2002)

February 5, 2002
I don't know about time released medicines post-op, but I do know that Premarin is made from pregnant mare's urine (horses!), literally. There are many other HRT brands on the market today - all of which are just as good as Premarin and all of which are made from non-pee sounces. Premarin is the only one made with horse pee. You might want to ask your doctor about this!
   — Susan B.

February 5, 2002
I take prempro . I am 52 , and I can tell you this , NOW at 138 lbs the HRT really works. No night sweats or hot flashes. I must say I am missing the point about the horse pee. I don't get what that has to do with your question. At 278 My doctor had a hard time adjusting my dosage correctly. No problems now. But on the way down(weightwise) I had to have the dosage adjusted several times.
   — Rose A.

February 5, 2002
I agree with answer 2 about answer 1...your questions was NOT about choosing an HRT....the lecture on horse-pee was totally uncalled for. I have taken Premarin since 1997....I had my Open VBG on 06/11/01 (as of today I've lost 123lbs!), and have never missed a dose of my Premarin....
   — Cathy J.

February 6, 2002
The reason horse pee was brought into this question, is that Premarin is such a contraversial drug. Aren't we here to help educate each other? If more women and doctors can be educated about where Premarin comes from and how it is obtained, people would be looking at alternative sources of HRT.
   — blank first name B.

February 6, 2002
I happily have been taking premarin for the past 4-5 years (including one year post-op WLS - Open RNY). No problems with it at all.
   — [Anonymous]

February 6, 2002
Long story short. Mares are kept pregnant, to produce PRegnant MAre uRINe. the resulting foal of this procedure ends up going to auctions to be sold for slaughter, or some of the premarin farms, just sell directly to the meat packers. So, Basically, so someone can reap the benefits of this medication, tens of thousands of foals yearly, get sent to the slaughter houses. With a few 'lucky' ones being adopted my horse recues. I wont even get into the contraptions that the mares have to have attached to them, to collect the urine. As a horse owner, I will find an alternative to abusing animals for the sake of my comfort. Considering how many natural HRT there are.
   — [Anonymous]

February 6, 2002
A new study in the Journal of American Medicine states that Premarin is given out too freely these days and may be more harmful than good in many cases. Hormone replacement was shown in this study to greatly increase the risks of heart disease, blood clots and cancer. This study asks doctors to only prescribe HRT for those women with the most severe menapause symptoms and to cease treatment after 1 to 3 years. The study also recommends that doctors use other current treatments for osteoperosis instead of HRT as the risks of HRT outweigh the benefits to those suffering from the onset of osteoperosis.
   — K. P.

February 6, 2002
Like most topics related to a woman's issues it is obvious that your question provoked a lot of opinions. To answer your question yes you can take Premarin or other HRT. I take Estradiol an estrogen replacement not made from horse pee. Prior to surgery I used a patch and continued that for two weeks and then resumed my usual HRT. Talk to your Dr if you choose to continue with your normal regime. If you haven't already made a decision make about HRT do some research. There are new treatments for osteoporosis but from what I have read I do not think Gastric bypass patients will be candidates for this new med due to the possible GI side effects. To date there is no definitive research on HRT. I think we all need to do our research and make our decision based on our needs and our DR's advice. I have been on estrogen for 11 years (due to a total hysterectomy at age 47). My pre op bone density test showed my bones were above average. Bone loss is greatest in the years immediately following menopause. Now that I am post op and am at increased risk of calcium absorption I intend to keep on the estrogen as well as on calcium supplements etc. Keep asking questions and finding out answers. things do change and I imagine that one day there will be some convincing evidence re this issue. Good Luck. Kathy
   — [Anonymous]