HRT Supply Issues Getting Worse?

[JaggedHedge]

Luckily I haven't been affected by the HRT shortages until this week, but I tried to get some Estradot 75 mcg and not only are these now out of stock everywhere but Boots was completely out of any 75 mcg patch and other local pharmacies have barely anything.

Is anyone else having the same difficulty? I don't like changing brand because it always upsets me for a few days but to not be able to get any at all

I've hopefully managed to reserve some until Monday but the pharmacy hasn't even enough to fill the full prescription amount.

My pharmacy say that the patches I use (evorel 50) won't be available from the wholesalers until the end of 2020 because of a combination of Brexit stockpiling and wholesalers selling hrt meant for the NHS back to the eurozone for a profit. How true this is I don't know but it's not looking good.

@rosie39forever Wholesalers were ordered by the Gov to stop selling to Europe about a month ago now.
There is a fair amount of HRT available and in many cases it's exactly the same product with a different name OR you can mix and match. Anyone on estrogen only patches can usually find another type OR use estrogen gel and Norethisterone tablets. This is the advice of the British Menopause Society who have alternatives like this on their website.

In the small town that I live in none of the pharmacies can get evorel, estradot or estraderm patches. I've resorted to buying from an independent pharmacy and paying £45 for my prescription which gives me a buffer. My friend has had her prescription changed from patches to gel but because everyone seems to be doing the same she's struggling to get hold of that.

I work in a pharmacy and to me it seems to have improved this week, I've seen in evorel in every strength (apart from 50 I think) and the sequi patches are back in stock. I think it's worth ensuring your pharmacy is phoning the wholesalers regularly and using a pharmacy who can order from more than one wholesaler (all our stock this week came from AAH which I believe boots don't really use)

Perhaps it's a regional thing too as I have friends in London and Kent who haven't had any problems at all, but my small Midlands town appears to be a black hole for patches at the moment.

Went for my Evorel Sequi prescription this week and was told out of stock until at least Feb 2020. Pharmacist said they would liaise with my GP about an alternative.

Meanwhile I looked up advice on the British Meno Society website and the one by Dr Louise Newson and it said Estrogen patches or gels were preferable to pills due to risk of clotting. I went back today and chemist had pills for me, I said I would rather not. I am overweight and my sister has had a couple of DVTs. Felt awful as she’d found one without Soy (affects my thyroxin tablet take-up). Anyway, she is going to ask the GP if I can have gel or if I have to go in for a chat.

Apparently the progesterone pills also have Soy but you take those at night and my research suggests I should then be OK to take my usual thyroxin in the morning.

I just wondered, as gel is within my grasp, is there a certain one to hope for/avoid? Thanks!

My Evorel Conti prescription isn't due until 25th December. I've rationed myself, cutting down on the frequency I change the patches to eke them out, to hopefully have enough until the supplies are predicted to return, Spring or Summer 2020. However I noticed recently online suppliers have stocks! I am reluctant to pay the cost of £75 for 3 months supply when as an over 60 I get it for free from the NHS. I'm biding my time until I get the prescription and go to the pharmacy. It is a risk though.

Evorel will definitely be back in stock in February

I’ve had no problem getting my last 2 prescriptions of evorel sequi up in NE Scotland

I had a lot of problems getting Evorel Sequi between August and early October but my Pharmacist was brilliant at following this up for me and I managed to get some eventually.
I think it depends on your pharmacy - mine is a local one with a good pharmacist who is in regular contact with my GP surgery.
I've been advised that manufacturing delays with these patches could continue until Spring 2020.

I just wondered, as gel is within my grasp, is there a certain one to hope for/avoid? There are only 2 sorts Estrogel and Sandrena.
Both are similar, Sandrena comes in different dose sachets, Estrogel is measured by number of pumps you use.

Im in the midlands and havent been able to get Evorel Conti anywhere since August. GP had to change me to KlioFem tablets and its been horrendously bad for the last 2 months. They supposedly have the same ingredients at the same dosage but they dont work at all

Well, finally got my gel and pills today, it’s the pump one and I’ve done my first dose. Apparently this stuff is quite good because you can up it a bit for bad period symptoms (although I wouldn’t want to run out early).

Do you mind me asking what part of the country you're in. In case I need to journey far to get a supply?

Herts pharmacies are saying no patches of any kind til Feb and after many trip to gp I’ve been prescribed some tablets which have had to be ordered. Not good at all. Is this because all the tv about the benefits of hrt so a stampede started?

Hello
I'm hoping someone can help answer some questions.
At 52 and have regular periods.
I had started getting horrible night sweats for weeks and was barely functioning. These have strangely, suddenly disappeared for no reason, but I am sure they will return.
I went to my GP yesterday. She initially prescribed me patches which I discovered are not being made so I asked her to change the script.
She was very vague about everything which was concerning as she was supposed to be one of the surgery's HRT experts.
Anyway she prescribed me estradiol gel ( 1 pump per day) and micronised progesterone 200mg a night for 14 days of my cycle.

She didn't ask me anything about my symptoms, medical history, medications might be on, nothing.
She told me nothing about how to take the medicines or what I might expect.
I have no idea when in my cycle i am supposed to start taking it. whether I use the gel everyday, where to apply it.
She has only given me enough tablets for 2 months. She had no idea how long the gel would last.
I tried femoston years ago and it was awful.
I am highly intolerant to progesterone. I had to give up on the mirena because it caused so much pain - as did the progesterone in the femoston.
If anyone here is on this regime could you give me some tips?
Thanks

Hoping someone will help but otherwise a pharmacist might be able to advise? My patches had v detailed instructions so am surprised it’s not all covered in the packs?

Went for my Evorel Sequi prescription this week and was told out of stock until at least Feb 2020

Same for Everol Conti. DIfferent pharmacists in London trying different suppliers all saying Feb 2020.

If you are one of the many women for whom the tablets don't work well and need transdermal hormones the options are very limited and generally come as double prescriptions costs.

I've just found these online and paid £81 for a three month prescription. So they are available if you are willing to pay! I suspect supply is low but they can be bought just not via the NHS (not surprisingly)..! Not sure when the shortages will end so I heading back to the gp to tell him I've bought them elsewhere. I've tried various other alternatives and none have worked so sadly this is my only option.

What website did you get them from?

@TBeats I got them from The Independent Pharmacy

Hi
I’ve been on Evoril Conti/Sequi for 3 months which has served me well with seemingly no side effects. I only had one bleed on it in the last month. However, it now appears it is part of the national shortage with the pharmacist (& I went to a few around Brighton) telling me this won’t be available until some point next year (2020). I’ve been proscribed a pill version of HRT called Kliofem. However, I’ve refrained from starting it due to the long list of potential side effects plus comments I have read on here so far. Has anyone had a positive experience on it?
Also, does anyone know of a petition or campaign which is active which is aiming to bring justice to this overwhelming lack of necessary medication? It’s affecting so many women.

I have never had any problem getting my supply

No patches anywhere locally for months. I’m now on tablets and can only get 1 months supply at a time.

I’m on Klioferm @jo909. I’m on the fourth month. Seems ok so far. I dont feel any different to what I did on Evorel Conti. I don’t like the additional risks either but for the sake of sleep and mental health have decided to take it.