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

Is there anyone in Germany or Austria who knows what availability is like there?

@LiliesAndChocolate
This thread is about another HRT related matter entirely.
Perhaps you should make up your own thread .

mobile.twitter.com/michaelbaum11/status/1167369672486006784
This was in response to the recent Lancet article and the media.

I went with a 6 month prescription for Everol 50 today,my pharmacy has none, they are going to try to get some for me - sigh

And today I have, yet again, had a summons to attend the GP surgery for 'HRT review', which by past experience should really be called 'Browbeat to come off HRT until patient gives in'. This is happening every 4 or 5 months now. I'm so sick of having to print off info to take in and plead my case with.

Can you change GPs? I would not want one who was so unsupportive.

Yes I'm having problems - and only been on HRT for a month, now cannot get patches at all. I am going to try and get some in Spain - we go regularly so that will be my best - but not preferred - option.

Elphame I'm very tempted, but the next nearest is massively over-subscribed and a nightmare to get an appointment with (rural location).

Thought I’d share this which might be of use:
www.newsonhealth.co.uk/news/hrt

It’s recent and helps with availability, brands, stock levels and alternatives.

I went into my local small Boots and spoke to the pharmacist last week ahead of ordering more Evorel 50 online from my GP. He showed me stock that he had in of Evorel, Estradots and Estraderm. He explained that they can still obtain it in but give a bit more time to be enable them to order it in.

He said there is a filter down effect and they expect some like mine will become more difficult and eventually impossible to obtain which will result in alternatives (gel for me) - I guess then resulting in shortages of that too.

I was at GP on Tuesday. I am on Everol Conti .
Spoke to GP as worried re problems with supply. I have another 10 weeks of patches left . She said more stocks available October so I should be ok .She said the one I am on is fine just now .
She did not want me to stockpile.
If there is an issue later ... will find something.

I am in Scotland.
I see in the Newsom list it is out of stock .
The GP showed me the list and said new stock available October.

Just been
Called by my GOs who also dispense to
Say they can’t get Estrodot 50 or Everol or the nearest alternative. I have to try to see the Dr in the morning but I am not sure why if they can’t get them .

I am really cross about this , I know Ibwon’t die but the whole situation is ridiculous

I have spent the last 2 weeks trying to get my next supply of HRT. The last 2 times I have been into the chemist they have given me the wrong sort, Sequi not Conti. I used to be on Sequi but now post menopause need Conti. I love having to explain to the trained pharmacist that they have got me the wrong sort, particularly when you have to have this discussion in front of a full shop. Obviously some miscommunication going on somewhere.

Had a text to say my revised prescription is in, so will see if it is the right one tomorrow. I am also on the 3rd brand and have had to go back to tablets as have been told no chance of getting patches.

I'm on Evorel Sequi. Had a week's delay filling the prescription 3 months ago, before shortages were widely reported. Last prescription got sent to the local pharmacy who said no stock, so GP swopped for tablets. I'm trying to avoid tablets, so asked for another prescription and in the meantime bought 3 months worth online for £90. A colleague is travelling to Spain at the end of October so if i can't get more before then she has offered to get for me (she tried in Italy but no joy there).

I'm using each patch for 4 days (instead of 2 a week), to eek them out a little.

@ineedaholidaynow where's your pharmacy and can i send them my prescription 😆

I've been given two weeks of FemSeven while I wait for the pharmacy to see what else they can get. I've not heard of it before, but the active medication seems the same.

No evorel sequi for me today
Had conversation with two pharmacists, then went back to doctor. Receptionist told me I had to go back to pharmacy and get them to find an alternative. That can’t be right surely? They can only fill the prescription written by the gp?
She couldn’t give me an appt, so I now have to phone at 8am, which is battle zone/getting to school/dog barking time.
Anyway, I cried at every conversation.
I couldn’t stop
Not sure the bloody stuff is working anyway if I’m this emotional.

Tomyboy does your gp do any sort of online consultation? That might be less stressful? It is awful I know.

It seems that the Independent pharmacy has FemSeven (oestrogen only) available. www.theindependentpharmacy.co.uk/menopause-hrt/femseven-patches

I've also just noticed that they are to be applied once a week, not twice a week, unlike the label the pharmacy has put on as a dose. That's a mistake on their behalf. I'm now wondering how many they've ordered for me.

Tomboy the Boots pharmacist couldn't change my prescription but I then spoke to the pharmacist at the GP's dispensary and he changed the medication. He told me he was now an expert on HRT, in fact I had a more in-depth conversation with him about menopause than I have with my GP!

I've also noticed it's not the same formulation of estrodiol in Femseven as Evorel, so I don't know whether they will have the same impact.

Pharmacists are very much an underused resource and there’s a lot can be learnt from them rather than - or before - going to our GP.

They can normally only dispense what the GP has prescribed and it can depend on how the medication has been ordered - eg by generic or branded name.

For example for me the GP prescribed Estradiol 50 patches.which meant any of a choice could be ordered. Evorel was fine but Estraderm wouldn’t stick properly. Now Evorel specifically is prescribed. If that runs out of stock then I’d request a prescription for Estradiol, then go see the pharmacist and order a specific brand after finding out what they are able to get. The link I posted upthread had another link to alternatives.

The problem is though most of the alternatives are out of stock as well @over50 due to supply and demand. Plus wholesalers are stockpiling too apparently
My gp in his wisdom seems to have reverted my 3 monthly prescription to 1monthly instead. So I have 4 weeks worth only which will run out when the Evorel supply does too 🤦‍♀️. So I've phoned up to request a 6 month supply 😁. Gp I bet won't do it and even if he does the chemist won't be able to get it in. But I thought it was worth a try. I have 3 months worth from Spain and Dh's colleague will bring some more over at the next international meeting.
By the way Evorel is Evopad in Spain!

in the meantime bought 3 months worth online for £90

What hoops do you have to jump through to get it on line? Do you scan them a copy of your prescription? Do they have to speak to your GP before sending it to you?

I went to pick up my monthly Evorel supply on Saturday (in lieu of Elleste) and the GP had sent a prescription to the pharmacy for 3 months worth.

@thenightsky

It was White Pharmacy, i had to send evidence i was prescribed it so took a photo of the box showing my name, and then also photo ID, and give them permission to contact my GP.