Patti Labelle Shuns Hormone Replacement Drug

Soul legend Patti Labelle has distanced herself from the controversial
hormone replacement drug she once promoted on TV after learning of its
dangers.

The LADY MARMALADE singer was the TV spokeswoman for PREMPRO, which is
prescribed to women with moderate to severe menopausal symptoms such as hot
flushes, night sweats and for the prevention of osteoporosis.

The most common side effects include post-menopausal bleeding, hair loss
and breast pain. However, it also potentially increases risks include heart
attack, stroke, breast cancer and blood clots, according to researchers.

LaBelle says she didn't know that taking the medication carried such risks
when she made commercials for the drug she once took regularly.

She says, "I felt really, really bad when I heard the news that it was
dangerous so I haven't used my hormone replacement therapy, my Prempro, for
about maybe a year since that controversy happened.

"I hope the folk don't think that I knew that it wasn't credible, because
the reason I did the commercials is because I used it. I'd been using it
forever."

LaBelle also said that she's presently not using any medication to deal
with her "private summers", the singer's phrase for hot flushes related to
menopause.