No availability of HRT patches

[Egghead68]

Hi - my foray into HRT will be short-lived, it seems (3 weeks in total) due to lack of availability of HRT treatments in my area.

I was on Evorel Conti, which can't be obtained now (I had 6 patches which my pharmacist said were the last ones). I have asked my GP if they will prescribe an alternative but they have not got back to me and my patch runs out on Tuesday. In any case, it seems there are low/no stocks of most/all forms here due to people having to switch.

Anyone else had this problem and got any suggestions?

Thank you in advance!

Am dreading trying for a repeat prescription, I‘ve just started Evorel Sequi so at least I won’t get any coming off effects if they run out.

When I went for my first batch last week the chemist said give them 24 hours and then they got it in for me.

The annoying thing about the BBC scary headline today is they don’t mention what exactly is running out.

And sorry no help for your question...

Thanks ChoccyJules and hope you don't have problems too.

My pharmacist didn't know what the problem was but I suspect Brexit-related issues.

It seems to be very hard to get any form at all around here. I do hope you are luckier.

I have just tried ordering £75 worth from Superdrug but there was an ominous message that they may have to contact me if there is no availability.

I’m in Ibiza and have just bought evorel 50 patches for €2.50 and am picking up a few boxes of 100 which they ordered for me tomorrow. I know it’s not for everyone but worth a shot if you know someone going. They also had sequi and conti too

I was thinking of making a GP appointment to discuss my options as my symptoms are getting worse.

I think I’ll hang on a bit longer now.

Wow that is amazing Ticklemyfanny. The patches are £3 EACH from Superdrug, if they are available (which is doubtful). It's almost worth booking a flight to Ibiza...

SauvignonBlanche there are lots of non-HRT things that might help - fans, cold gel sheets for your bed etc. - if you haven't tried them already.

Update from the BMS on alternatives:

thebms.org.uk/2019/08/british-menopause-society-update-on-hrt-supply-shortages/

Here's the link to the BBC article for anyone interested:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-49304163

Thanks NoBaggyPants .

See mims.co.uk for all the brands that are out or nearly out. Sorry can’t do a clicky

Evorel Conti are available if your pharmacist orders them direct from Janssen-Cilag. Go back to your pharmacist tomorrow and ask them to speak to Jannsen’s customer services on +44 (0)800 731 5550 to order direct. If your pharmacist refuses ring Janssen yourself and check they can supply direct. Assuming Janssen has this emergency stock available, and they did at the start of last week insist your pharmacist makes the effort, if they don’t advise them you will report them to theIr regulator (the GPhC). This will put the fear of god in them.

Thanks ImADadButThatsOKIsntIt.

I will ask the pharmacist if they can order direct from Janssen although Janssen are saying out of stock till August 31 according to other websites.

(I won't threaten to report him! He attends my exercise class apart from anything else).

HRT shortages were all over the news yesterday but no honest answers as to why. I’m on my third different type since January

Yes. My friend managed to get some from an online pharmacy via google. It cost her about 40£ though.

I had terrible trouble at first, but it's beeen ok the last couple of times.

Copied from MIMS website

Janssen, the manufacturer of Evorel, says shortages of other products have increased demand for Evorel. Evorel Conti (estradiol/norethisterone) patches and Evorel (estradiol) 100 patches are expected to be out of stock from September; Evorel Sequi (estradiol/norethisterone) and Evorel 50 and 75 patches from October; and Evorel 25 patches from March 2020.

I got 3 months worth of Evorel Sequi last month and they could only give me 1 month straight away, and then the other 2 boxes came with extra stickers on them so i presume from Janssen.

I think I'll ask for my repeat scrip now rather than wait until October.

From what i understand two other popular HRT brands have had issues (not Brexit related), which has put pressure on the remaining brands. I guess it's not easy to suddenly increase production.

@TickleMyFanny - can you just buy them over the counter?

Perhaps there has been a recent increase in uptake of HRT due to recent studies reporting a more favourable risk profile and publicity on BBC Breakfast and other programmes?

I'm only allowed one month at a time & I am not allowed to re-order until I have used 2 weeks

So I guess I crash

If this was a male medication you bet your life they would be flying it in from who-knows where

Thanks MN, especially ImADadButThatsOKIsntIt.

Came on here to look for advice after trying to renew my Evorel Sequi prescription to be told by pharmacist there was no chance of getting any anywhere & I'd need to speak to my GP about an alternative.

Earliest call I can get with GP is tomorrow evening, so I contacted Janssen direct, as per ImADad's post, then called the pharmacy back and they said they should be able to get it for me within a week.

Agree with Katymac. It's part of a male conspiracy to subjugate powerful women. I blame Boris & Nigel Farage.

The gp surgery knew nothing
The pharmacy knew nothing but had hardly any.....

@DropZoneOne yip!

I've just got the last 3 boxes in the pharmacy today - according to my pharmacist there is a problem with the adhesive and that's causing everyone to switch to other brands.

The BMS as published a list of unavailable HRT- on their website.

You can try alternatives= as long as the dose and basic type of estrogen/ progestogen is the same.

Watching with interest - and thanks for the BMS link detailing what is (and isn't) available.