What is Pristiq?

Pristiq, or desvenlafaxine, is manufactured by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and was approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder in adults in early 2008. The company had hoped to have the drug approved as the first non-hormone menopause pill, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t yet done so as clinical studies haven’t shown that the drug is completely safe.

According to news reports, some women who took Pristiq as part of clinical trials to study the drug’s effectiveness on menopausal symptoms experienced heart related injuries such as heart attacks and clogged arteries. The FDA has requested that Wyeth conduct additional studies on the drug’s potential effectiveness to treat menopausal symptoms before it will approve the drug for use.

Premarin & Prempro litigation continue

As Wyeth conducts additional studies on Pristiq, litigation surrounding its other hormone replacement therapy drugs continues. Premarin, which only contains estrogen, and Prempro, which is a combination of premarin and progesterone, were widely used by women in this country for many years. However, the long term effects of these drugs show a significant increase in the risk of heart attacks, stroke and breast cancer.

In fact, industry and legal experts estimate that the number of women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer due to the use of hormone replacement therapy drugs such as Premarin and Prempro tops 100,000. However, they say that only about five percent of those women have filed lawsuits against hormone replacement therapy drug manufacturers and that many more will likely be filed in the next few years.

If you or a loved one has been injured due to the use a hormone replacement therapy drug, contact an attorney to discuss your situation. The consultation is free, without obligation and strictly confidential. To contact a qualified attorney whose practice focuses in this area of the law, please click here. We may be able to help.