Dr has changed contraceptive pill without speaking to me

[slipmet]

Hi
I'm not sure if I'm being unreasonable or not. From 17-34, I was on the combined pill - Cilest. This was discontinued and I was recommended Cilique. Exactly the same ingredients and hormones as Cilest. So all is fine. Or it was until I had my pill check last Monday. I was prescribed Cilique again but when I tried to get it from the chemist, they told me it's out of stock.

They advised I cal other pharmacies, which I did and no one has it. It's not available to buy online either.

I read that Lizzina is another option but again, that is out of stock and no one knows when it'll be back.

I spoke to the dr's receptionist and she said the dr would call me back to discuss. I didn't hear anything so called the receptionist again who said the dr had put my prescription through for Microgynon. I have no idea what this is or if it's different to Cilique. A quick Google says it is - it has 150mg Levonorgestrel and 30mg ethinylestradiol. Cilique has 35mg ethinylestradiol and 250mg of norgestimate. Surely that's different?

I rang up to speak to the dr who was very sharp with me and said it's the same as Cilique. I tried to say about the different hormones but she said it's a combined pill, just like cilique. I get really fobbed off. I feel really frustrated.

Is anyone else in the same boat as me and can't get Cilique (or Lizzina) for love nor money and has now been prescribed Microgynon? I am really reluctant to go on another pill even if it is 'the same as Cilique because it's a combined pill'. And also AIBU with my reaction to all this?

Thank you if you have got to the end of this!

Have you tried asking the pharmacist if there are any similar formulations that are in stock? It may be the answer is no and the doctor has prescribed from the available stock so you have something as opposed to nothing.

you should still be allowed to ask questions, but it’s not like the doctor just made this switch at random. The first 2 choices were not available.

Thanks for relying. The pharmacist is unable to tell me exactly what they have in stock as their system is down.

To clarify, the dr didn't prescribe Lizzina. I was prescribed my normal pill (cilique) but the phantom act told me that was out of stock. I had. A Google and read about Lizzina. When I spoke to the dr after I found out microgynon had been prescribed I asked if I could have Lizinna instead and was told that Microgynon was just as good. I said again about Lizinna being exactly the same and that I really want that in lieu of Cilique so reluctantly it was agreed but Ive called the pharmacy and they don't have that and don't know when it'll be back.

Keen to hear of anyone else in the same boat as me. I'm in Essex and wonder if the issue is nationwide or just local?

I was on Cerazette and the GP tried to fob me off to use Cerelle instead, the same only cheaper apparently. Well it wasn't the same at all. I now just buy Cerazette from superdrug online myself.

Granted it was over a decade ago but for what it’s worth I used microgynon for over 5 years without issue.

I'd really just like to stay with what I'm on. I'm early 40's and don't really want to be experimenting with new hormone dosages. It's annoying because Ive tried to buy Cilique and Lizinna online and both are out of stock. I just think it's mad how they can let something like a hormone pill go out of stock like that. The Drs and the pharmacist are really blasé about it and I'm like...ok, this is a tablet I have been taking for over twenty years!! (I don't have any children). Argh!!!

They didn't change it without telling you, they prescribed something different because your usual pill and closest alternative are out of stock. Why not try it and contact the doctor if you have any issues.

But what you're on is not available, the doctor can't just magic it up. There are so many problems getting medicines at the moment, adhd is a particular issue atvthe moment have you not seen this on the news ?

Did you read the same post as me? Literally says right in there she spoke to the dr

I'm sorry this sounds stressful. I guess the question is would you rather have no pill and use Condoms/other methods and wait for your usual to come back in stock or try the new one?

I don't think anyone is "letting" things going out of stock. There are huge shortages across epilepsy, diabetes meds as well as others.

Good luck getting it sorted.

ukmeds website lets you pick your own pill, I never bother with GP for pill anymore

I would stand your ground - it is not the GP's fault the 2 brands are out of stock, but it is their fault they have prescribed a drug which is not a "like for like" so to speak. They also should have listened to your concerns and request.

Thanks all, yes - I do feel a bit stressed out about it to be honest.

When I found out Cilique was out of stock, I'd called the dr and was told the dr would call me back to discuss. A day later, I hadn't heard anything so I called back and that was when the receptionist told me that the dr had prescribed Microgynon. That's when I looked it up and saw it's not the same as Cilique. I thought maybe the Dr might have called me and explained why they'd chosen that one and what the differences or similarities are and what to do if I don't get on with it, ie 'give it three months' or 'three weeks'? But no, nothing. Just expected to pick up a brand new hormonal medication and get on with it.

I have not seen the other issues with medications for diabetes and ADHD. How awful for lots of people.

I've spoken to my partner and we are going to use condoms for now. Likely to be going down the vasectomy route, which is something we have been speaking about for a year or so. Maybe this is a sign!

Is it not the same? I also have been on various different mini pills and not noticed any difference. I think this was the last change? I'll go and look it up!

Edit - my mistake, I'm not on that one

Took me a while to find the right combined pill. They definitely are not all the same! Just another case of women's health being fobbed off as not important.

Like a pp, I also buy mine online, even though it costs more. It says Lizinna is in stock here: https://onlinedoctor.asda.com/uk/lizinna.html There are loads of online pharmacies selling them now, so worth googling to find your best option.

Microgynon is cheap and is the first pill a lot of women are given. My DD was put on it and had severe side effects, though I appreciate for many women it is fine.

I suspect your GP may think one combined pill is much the same as another, which isn't really true. You might be fine on microgynon but if you know for sure you'll be fine on something else which is available from online pharmacies they should prescribe that rather than you maybe needing more follow up and prescriptions in a month or two. I don't think you are being unreasonable at all.

Superdrug online seem to have cilique available. Yes it's annoying to pay for it but I've been buying mine for ages as it's so much easier than having to worry about getting nurses appts etc

I think what you're asking for is 'gold standard', when state funded healthcare at the moment is 'survival mode'.

So no, you're not wrong, it would have been best practice for the doctor to call you to discuss before the microgynon. But I suspect it wasn't on their list of ultra urgent things to deal with. And, in fairness, your main issue here is a stock one not a doctor one.

Also, I wouldn't be shocked if GPs weren't actually highly versed in the different hormonal balances of each different type of hormonal contraception.

I have frequently found that Drs think one combined pill is the same as any other. They definitely aren't and it's annoying when they act like you're making it up that you have side effects from one but not another.

Thanks again all. I have been on UK Meds, Superdug, Lloyds, chemist4u and Superdrug and they are all out of stock. Annoyingly you have to fill out the questionnaire on some of the websites before you find out it's unavailable. The hunt continues....

This is exactly it. She was very short with me when I questioned about the ingredients being different. She said it's the same thing 'combined pill', so that's that(!)

This is so true. Yasmin turned me into an anxious lunatic but the Dr told me that one pill is exactly the same as another. I beg to bloody differ.... As do the ingredients on the pack

Hiya,

this is literally my situation now - i feel you! On last pack of cilique (i have to take higher hormone for my epilepsy) and they have given me microgyon to continue with which worries me due to the lower dosage as it may not be as effective. Doctors were very bad and said the answer was coil which as on a pill that works i felt wasnt the answer.

i have done a lot of research on this but have found its not in stock till april 2025!! So guess just have to give what they gave a go and hope for best xx

Oh my lord OP, I actually read your OP and thought I'd written it months ago under a different username.

absolutely identical situation to me, I've refused to go on Microgynon too, for the same reasons, it's NOT the same ingredients as cilest / cilique and the odd Lizinnia thing I had 2 months on before that went out of stock too...

DH and I resigned to durex also, and I'm about to experience my first ever month without taking a pill in 23 years....

god knows what I'm like pill-free.....!

Hello @GoingRoundInOvals and @KentL how are you both doing? I never did find a comparative pill so I am now pill free!! Argh!! I actually feel ok, although have put on a few pounds, maybe the pill was suppressing my weight? I have also read a book about the contraceptive pill by Sarah E Hill and it's opened my eyes up to what it's been doing to my body and mind over the past two decades. I'm actually glad I'm off of it now. I guess going into peri-menopause whilst off the pill might be better? At least I am 'au natural'!

Still trying to convince the other half to have the snip. I've done my time on contraception.

Hope you are both well and anyone else who stumbles on this and is worried about life on the other side.

Oh, I have downloaded the Flo app to track periods and mood, so hopefully I'll have a regular cycle for a few years.

Still annoyed about the whole issue though and how the dr handled it. Women's health really is just dismissed. The book I mentioned was good for talking about how the different hormones in different pills work and how we are in a constant 'fog' state on the pill. I wish my dr had talked to me about it properly back in 1999 when I was 17 and didn't even think twice about it. Mad times. Good luck to all of us on or off the pill!

It must be very similar to what you had before otherwise they wouldn't give you it. I'd just try it, it will be out of your system in 3-4 days if you hate it