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

Two months ago Boots here filled all but four patches of my prescription for Evorel Conti. they haven't been able to get me those 4 patches since.....
I'm due to run out in 10 weeks.
I'm spacing the patches every four days instead of twice a weeks to try and make my supply last longer but I'm worried that I'll just end up running out at the height of the shortage.

I was on elleste duet, but pharmacist asked me to change, and the doctor prescribed me the wrong one (prescribed me one for people who no longer menstruate) I havent managed to get back to doctor to ask for a different one

The pharmacist actually let me use her phone to call the manufacturer & Brexit was mentioned. I'm trying to manage cold turkey. Also my dds contraception is unavailable all over town.

I'm in Scotland. I was originally prescribed Elleste Duet which worked perfectly, but after my last 3 month box finished in April had become unavailable.
I approached the GP surgery several times who seemed uninterested and not that concerned at the unavailability of HRT ("you are not the only one with problems" one female receptionist told me as if I had no right to expect help!).
Finally, by late June I was climbing up the walls (and so were my family) and asked my lovely local pharmacist if she could help and find out what was likely to be available.
I then went back to the GP and it helped, I believe, that The Lancet had just published a report on the supply problems with HRT. The GP liased with the pharmacy about what was available to order there and then and currently I have Elleste Conti.
It took a fair bit of chasing until the shortage was taken seriously and I am unsure if I will be able to get the same meds or another alternative next time, but at least my surgery now seems aware and willing to help.

Bump as I will probably be starting HRT soon.

I'm not convinced this is new and because of Brexit. I was on a low dose combined pill after having an ovary removed (Premique low dose) and about 2 or 3 years ago had real trouble getting it because of supply problems. Eventually I was prescribed 2 separate tablets and was having to break them in half - and of course it was twice the cost.

A few months ago my gp suggested Evorel Conti patches rather than tablets and I've been having them but they will now only prescribe 3 months at a time. I had trouble getting the last lot so fully expect an issue next time.

Absolutely! If I was on the version that combined the 2 drugs into one tablet then I'd pay one prescription charge.

Sadly, this is not the case. Mine come as a single blister pack, but I still get charged a double prescription charge. Fortunately so far no trouble getting them.

As for reasons, I am beginning to favour the theory that this is a concerted effort by some of the big drugs companies to break the purchasing power of the NHS. Especially since when you look at the British Formulary, most forms of HRT are cheap as chips (my double prescription charge comfortably covers the cost to the NHS of the actual drugs, though not, of course, my GP's time checking me over before she prescribes). I think the drugs companies simply aren't finding them profitable and hence are trying to manufacture a shortage.

I had an abrupt medical menopause after chemotherapy stopped my periods. Chemo was all tablets so I wanted HRT patches given my liver had already had a beating.
GP prescribed Fem 7 sequi in March this year, but even then it was impossible to get hold of so I started on Evorel Sequi patches instead. They are wonderful.
The prescription will be due for renewal in the next week or so, but I already know they're unavailable at my usual pharmacy in the supermarket. I dread the symptoms returning so have been wearing the patches for longer than instructed to try and make my remaining supply last longer.
I've had to stop work because of my cancer so can't afford to buy abroad or privately.
It is infuriating that these type of shortages affect meds for women. If viagra was scarce we'd never hear the end of it.

Hi, I’m a pharmacist. It’s not just HRT, it’s lots of differing meds, but the press are focussing on HRT, because if there’s a group of people you don’t want to annoy, it’s menopausal women (and I speak as one!).

There is a perfect storm going on. It’s a combination of Brexit, delay to Brexit, new legislation about packaging and pollution causing factories which manufacture raw materials in China being shut down due to pollution.
So, some meds got stockpiled in anticipation of a March Brexit. Some of these will now be out of date, so in effect there is now a shortage because the stockpiled drugs aren’t now going to be used, and more is now being stockpiled for an October Brexit.
Ironically in Feb an EU law meant that all packaging now has to comply with a new regulation needing a QR code to ensure that no counterfeit medicines can enter the supply chain. If we do leave the EU we will be more susceptible to this, so it’s important we comply. Change of packaging means a substantial delay to supply.
The UK has next to no manufacturing industry of anything let alone pharmaceuticals, and so we rely on foreign imports. If factories overseas close down then we face significant delays in receiving the end product.
As a pharmacist I face significant problems every single day sourcing basic medicines, and spend valuable time chasing suppliers for orders. If the general public knew how hard their local pharmacist is working to try and fulfill their prescriptions I genuinely think they would be shocked. It’s terrifying, and endlessly frustrating

Zacsmum: which other specific groups of medications are experiencing the worst shortages, are you finding?

I have had terrible trouble getting hold of Evorel Conti patches. I traipsed round six different pharmacies in two different towns before finding my prescription 2 months ago. Had the same problem when I tried to pick up my last prescription, and when I did finally find a pharmacy with some in stock, they only had one last pack left (my prescription was for two packs). I took that as I didn't know if I'd be able to get any at all. It's taken hours of wandering around pharmacies, calling in day after day in case they had a new delivery. My nearest pharmacy tried ringing the suppliers to order some for me. Suppliers told them they had none left.
Like everyone else, I'm scared I won't be able to get any next time. The patches have changed my life - they have enabled me to sleep properly for the first time in years.
My GP said the shortages are because of Brexit.

Yes. Clinic could not obtain the hrt implant which is the treatment when other forms of hrt have failed.
I opted to have my ovaries removed during a hysterectomy.
Given the hrt shortage I wish I hadntt

Yes I was on evorel sequi patches which were working well and thought to be the safest for me (early menopause, early stages of osteoporosis), but gp hasnt been able to get them from anywhere (have been impressed with how hard she tried) or any other sequential patches, so she has prescribed a less than ideal continuous tablet. I'll probably just come off it completely at the end of this 3 month prescription if supply hasnt improved and then take something else for bone strengthening. Its hard to get your head round that its just not possible to get hold of no matter what you're prepared to do for it! There are ongoing supply issues for epipens as well, which has been going on for months now.

At my last hrt check up I was told the practice (or maybe the wider health trust?) is following a new policy to issue 12 months' worth of HRT at a time. I have had issues getting Estrodot patches before, but this time, no problem at all. I will be checking the dates though!

Glad to see Woman’s Hour appears to have featured this, will listen on catch up.
Both I and my DD dread not being able to obtain the gel - she because of a surgical menopause in her 30s, me because of a very late menopause which has resulted in 20 or so years of dreadful peri symptoms including extended heavy bleeding.
She has stocked up via an online pharmacy, but they won’t prescribe for me because of my age, despite having a current prescription.

I've been unable to get my Evorel Conti patches without jumping through hoops for a few months now and actually ran out 2 weeks ago.

I gave my GP the list from the BMS and she put me into Kliovance tablets instead. Happily I've had no nausea but my breasts were sore and tender within a week and still are.

Does anyone know of a shortage of any essential medications for men that are in such short supply?

Yes! Had to ring round lots of pharmacies to get my normal hrt patches. Not sure I’ll be able to find a repeat of the same one. I’m very sensitive to hormonal changes and quite stressed about what the alternatives will be, if any.

Yep, have had problems for the last 7-8 months. I only get a 3 months script so now my gp writes a selection of scripts and tells me to take what the pharmacy can get hold of! I work in drug safety and this is a far from ideal situation for my health.
I feel angry that this seems to have been covered up for a while, we need some transparency in what has happened and what the plan is. If MN can help push for that then brilliant!

I have just called to order my oestrogen cream and asked if there are any problems with supply. The admin I spoke to said that because I have a bespoke compounded prescription and get this from a specialist pharmacy, they have no issues because they are sourcing ingredients from outside the EU. She said there's no need to stockpile and to carry on ordering as and when.
I appreciate that private care isn't available to everyone.

"I can't help but note that no medications aimed at men seem to have vanished in the same way."

This is because there is a shortage of estradiol (it's listed in the FDA page if what's out in USA - this is not a Brexit issue, it's worldwide)

Yes, meds vanish from time to time, and they usually reappear fairly promptly as anufactuting switches to fill demand. It is rare that outages of meds which are used widely by both sexes receive any attention at all.

I'm on kliovance and vagifem and have had no problems getting either one. However I go to a private menopause specialist and pay for my prescription from a specialist pharmacy. I do this because my GP is opposed to anyone over 60 taking HRT and I was tired of arguing with him every three months.

Not a new issue - I had to come off my HRT medication 3 years ago as it was unobtainable ( apparently manufacturing issue) and neither GP or pharmacist could come up with a suitable alternative. Shocking so many women are struggling with this. More recently really struggled to get prescribed pain medication for arthritis. Fortunately I have a car and could drive to a pharmacy in a neighbouring town. I don't know what I would have done otherwise.

@LenoVintura
I have just called to order my oestrogen cream and asked if there are any problems with supply. The admin I spoke to said that because I have a bespoke compounded prescription and get this from a specialist pharmacy

Slightly off tangent but if you are using compounded bio identical HRT are you aware of the safety issues, reported yesterday in the mainstream press? It's not new news but it's all over twitter on the accounts of menopause consultants, concerned about women using it. www.theguardian.com/society/2019/aug/26/menopause-experts-say-compounded-hrt-is-unsafe

Jingling I'm happy with my choices.

I just hope- genuinely- that you are aware of the risks of using unlicensed drugs and the safer options (using the same ingredients) that are available. There is no need to resort to compounded HRT. Regulated bio-identical products can be easily tweaked to get the right dose.