The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning women and health care professionals about false claims made by seven pharmacy operations about the safety and effectiveness of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), as compounded drugs (such as those in BHRT products) are not reviewed by the FDA.

The pharmacies improperly claim that their drugs, which contain hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and estriol, are superior to FDA-approved menopausal hormone therapy drugs or treat serious diseases, such as Alzheimer's, stroke and cancer. (Estriol is not been proven safe or effective by the FDA for any use.)

The FDA sent letters warning the following pharmacies:

• Panorama Compounding Pharmacy (Lake Balboa, CA)
  
• Saint John's Medical Plaza Pharmacy (Santa Monica, CA)
  
• Murray Avenue Apothecary (Pittsburg, PA)
  
• Village Compounding Pharmacy (Houston, TX)
  
• Pharmacy Compounding Specialties (Dallas, TX)
  
• Reed's Compounding Pharmacy (Tuscon, AZ)
  
• Pacifica Pharmacy (Torrance, CA)

The FDA is also concerned that the drugs are made at these specialty "compounding pharmacies" where the raw ingredients are prepared together without the formal oversight of the FDA. As a result, the safety, purity and potency of compounded BHRT drugs are unknown, and the FDA cannot approve them as either treatment or preventative medications for any condition.

If you are receiving BHRT drugs and those containing estriol, please contact your doctor to discuss if this medication is appropriate for you. Always talk to your doctor if you have any concerns or questions regarding your health and menopause.

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