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!

No we just get the headline/title - which is very informative

Notwatchingtvtoday I have ordered my patches from The Independent Pharmacy.

Hi grumisomum thank you

Hi has anyone using HRT patches considered using them for a little longer before changing them?
My prescription is for 2 a week, So one of the things I have been doing is to change them every 4 days, not the standard 4 day/3day. I’m prescribed 12 weeks at a time. So a 12 week prescription covers me for 84 days if use 2 a week, or 96 days if use 2 every 8 days.
I’m hoping this will give me a little extra time to source if I struggle to get any.
It is a bit less convenient and I have had to think about it more carefully, but it is something to consider to make a prescription last longer.

THE SUBSTITUTE PILLS THE GP PRESCRIBED ARE ALSO OUT OF STOCK.

The pharmacist says they have nothing at all to give me.

Going on holiday now for 4 days with my mother and raging hormones - this is not going to go well.

P.S. Anyone had any success getting them over the counter in Germany?

Try taking your prescription with you if your flying as you maybe able to get it at the airport pharmacy

My GP can't help.

I was declined an online order.

I ran out yesterday (I was already stretching them to cover 8 days not 7)...

Oh well - that really was a short-lived trial.

Thanks notwatchingtvtoday. I don't have a paper prescription - my GP just sends an email to my named pharmacy.

I called the GP - they don't think they can issue a paper prescription but if they did I would have to travel 2 hours each way to get it (I have an online GP and their headqquarters is a long way away) which I can't do because I am at work.

A miracle!

I have 24 Evorel Conti patches!

I phoned the local Boots and they have it back in stock. My GP then emailed over a prescription.

Quite easy after all that!

"I will continue to blame Brexit until I see evidence otherwise."

Estradiol shortage in USA?

The shortage isn't just in UK, but is falling unevenly because of different prescribing habits in different countries (and only varieties with certain components being unavailable)

Following link gives info on current UK availability of different types:

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

@KatyMac - Thanks. I'll try to copy and paste
"Most strengths of Elleste tablets are currently unavailable and the manufacturers of Evorel patches has said that it expects shortages of this product to begin in September.
Mylan, which produces Elleste, told GPonline’s sister site MIMS that the shortages were because its manufacturing partner was experiencing interruptions in the production of certain strengths of the drug.
Janssen, the manufacturer of Evorel, said 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.
Meanwhile, all strengths of FemSeven Conti and Sequi (estradiol/levonorgestrel) patches have been out of stock in the UK since the end of last year and are not expected to be available again until 2020. The manufacturer Theramex said this was due to a quality issue with the patches’ adhesive."
There's then a bit of blurb about reviewing, switching and alternative prescribing referencing Louise Newsome and the BMS.
"Mylan said it was providing the DHSC and the British Menopause Society with frequent updates on supply of Elleste. It added: ‘We offer a website for healthcare professionals, called MyWay HRT Hub & Treatment Navigator that includes a dedicated section showing the latest stock constraints and alternative choices from Mylan’s HRT portfolio.’
Theramex said it was evaluating other sources of adhesive for FemSeven Sequi and FemSeven Conti. It said there was no other HRT with precisely the same composition so it was unable to suggest any alternative treatments.
The Primary Care Women’s Health Forum has produced an easy HRT prescribing guide for GPs and other prescribers, which provides advice on prescribing HRT based on current guidelines and best practice."

This shortage is worldwide, as are many other drug supply problems. Nothing to do with Brexit unless the USA, Australia and others are also leaving Europe

Ive been prescribed Kliovance instead of my usual Evorel Conti. Back to tablets...

Thanks @Kummerspeck

I have one more month! Whoop!!

Baffled by all of this as I picked up 3 months worth of oestrogel immediately when I presented my prescription on Friday afternoon, they had to order in the utrogestan (progesterone) but I have since had a message to say it's in and waiting for me. I'm sorry you other women are suffering but that isn't my experience at all. I did try the patches at my GPs suggestion and they're better in some ways than the gel, but I always struggled to get them so went back to the gel. That was a couple of years ago.

I hope that you all get your supplies back on track very soon.

My patches have arrived. Apart from the boxes looking slightly different (bigger! patches are same size), looks the same as the usual ones- with pharmacist stickers on & even came in a blue sealed prescription bag just like when you pick them up from the chemist.

Well it wasn't good news for me - pharmacist is curren

Well it wasn't good news for me - pharmacist is currently on the case with the suppliers and been told it's a manufacturing problem, but all very vague about the precise problem.

Westfacing have you tried an online pharmacy? that's where mine came from, albeit £££££

grumiosmum I haven't had the need to do so, so far! I have one month's supply left - pharmacist asked me to return on Monday.

If no luck, I'll go to the GP for an alternative, if any available. I'll go down the online route if I really have to.

Egghead Superdrug have got that wrong, I'm on Evorel whilst perimenopausal. I've got enough until October but hadn't heard that they were due to run out of stocks by then .

It would be nice to think that now that the media have started to report the crisis, something will get done, but I strongly suspect it will be regarded as something that was printed during a slow news day and will disappear off the radar again.

Thanks Superjaggy.

My pharmacist says there are even more serious shortages that aren’t hitting the press e.g. heart medication.

I posted this on another thread earlier:

I spent a large part of the day, aided and abetted by both OH and adult DS, trying to obtain my prescription HRT (Evorel patches). Unsuccessfully.

They are both that this is happening to me.

I said, this is just a foretaste of what is to come.

We got a lead on a pharmacy that has something similar in stock - but they said I have to go back to the GP for a new prescription. By that time, the pharmacy say they might have run out anyway. So that's tomorrow booked up with chasing around after GP surgery time and the pharmacy treasure hunt.

I SHOULD be working, being productive.

This isn't a 'social' drug for me. It is medically necessary after major surgery.

THIS is what shortages look like on the ground.

Still waiting to hear if I can get any from spain

It took months after my op to get back on my feet and I am unlikely to be 'employed' again so I am starting self-employment looking my hrt now will destroy all chance I have of getting back on my feet

katymac have you tried an online pharmacy ? It is far more expensive than a prescription via your gp but they may be able to help

I will - I have 5 weeks right now so I'll wait for Spain then try private

I'm a bit broke atm