The most commonly known drug containing conjugated equine estrogen (CEE), derived from pregnant mare’s urine, is Premarin, currently manufactured by Wyeth, who merged in 2009 and now a division of pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer Inc.
About the Premarin Family of Drugs
The hormone replacement therapy PREMARIN (PREgnant MARe’s 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.
Premarin mares live each day in cramped stalls too small to lie down, are denied free access to water to make their urine more concentrated, with rubber collection cups hooked tightly around their urethras.
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, are denied free access to water, standing for 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.
The 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. WE 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. We 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™
