Premarin (conjugated estrogens)
Premarin's active ingredient is made from the urine of pregnant mares (equine). This is the medicine itself, not an added ingredient, and there is no generic version.
What this means
The name Premarin comes from pregnant mare urine. Estrogens made by synthesis from plant sterols, for example estradiol, are different medicines, prescribed and dosed differently. Talk to your doctor about your treatment.
- Keep taking it as prescribed, and do not change or stop it without your prescriber.
- Tell your doctor the source matters to you, and ask whether an estrogen made by synthesis from plant sterols is appropriate for you.
- Bring this to a scholar you trust.
This answered your Premarin question. What about your other medications?
Premarin is animal-derived in the medicine itself, so the answer is the same whoever makes it. Most medications are different: the animal ingredient is a hidden one, like the gelatin in a capsule or a coating, and its source changes depending on which manufacturer made your bottle. The label never says which.
A licensed pharmacist asks the manufacturer of your exact medication, in writing, and reports the stated source. Check one of your medications →