FemSeven Conti not available

[ohnofootballagain]

Hi everyone,

I started on these patches a few weeks ago. However when I got them from the pharmacy I could only get 12 patches as there is a shortage, and the manufacturers are not releasing new batches until Jan/Feb next year.

So my GP said start anyway as there’s nothing else as good.

I have been loathe to take HRT as I thought I was through the menopause (no period for 18 months) but oh my goodness, having taken it I realise I was still being affected by symptoms that have now stopped. Eg mood swings, tears, anger, foggy thinking, feeling outside & looking in in life...........you all know the stuff.....

Anyway I realise I’m going to be left with just 1 spare patch and run out the week I am back from holiday which makes me nervous. Occasionally a patch comes off early and needs replacing. I am going back to the docs in 2 weeks to discuss an alternative before my hols.

Just wondered if anyone has had to stop this due to lack of supply and what alternatives have worked or them if this one was working good.

Hi, I have had to change patches due to the shortage - I am now on Evorel Conti which have a different type of progesterone. I have had no major side effects so far ( I have been on Femseven for 2 years) but I will probably go back on the Femseven when they come back in stock. I find it really annoying that we are messed around like this. It is good that you have a few patches in hand so you might be fine to use Everel just for a week or so.

Thank you Babett.... that’s really helpful and really appreciated. Thank you for posting.

Agree very annoying to allow it to go out of stock.....

Hi. I’ve been on Femseven Sequi patches for a while & struggled to get hold of three recently so rang the supplier Teva Uk Ltd. They informed me that the supplier had changed over to a company called Theramax tel 03330096795 who confirmed that they are producing the Femseven products but have no idea when production will resume and until this point the only advise that they can give is for me to visit my doctor to get an alternative product 🤬. As I’ve tried all the other HRTs with no success due to the progesterone affecting me, this wasn’t helpful at all.
Just thought anyone hanging on for them to come into production might like to know.

Hi everyone,
Reading other contributors comments I too have been unable to obtain Femseven Conti since May2018 & contacted Theramex [ new distribution company] to find out what supply fault was- not very forth-coming except to say they were talking with manufacturers. Have been taking EvorelConti patches instead, but in my opinion this is an inferior product as I now experience continual brown discharge [old blood], which I never got with Femseven. I think it is different prostogen - norethisterone in Evorel, but levonorgestrel in Femseven Conti. Has anyone suffered this side-effect? Been taking for 6 weeks now. Like others, fed up with tardy response to supply shortage. If men needed HRT this wouldn’t happen probably!

I was on evorel conti with no problems except they kept falling off when it was hot
GP swooped me to femSeven to solve the falling off but I was only able to get one month's supply
So I'm back on evorel. Apart from the femSeven lasting a week I haven't noticed any difference

Thanks for that info - yes Femseven patches are the best at staying on. Hope you can get re-supplied soon!

I've just come off Evorel Conti as it was giving me such heavy periods

I’ve been on various HRT over 6 years now and the last One Femoston stopped helping. Was put on Kliofem but bled continuously so I’ve been put on FemSeven Seq patches. Started 4 days ago but am still bleeding. Actually heavier than with the Kliofem. Is this usual when starting these patches? Will it settle down? Any advice appreciated😃

Hi I’ve had 3 months supply of fem seven and they were working great. I can’t get anymore so have been given evori 50 patches. I’ve been on them 3 weeks and I feel back to square one. Did you find a good alternative? X

In reply, I agree totally with you - I am back on Evorel patches, but these are nowhere as good as Femseven Conti which I have not been able to obtain for several months. I bleed on Evorel & Elleste patches & have severe itching. Stopped Femoston tablets after 2 weeks because of severe itching & anxiety. Doesn’t appear to be anything else left to try. Sorry I can’t be more up-lifting for you!. It is a complete nightmare not being able to get hold of Femseven. Not being manufactured at present. Company won’t explain why.

Thank you x

I have just managed to get fem7 conti again so I thought that I would let you all know! I agree they are the best

Thanks for that information. I hope they have started to manufacture again & it’s not just a red herring!

Hi Wrenings, can you give us more information as to how you got hold of them? Are they being manufactured again?

I have got them from a Morrison’s pharmacy today. They had a pack of 12 and have ordered another 12 for me to pick up tomorrow. Hope this helps.

Hi wrennings Do you know if they are back in supply generally or if Morrison’s just happened to have some instore. I had to buy a supply online, (which is now out of stock also) but this will only last for another month or so. Everywhere else I have tried, via any route says they are out of stock. I got no joy from contacting Theramax who just sent me a generic email telling me to speak to my doctor and they didn’t know when Fem Seven Conti would be back in supply. Nothing else suits me. Grateful for any info.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news! I was so hopeful when they had a pack of 12 and said to pick up the rest the next day. Unfortunately they are not in stock. I will try and find out what is happening?

Yes, thank you, wrennings so helpful. And I’ll keep on at Theramax. I might badger them again from next week. They’ll ignore us if we don’t keep the pressure up.

My pharmacy couldnt get femseven sequi, i rang manufacturers Friday ... they have no idea when production will resume. My gp sent a new prescription through for Evorel and pharmacy have had to source them from Scotland (i am in lancashire, uk) ... i am hoping this is only due to everyone on femseven being alternately prescribed like me. I am also hoping that i am ok on Evorel, because, i tried sandrena gel and was ill again within 4 days. My peri symptoms have been quite extreme and debilitating, Gp thinks that i dont absorb the gel properly... i am horrified anout femseven situation because it has given me my life back after 4 years of hell.

Hi Beau, my doctor prescribed Femseven conti as nothing else worked including everol conti which I have had to go back on. The difference is unbelievable. Since coming off Femseven conti 3 months ago I am breaking out in spots and hot flushes at night which had stopped completely with Femseven. Just rung my local chemist to see if they are back in circulation but they are not. Why do they do this?

My pharmacist told me that this manufacturer is stockpiling quite a few meds not just hrt patches ... they are saying not making them but in reality are waiting until Brexit because they will then put prices up ... its all about making money and we are suffering x Even though the nhs prescription charge is same to us, the pharmacy will have to pay more if manufacturer increases £ so its them that lose out x

I have written to CEO of Theramex to complain - their actions are unethical, greedy & immoral, regardless of Brexit. Theramex was established with funding from a private Luxumburg equity group in September 2017 - expect they want to cash in!

Can you let us know the outcome, Dizzyqirl?

I will if they bother to reply - no doubt I would receive a standardized letter, or perhaps nothing at all! I think it stinks - it’s so unfair on women. Bet all these decisions are made by men who don’t have to suffer !!

Thanks, dizzy As I’ve said, if Theramex makes claims to champion women’s health this is a pretty poor example of it. I think I’ll email again. Let’s keep up the pressure.