ABOUT THE DRUGS
HOW THESE DRUGS ARE MADE
CONJUGATED EQUINE ESTROGEN (CEE)
Conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) is a mixture of estrogens obtained exclusively from natural sources, occurring as the sodium salts of water-soluble estrogen sulfates blended to represent the average composition of material derived from pregnant mares' urine. It contains estrone, equilin, and 17 a-dihydroequilin, together with smaller amounts of 17 a-estradiol, equilenin, and 17 a-dihydroequilenin as salts of their sulfate esters.
The most commonly known drug containing CEE is Premarin, currently manufactured by Wyeth, although a merger is pending with pharma giant, Pfizer Inc.
ABOUT THE PREMARIN FAMILY OF DRUGS
The hormone replacement therapy PREMARIN (PREgnant MARes urINe) and
other products such as PremPro and PremPhase are taken by millions of
women every day. With recent news that these drugs have been medically
proven to cause cancer, blood clots, and other harmful medical
conditions in women, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has cut production of
Premarin by 50%. Although in the long run this is good news, currently
there are 20,000 stallions, mares and foals without homes. Some are
being rescued by individuals, some by non-profit groups, but the
majority are sent to slaughter for human consumption.
For those pregnant PMU mares who still have their jobs, their days of
suffering are far from over. They live each day in cramped stalls too
small to even lie down, they are denied free access to water, standing
for up to six months in a “pee-line” with rubber collection cups hooked
tightly around their urethras. Once they have their foals, they are
immediately impregnated and brought back to the “pee-line”. The foals
are sent to auction, ultimately to slaughter, since they are a
“by-product” of the industry. When the mares are too old to bear any
more foals, they are then sent to auction, and like the foals, sent to
the slaughter house.
EFFECTS
Over nine million women take Premarin, or some form of Premarin every
day. For over 50 years, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has been marketing
Premarin which was FDA approved in 1942. This “miracle drug” Premarin,
produced by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, earns over $1 billion dollars every
year, all at the expense of thousands of mares, foals and women.
The women’s health initiative (www.whi.org)
conducted a 5 year government funded study on the effects HRT has on
women and the findings were astounding. The HRT drug, Premarin, has
been tested and proven to cause serious health problems in women. Blood
clots, diabetes, ovarian cancer, dementia and alzheimers are only some
of the problems women who have taken Premarin are facing today.
Our goal at Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary™ is to be a voice for
the horses that need us, and also a voice for women who are faced with
the difficult decision of whether to take Premarin or an equivalent HRT
drug. I ask you to please take a serious look at the effects the
Premarin industry has on women and look deeper into the issues
surrounding the production of Premarin and comparable drugs. I hope you
will take this information and consult with your doctor about cruelty
free, plant based or synthetic alternatives to Premarin.
Source: Equine Voices Rescue & Sanctuary™
