Elleste Duet Conti problems with supply.

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Is anyone else having problems getting hold of these tablets? I’ve tried everywhere and just can’t get them.
I’ve now got to see if the doctor will give me something similar so have to go back to have my blood pressure checked. Very annoying as I was getting on well with this brand.
Anyone have advice for something similar?

Appreciate the ingredients are identical but that doesn't explain the horrendous side effects/symptoms when changing from ED to Kliofem. I'm into my 4th month now. Most symptoms have settled down except from sore boobs!!! I'm a runner so it's been a bit of a nightmare!! 😂
Ive also not had any bleeding, none at all. Bonus!
My GP has been told that ED will not be available at all as in its out of production permanently.

That’s what I thought - elkeste duet and kliofem would be identical- I am reacting v differently to it though. V dispappointed to hear it is permanently out of stock as ECD suited me - it took me ages to find it after trying loads of different brands. Oh well back to the drawing board......

You don't have to take one tablet with 2 hormones.

As long as you get 2mgs estradiol and 1mg of Norethisterone, you can get them through any estrogen-only tablet (or patch or gel).

Tablets for conti are 'blended' for convenience.

It won't be the actual hormonal content that is affecting you as it's the same, it's more likely to be what else is in the tablet to help it all stick together.

If your boobs are sore, that implies you are absorbing more rather than it being lost in digestion. One way round it is take a type that has 1mg estrogen not 2mgs.

I've been switched to Femoston, not as good as Elleste for me though settled down a bit, I am halfway through my second month. Main issue is my skin, have had to buy spot cream for the first time in nearly 30 years and my moods are up and down but sweats, flushes and aches and pains are certainly better than with nothing. Was going to go back to GP to seek Elleste back but it sounds as though it's still not available.

I read on Menopause matters today that Elleste Conti are back in stock

I've had the same issue, no elleste duet 2mg now been changed to femoston 1/5mg started it yesterday so fingers crossed they suit me 😳

Kazbags65 That's what they swapped me to - on my 4th month of it now. I spend most of my time dripping in sweat.

Luckily I've got a couple of pks of elleste left and still have a prescription for more so I'll see how I get on with these for a month or two

Anyone managed to get any recently? I've got a months supply left and am feeling nervous about having to switch.

Wobbly My repeat prescription is still being printed out with it on, but since April I've been given the alternative. I asked the pharmacist last week how long before I get it again and she said likely never, she'd heard it was now discontinued.

I was on loestrin bcp not elleste but that has also been unavailable due to the same issues.

Gp gave me femoston 1/10 and I'm not loving it. Nothing major but I get headaches when I switch between pills. Also I've gained almost half a stone in 10 weeks. I had a very light bleed in the first month but nothing in month 2.

I'm not sure what to do now. I know I can't go back onto bcp but id like something that doesn't swap between 2 different pills. That's when I get the headaches.

@thenightsky my pharmacist has told me the same thing.

I'm hating femoston. 6 weeks in and I've gained weight, feel low and generally back to how i was. The last straw is my joint pain has come back. I felt great on elleste ALTHOUGH i did have a bad tummy on it. I dont on femoston but thats because its having no bloody effect at all!!

I've just received a what's app message from a friend showing me her new prescription of Elleste Duet 2mg. Her pharmacist said there's only an issue with Solo. Anyone else have any updates?

I'm picking up my prescription on Monday. It would make my day if the duet reappears, but I fear they have changed me permanently now as Elleste Duet wasn't on the paper copy any more.

@thenightsky good luck!! Hope you manage to get sorted. I'm popping into my pharmacy on Monday to see if they have it. If they do, I'll be sprinting into my GP surgery to demand a prescription!!! 😂😂😂

Don't get your hopes up people. I got given Novofem again as a replacement today.

Notice that finally this is getting the attention it deserves in the press.

"Menopausal women in the UK facing severe HRT shortage
Half of common treatments out of stock, but suppliers not honest about reason, GPs say"

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/aug/11/menopausal-women-in-the-uk-facing-severe-hrt-shortage?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

I've got an appointment with my GP tomorrow to talk about alternatives to Elleste Duet.

I think I've 3 options.

1. Return to a product I used until a few years back called Cyclo Progynova (which I see is still in stock) - the reason I stopped this is that it has a one week no tablet phase during which some of my symptoms would return. But I know it worked and I didn't feel awful.

1. Try one of the combined alternatives mentioned upthread - kliofem seems the obvious one. Am nervous however given some of the stories reported upthread, especially as I've a very important work event a few weeks into the new supply.

1. Try two separate products, with Estradiol via patches. However, I've tried combined patches before and had a bad reaction to the adhesive so I'm a bit nervous about this. Does anyone know if the adhesive used on different patches is the same? And finally, if I'm getting 1mg Estradiol in ED, what quantity would I need in a patch?

Any thoughts welcome... My GP is not anti-HRT but doesn't know much about the different brands.

Got to say I'm outraged this is still going on and there hasn't been more of a fuss about it, and a concerted push to establish what the issues are.

GP receptionist here. Pretty much everything on the formulary (that GPs are allowed to prescribe) has a manufacturing issue or is out of stock.
Those who have had tablets are being asked to try gels or patches and it is an incredibly difficult situation.

Obviously, between us, the GP and the long-suffering local pharmacist, we are entirely to blame. I know that suppliers briefly had Elleste Conti available last week but it very quickly went out of stock again.

Published last week, by the menopause society

I just called my local chemist to find out what they could order, so that I was prepared for a discussion with my GP tomorrow. When I said who I was, she said they had a box of ED just waiting for me, I just needed to bring the prescription. She said it had come into stock and they'd got some for customers who usually used it.

I actually cried I was so relieved. Massive hugs to my local pharmacy.

Hello, I have been on 2mg Elleste Duet Conti for about 8 years . It has worked well for me since day one. Like everyone else I was put 2mg Kilofem when supply problems started. I agree that my skin became slightly itchier. After probably 6 months on Kilofem I had a small period so the doctor sent me off for a Trans Vaginal scan to make sure there wasn't any issues. Thankfully I was given the all clear however it has been suggested I should try and come off HRT so I am now on a 1mg dose to start the weening process. Day 3 and seem ok however I have got a second (very small) period exactly a month after the first.

My pharmacist tells me Elleste Duet is due back in around the end of August, let's see! However, after a false start with Kliofem- didn't get on with it at all, I switched to Kliovance; smaller continuous dose; apart from eating for Britain a week before the end of the pack and for a few days, it's been much better, and no bleed. Bonus. So try that if you're not getting on with Kliofem.

I get an annual prescription and they could t get Elleste so they’ve switched me to Femoston. I was really lucky to find Elleste suited me straight away and dreading what will happen if this one doesn’t! Hopefully it’ll be back in stock for everyone else soon.