Question:

I am 67 and had been on premarin for at least 14 years when advised to go off by my doctor. I tried for six months, but had severe flushes, trouble sleeping and concentrating, and was tired most the time. Went back on premarin at a low dose which did the trick. I tried to go off again a year ago, and went back to feeling terrible again. My question is, have any studies been done on taking premarin in low doses for long periods of time and the dangers of it? I would like to go back on it; my doctor says he isn't concerned because of it being a low dosage. (I have tried herbal substitutes and creams but they didn’t help. 

Name withheld

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Answer:

All HRTs have their risks and benefits. It sounds like you should follow your doctor’s advice. That said, no physician should ask you to be a blind follower. There are health risks associated with premarin and your doctor should explain what factors s/he’s weighing in determining that taking it is worth the risk. To do some research on your own, Google “women’s health initiative.”