MNHQ here: have you found it difficult to get HRT recently?

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

As lots of MNers have already been discussing, there seems to be a nationwide shortage of some forms of HRT. (The reasons for the shortage seem a little clouded in mystery, although there's a partial explainer here.)

We've noticed a few MNers talking about going abroad to obtain their usual brand of HRT, or considering buying online - which of course isn't something health professionals would generally recommend (and probably doesn't feel very good to the women doing it either).

It seems pretty scandalous to us that women are having to do this in order to be sure of supplies of essential medicines and we wanted to get a sense of how many of you are affected.

So if you've struggled to get supplies of your normal HRT, or have considered going abroad or buying online to secure your supplies, we'd be interested to hear from you - please post on this thread or if you'd rather keep it confidential feel free to PM us or email us on [email protected]

Thanks
MNHQ

I couldn't get my usual Elleste Solo so eventually went back to GP who told me it couldn't possibly be unable to source as it is so popular. After a frank exchange of views he reluctantly prescribed Estradiol which had a few side effects I didn't like so I am now taking them on alternate days. This has meant a reduction in symptoms but also a reduction in benefit. Some ladies are saying they order their prescriptions early but at our surgery we cannot order repeat prescriptions until the week before you run out. As a side I have been using HRT since I was 40 and actually need it to help combat Osteoporosis as do all women who have a hysterectomy before the age of 50.

I should also point out that our surgery only allows a prescription of 3 months worth at a time so I cannot stockpile. I have looked into buying on the Internet but they quickly became unavailable there too.

I was told that the shortage of my Conti patches was because of Brexit. Even if it doesn't go ahead, they won't have supplies until February 2020.

I've been put, temporarily on a tablet form.

The plan decided is to fit a coil and use Estrogen patches.

I've gone down this route because I've got to have a Polyp removed, using pain relief, so fitting a coil at the end, makes sense.

I take Kliovance and have buckets of it. When I heard about the shortage of HRT I ordered a load from a private pharmacist online, thinking my own chemist might not stock it. They did stock it..... So if anyone wants some Kliovance at cost I'm your person.

I work in a pharmacy and from what i remember (i read the memo ages ago) its an issue with the manufacturing of the items (hrt, the pill), something to do with the ingredients.

There are so many items going in and out of stock at the moment, its not just womens stuff targeted and is down to so many reasons. Not Brexit!

There is no shortage.

Johnson and Johnson are artificially controlling the stock ready for a no deal Brexit and change to WTO tariffs.

Then they can charge the NHS ££££

HRT is available in other countries....

It amazes me that more people aren't up in arms about this.

And its not just hrt, its diabetes meds, TPN feeds, some inhalers...

Time to start paying attention.

I have had continual problems getting Elleste Duet 2mg as well, going back over the last 8 months or so. Am in central London so have been able to get supplies for last two prescriptions by traipsing from chemist to chemist.

One pharmacist gave me a list of possible alternatives. My GP has been very helpful giving me repeat prescriptions early to help me track it down, although I have to message her direct - the admin team will not deal with repeat prescriptions until one week before previous allocation runs out. Interestingly, the GP tells me she has no ability to see any information about stock levels of prescription drugs, or shortages. Which seems crazy to me - she can prescribe in good faith and send us patients off to ask for drugs we will be told are not available for months. Of course we then have to go back and take up more of the GP and surgery team's time to find an alternative. Seems like a terrible waste of time and resource. My GP is diligent and committed. I am sure she would rather know what is out there and prescribe accordingly. I am also outraged that there are supply issues with drugs that are so important to our day to day lives.

Another related issue that really winds me up is that I have to pay two prescription fees for each supply of the drug. This is because it uses both oestrogen and progesterone and attracts a fee for each. The pack is a combined pack, with so many days dosage of one, then so many days of the other, and is clearly designed as one drug. How some smart arsed civil servant decided that it should attract two charges for prescriptions is beyond me. Blatantly a nice little extra tax on women.

I'd love to join a campaign to draw this double charging to public attention and get it changed. How about it MNHQ?

Yes. I was on ellest duet but was moved onto Novofem. I've still got 1 month supply but I'm terrified of running out.

Another related issue that really winds me up is that I have to pay two prescription fees for each supply of the drug. This is because it uses both oestrogen and progesterone and attracts a fee for each. The pack is a combined pack, with so many days dosage of one, then so many days of the other, and is clearly designed as one drug. How some smart arsed civil servant decided that it should attract two charges for prescriptions is beyond me. Blatantly a nice little extra tax on women.

I'd love to join a campaign to draw this double charging to public attention and get it changed. How about it MNHQ?

Absolutely! If I was on the version that combined the 2 drugs into one tablet then I'd pay one prescription charge. Unfortunately that style doesn't suit me so I need to have the drugs split although they are in the same blister pack and carry on from each other. Why do I have to pay a double charge?

Yes, I haven't been able to get Elleste Duet Conti so about nine months ago my gp had to change my prescription to a different one. I've just picked up six months worth so fingers crossed I can keep going. It's been very stressful.

Unable to get elleste duet conti 2mg anywhere in the whole of Birmingham for the past three months. In the end I had to ask the GP for some substitute- anything! He gave me some tablets and I think its actually for cleaning the goldfish bowl for all the effect it is actually having.

What is worse is that I have scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis both of which are directly affected by hormone fluctuations and this is making me feel absolutely awful. Plus my depression has come galloping back. This is a dreadful time and nobody seems to care

I'm interested in this, I'll need a new prescription this week, I'm on Evorel 50. I'm in NI and will report back if I have any difficulties.

I'm 54 and was struggling with peri and menopausal symptoms (night sweats, severe anxiety, joint pain, disproportionate exhaustion, flushes, rage) for over year until finally going to my GP a couple of months ago. She was sympathetic and spent a great deal of time discussing the various options suitable for me. I left the surgery pleasantly relieved at being taken seriously and clutching a prescription for Evorel Conti in my hand .... thinking great, I'm about to sort my life out.

I then traipsed about the three chemists in town to be told none had it in stock and that I must go back to my GP for alternatives. She then had to spend time calling around these pharmacies to determine what they actually did have in stock before writing a new prescription. Obviously a waste of her time, and mine too. Ultimately I was prescribed Evorel 50 and Utrogestan. However, when presenting this at the chemist, and despite my doctor's calls, the Evorel 50 was out of stock and I didn't obtain it until a week later .... 9 or 10 days since I first went to the GP.

At this point, by the way, I realised it'd be cheaper to get an NHS pre payment certificate at £104 for the year rather than pay £18 for two items each month. Obviously that also covers me for any other prescriptions I might need. As per a pp, I hadn't realised that combined HRT attracted two charges .... I don't know if the combined patches, as opposed to tablets, would have also done so as I never got hold of them!

Since all this, I've now been moved on to Oestrogel after a month on patches .... so far I prefer this as the patches were very hit and miss for staying put, especially when it was really hot. I've just had a very quick search and online it retails for about £26 for an 80g bottle. The Utrogestan 100 is about £30 for a month's supply (2 tablets for 14 days). There's absolutely no way I could afford almost £60 a month if the supplies I need disappear. It's very worrying because I do feel my symptoms are starting to abate much to my relief.

Latest availablility list of HRT from DHSC, although feedback on Twitter is that pharmacies are struggling to get Evorel products already.
psnc.org.uk/our-news/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt-supply-issues/

I mean, paying privately if NHS supplies worsen. I definitely couldn't afford to go abroad.

I'm on Tibolone; no issues with supplies so far. It's oestrogen only though.

I'm due a new prescription in 2 weeks, I'm hoping it won't be a problem, as I don't know what I'd do without it, I was struggling so much before I started it. I'll update when I get my new prescription.

I'm on Evorel conti btw.

Supplies seem to be ok here in Scotland, for the moment anyway. I asked my sis in Belgium about buying it there but she said you couldn't buy it without a prescription .

*There is no shortage.

Johnson and Johnson are artificially controlling the stock ready for a no deal Brexit and change to WTO tariffs.

Then they can charge the NHS ££££

HRT is available in other countries....

It amazes me that more people aren't up in arms about this.

And its not just hrt, its diabetes meds, TPN feeds, some inhalers...

Time to start paying attention*

This ^^ makes me so mad! How dare they mess with people's lives? I am ill anyway and to have to deal with the stress of not knowing if I'll get the medication that makes me able to almost function is unbearable. I often feel I can't go on and things like this are pushing me closer to the edge.

@MN, anything we can do about this? A little campaign or two ...

Sorry, it didn't bold the quote

I'm oh hrt for non-menopausal non-contraceptive purposed (very rare) and have been told my brand might be rationed and I could have to go onto something not approved for my problems. May give me kidney stones (previous problem) and flushes etc.

I was bold enough to ask if it would still be available for Tim. Doctor looked sheepish then said he didn't know.

So I could spend literally weeks in hospital on high grade painkillers (diamorphine is the thing that works) due to kidney stones so that someone can be assured of hrt.

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Ah okay. @hoooo The idea of the WTO and J&J increasing prices is a myth. If prices go up under WTO that is a TAX and the money goes to the government. @Adollop The manufacturer does not benefit from tariffs. Not sure where this idea came from.

I struggled to get kliofem last month - had to go to 3 different pharmacies to find stock.