O’Brien Pharmacy

04/02/2026

03/31/2026

A simple way to elevate your daily wellness routine.

03/17/2026

"Bio-identical estrogens vs synthetics, part 2:
Our estrogens promote the turnover of bones by increasing osteoclastic activity. Synthetics don't offer the same positive effect in bone turnover and can delay bone repair."

Check out the rest of Lisa Everett Andersen's post at the link below!

Bio-identical estrogens vs synthetics, part 2: Our estrogens promote the turnover of bones by increasing osteoclastic activity. Synthetics don't offer the same positive effect in bone turnover and can delay bone repair. Our estrogens are the primary hormone to inspire libido in women, while syntheti...

03/13/2026

"So let's compare bio-identical estrogens to the synthetics. We'll do this over several posts. Our own estrogens help prevent or remediate migraine headaches and neurological diseases such as Parkinson's, MS, and dementia. Estrogen is necessary for maintaining the proper conductivity of nerves in the brain and proper influx and efflux of nutrients, minerals, oxygen, glucose, etc. These activities play a major role in preventing migraine headaches..."
Read the rest of Lisa Everett Andersen's post at the link below!

So let's compare bio-identical estrogens to the synthetics. We'll do this over several posts. Our own estrogens help prevent or remediate migraine headaches and neurological diseases such as Parkinson's, MS, and dementia. Estrogen is necessary for maintaining the proper conductivity of nerves in the...

03/04/2026

"We'll finish our look into some of the differences between bio-identical and synthetic hormones by discussing estrogens. When we read magazine or newspaper articles on bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), it's important to remember the word "estrogen" refers to a group of compounds and not just one molecule. Often, literature on estrogen studies doesn't specify to which of the more than 100 estrogens they're speaking. Our bodies only produce 3 primary estrogens - estradiol, estriol, and estrone. Are they referring to our human estrogens, and if so, which one? Are they writing about horse estrogens or one of the many synthetic estrogens? For example, an article in the July 15, 2002 issue of Time magazine entitled "Should Anyone Take Hormones?" uses the term "HRT" (hormone replacement therapy) instead of defining which hormones, natural or synthetic, were studied. Even though human estrogen is easily manufactured from plant-based materials, usually soybean oil, one of the most common replacement estrogens is called conjugated estrogen and is found in drugs such as Premarin."

Read the rest of Lisa Everett Andersen's post at the link below!

We'll finish our look into some of the differences between bio-identical and synthetic hormones by discussing estrogens. When we read magazine or newspaper articles on bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), it's important to remember the word "estrogen" refers to a group of compounds and....

02/26/2026

"We've been looking at some differences between bio-identical and synthetic hormones, with my last post regarding pregnenolone. As we did with progesterone, let's examine a few examples of those differences.
Natural / bio-identical pregnenolone relieves anxiety and stabilizes moods and emotions. Synthetic corticosteroids can cause anxiety and panic.
Pregnenolone increases bone density and all collagen formation. The synthetics decrease bone mass and diminish all collagen production..."

Read the rest of Lisa Everett Andersen's post at the link below!

We've been looking at some differences between bio-identical and synthetic hormones, with my last post regarding pregnenolone. As we did with progesterone, let's examine a few examples of those differences. Natural / bio-identical pregnenolone relieves anxiety and stabilizes moods and emotions. Synt...

02/25/2026

"Yesterday’s post listed some major differences between innate / bio-identical progesterone and synthetic progestins. There are many other examples that you can read about on pages 348–350. But today, we’re going to move onto pregnenolone. The synthetic corticosteroids include hydrocortisone, prednisone, prednisolone, triamcinolone, and dexamethasone, as well as many others. These molecules were developed to be patentable replacements for the body’s corticosteroids, most specifically cortisol and cortisone. Researchers attempted to create drugs that would achieve the strongest possible anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects."

Read the rest of Lisa Everett Andersen's post by clicking the link below!

Yesterday's post listed some major differences between innate / bio-identical progesterone and synthetic progestins. There are many other examples that you can read about on pages 348-350. But today, we're going to move onto pregnenolone. The synthetic corticosteroids include hydrocortisone, prednis...

02/23/2026

"We've been discussing the differences between innate / bio-identical progesterone and synthetic progestins like medroxyprogesterone acetate. Let's look at some specific examples.
Bio-identical progesterone is a natural antidepressant. The synthetic progestins can cause irritability and moodiness, including anxiety, anger, nervousness, and panic attacks. They can also cause lethargy and depression..."

Read the rest of Lisa Everett Andersen's post by clicking the link down below!

We've been discussing the differences between innate / bio-identical progesterone and synthetic progestins like medroxyprogesterone acetate. Let's look at some specific examples. Bio-identical progesterone is a natural antidepressant. The synthetic progestins can cause irritability and moodiness, in...

02/20/2026

"The synthetic substitutes for progesterone are called progestins or progestogens, and are marketed by American pharmaceutical companies under the trade names Provera, Cycrin, Aygestin, various birth control pills, Depo-Provera, Depo-SubQ Provera 104, and others.
Unlike our natural progesterone, progestin (medroxyprogesterone acetate) has a medroxy group added to a carbon atom. An acetate group replaces a hydrogen atom in the natural molecule. In short, the progestin has 12 atoms that don't exist on progesterone. You can see the two molecules for yourself on page 346.
So how does this affect us?..."

Read the rest of Lisa Everett Andersen's thoughts on synthetic progesterins at the link below!

The synthetic substitutes for progesterone are called progestins or progestogens, and are marketed by American pharmaceutical companies under the trade names Provera, Cycrin, Aygestin, various birth control pills, Depo-Provera, Depo-SubQ Provera 104, and others. Unlike our natural progesterone, prog...

02/17/2026

"In Europe, pharmaceutical companies have been manufacturing natural steroidal hormones for decades in suppository, injectable, or pessary (vaginal) form. Not long after the discovery of hormones, researchers came to understand that hormones lost 90% of their effectiveness when swallowed. However, as a suppository or pessary, the hormones are quite effective..."
Read the rest of Lisa Everett Andersen's post below!

In Europe, pharmaceutical companies have been manufacturing natural steroidal hormones for decades in suppository, injectable, or pessary (vaginal) form. Not long after the discovery of hormones, researchers came to understand that hormones lost 90% of their effectiveness when swallowed. However, as...