Alternatives to Premarin

Premarin was used for hormone replacement therapy until a 2004 women's health study reported estrogen medication could increase the chance of getting cancer of the uterus, according to http://www.premarin.com.

Women and their physicians began searching for other medications to ease the symptoms of menopause caused by hormonal changes. These hormonal shifts affect the central nervous system, leading to symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and irritability.

Consider Your Options

• "After the survey came out, women 'rushed to flush' their estrogen medications," said nurse practitioner Lindsay Peetit of Redwood City, California. "But, there are a number of alternatives to Premarin as hormone replacement and the first is to do nothing."

  Doctors used to believe that a woman over the age of 50 should almost automatically be prescribed a regimen of hormones. Today, women's health practitioners don't prescribe hormone replacement unless their patients need relief from menopausal symptoms.

Do Your Homework

• "Lifestyle changes are another alternative to taking hormones," she said. "That simply means stay from caffeine, alcoholic beverages and spicy foods that increase body heat and resulting hot flashes. Another change would be to layer your clothing and sleep with the windows open."

  Some over-the-counter remedies include Estroven and Remifemin; both are hormone free and are available at health food and drug stores. It is also important to remember not all herbs are benign and safe. Pharmaceutical-grade medications are better regulated so patients know what is in the bottle.

Alternative Drugs

• "If patients get to the point where hormone replacement is needed to quiet the symptoms, Cenestian, a prescription drug, is a more natural alternative," she said.

  "Women can traverse this life change," Peetit said. "The most important thing a patient can do is to talk with her doctor about alternatives to Premarin. If you do have a family history of breast cancer estrogen is not recommended."

  Lindsay Peetit,
  Nurse Practitioner
  Women's Care Medical Group
  2900 Whipple Avenue #135
  Redwood City, CA 94062
  [phone]