Been given Zelletta instead of Cerazette

[DollyRocker1]

Just went to pharmacist to pick up my repeat prescription for Cerazette. Was told that I'd been given Zelletta instead as they were out of stock of Cerazette but this had to same main ingredients.

I've been very happy on Cerazette for 3 years. Some irregular bleeding for first 3-4 months but since then only very occasional light bleeds and nothing in past 6 months.

I've got one pack of Cerazette left and am concerned that starting Zelletta with coincide with holiday season.

Has anyone here been moved? Will my body hardly notice the difference as they both have 75 micrograms of Desogestrel or should I expect breakthrough bleeding like when starting with Cerazette?

[SaveSomeSpendSome]

I was changed from cerezette to cerelle approx 18 month ago. Within a week of taking cerelle my ankles ballooned up and i was struggling to get my shoes on.

Went back to the GP who gave me cerezette again and my ankles were back to normal within the week!

[underrugsswept]

I was switched to Cerelle after DS and had lots of random sporting (not a drop in the years I was on cerezette). They claim it's the same but it's definitely not. I stopped taking it.

[DollyRocker1]

sorry to hear about your experience Save. I'm hoping to get my Cerazette back next time. Willing to give Zelletta a try, but just frustrating to be moved from something that works for me. I suffer from painful periods and Cerazette means it's no longer a monthly worry for me.

[FuckyNell]

We have lots of people who've changed to generic medication and been fine. I'm sure you will be too

[SaveSomeSpendSome]

When i queried about the change at the GP surgery the receptionist said cerazette is expensive compared to other brands.

She got out the price list of medications which is in a big book.

Cerazette was priced at £8ish and cerelle was priced at £1.50ish

[DollyRocker1]

I know contraception is free but I'd happily pay a prescription fee for it to cover the additional cost. I do feel that patients should be consulted about changes to their medication even if it's just a switch to generic medicine.

[DollyRocker1]

I'm thinking of ordering a 3 month pack of Cerazette from an online pharmacy. Costs £26 including delivery but will give me peace of mind. Anyone else done this?

[LucyBabs]

If it's a generic then it has the same ingredients and does exactly the same thing

[underrugsswept]

Are the ingredients definitely in exactly the same quantities though? Surely there is some difference between then to justify the cost difference. I definitely had very different experiences on Cerezette (no bleeds at all) and Cerelle (frequent spotting) as did my best friend.

[underrugsswept]

I mean all of them - not just the active ones.

[uhoh2016]

I got given that too as an alternative to cerazette clearly there's a national shortage, I've noticed no difference whatsoever

[Sidge]

Technically you shouldn't notice any difference at all. They both have exactly the same active ingredient (75 mcg desogestrel) and not much else apart from filler and colourant. Desogestrel is the progesterone and the ingredient that controls bleeding etc.

Many companies will invest a LOT of money into developing a new drug (eg Cerazette was one of the first new generation POPs) and so hold the patent and no-one else can sell it. Hence the high price as they try and recoup their investment. After a certain time period any pharmaceutical company can make it and so the price comes down. When you have a GP surgery with hundreds and hundreds of women on the pill, being paid for out of their budget, you need to prescribe the cheapest generic version of a drug to stay within your prescribing budget.

Obviously if you notice significant changes when switching to a different brand you can discuss it with your prescriber, but I would suggest giving it a try first. You may notice no difference at all.

[DollyRocker1]

Many thanks Sidge. Been taking Zelletta over a week now and so far so good. Not noticed any differences apart from taste/ texture of tablets.