Oestrogel shortage - what to do??

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My pharmacist can’t get any and I’ve been waiting for a new prescription to be filled. They appear to have not saved any for the repeat order and had a lot of walk ins. I don’t know how it works but they seem to bring up the repeats when I arrive rather than as they are sent (as in they are her ready to collect for me or the kids).
What can I try / suggest - I’m on progesterone and the gel??

I am thinking patches might be easier tbh. I’m a bit crap at the gel and the pills

I honestly think they are. Plus less plastic into landfill! The Estradot patches stay on - completely. They're excellent.

Are they a different type of patch to Evorel? I couldn't get on with them, they rolled up and wouldn't stay on more than 24 hours.

Thank you that’s good to know, I think they would work better for me in practical terms

@Badlifeday They're both body identical. Estradot may contain elements of soy I believe, so if you have sensitivities to soy you should check with your GP first. A big advantage practically is that they're much smaller than Evorel patches. Much smaller and they stick on / stay on really well.

I too didn't get on with Evorel. They used to peel off and get rolled up in my underwear every time I went to the loo! Completely impractical.

Thanks @Namaste6
would be easier to use if they could go on your arm, I often thought!

Hi, l have 80grams Oestrogel Pump pack and Utrogestan 100mg capsules both in date (2024) to give away if anyone would like these.

Can’t get oestrogel anywhere. The shortage is because it costs the Nhs and GPS more money to give Oestrogel, Patches and Lenzetto Spray. It’s nothing to do with Covid, Brexit or any other reason it’s pure and simple cost.

Now the campaign for free Hrt is going ahead we will see only the tablets available.

This happened when everyone wanted patches GPS tried not to give them as they cost too much.

The last shortage of patches pharmacist could change prescriptions and now all of a sudden they can’t.

Thousands of women wanting Hrt is costing the Nhs too much money and so they will deny this treatment if they can.

But the tablets carry more dangers don't they?

Tablets are no good, but we will be left with no choice. Estradot is also in short supply. I too have tried everol and hated it. It’s funny how the least effective ones are still available. Probably because they are cheaper.

Last month they could only give me one bottle and since then been eeking it out, now waiting a month for the rest of my prescription as local chemist has none left.
Phoned around and there is none at any pharmacy locally.
So pissed off, just as I finally, finally! found something that helped.

I know how you feel goinghome20. I tried lots of different ones finally found oestrogel and utrogestan now I can’t get it. Wouldn’t mind but I only had it for 3 months. Going to Waite it out and see what happens. I’m sure if men needed it there would be no problem. NHS is trying to save money that’s the problem

Same, only had 3 months but has transformed my life!
@vlmoore do you still have the gel, I'd be very interested.

I got my gel prescription filled no problem this month I was expecting it to be delayed but it only took a week. It does frustrate me that I have to re-request it every single month despite using it for five years!!

@Izzy593

The NHS pays manufacturers a small rate for HRT as it's a branded generic drug, so the companies get less than if it was patented.

This means when there is more demand the manufacturer has a choice of who to supply, so they are selling to other countries where they make more profit.

I don't understand all of the economics of this but HRT is very cheap (I pay for my own on a private prescription) compared to many drugs. Tablet form is not necessarily that much cheaper.

You can see prices here

www.menopausematters.co.uk/postmeno.php

www.menopausematters.co.uk/postmeno.php

Oestrogel is one of the cheaper options at just over £4 a bottle to last (usually) one month. Progestins like Utrogestan are added on and they are about 20p per 100 mgs tablet.
www.menopausematters.co.uk/treatafter.php

You’re talking out of your arse. There is so much wrong with your post I don’t know where to start so I won’t bother.

Gel is unavailable as demand is outstripping supply.

We will always prefer to prescribe transdermal oestrogen as it’s safer but if pharmacies can’t supply it we will have to prescribe what they can supply, which might be tablets. Either that or women go without.

The pharmacy should contact the GP surgery for you. I would suggest the patches meantime.

It's not new though that there is a higher demand for the product. Why not increase production accordingly? Is there a shortage of the raw ingredients?

Ah thank you, they don’t seem very proactive! I have some now but waiting to see what happens. I’m thinking patches may be better from a practical purpose.

@Badlifeday They HAVE increased production. There were comments online (BBC I think) yesterday from people who know how pharma works. Evidently, it's fairly easy to increase by 10% or even 20%, but a 30% increase is harder to deal with quickly.

They said it means not just the actual product, but the containers and leaflets. Obviously all of these come from contracted suppliers not the actual pharma labs. So it's a supply chain issue involving many other companies- the ones who make the containers, probably the plastic inserts, and so on.

Many manufacturers of pharma products obtain items from all over the country/ world. Not just the raw materials for the drug. All raw materials need to go through quality control, so that may involve recruiting more staff, opening the manufacturing plants for longer, that means more security staff, more logistics staff to receive the raw materials, and so on.

I am having a nightmare trying to get oestrogel or sandrena no pharmacy in my town have any. I had trouble approx 4 months ago getting oestrogel and had to take sandrena which was fine. Then back to oestrogel and now nothing! My GP only gives me a month at a time so can only order when needed which means situations like this leave me anxious.
Can anybody recommend me an alternative to ask my GP for that might be available and suitable please? (usually on oestrogel and utrogeston

I am running out of the gel and so am trying the change to oral HRT as a back up.

I got a prescription for 1/10 Femoston but when I tried it yesterday, all my symptoms came back and my sleep was awful again.

I think I need a higher dosage as am on 4 pumps of gel and so will see if I can get 2/10. Even then not sure its the equivalent to 4 gel.

I'm also not sure that 14 days without progesterone is a good idea as the progesterone helps with sleep.

Its an unholy mess tbh.

I have finally managed to get some!! Although as half my prescription was filled and oestrogel outstanding I couldn't take it be filled elsewhere so had to request a new prescription and to be fair my GP surgery were very helpful and did it immediately. The pharmacy phoned and said they have quite a stock so I advised my GPsurgery so they can signpost others in my position there. It is a flipping nightmare. I hope those who are struggling are able to get some soon.

oh that’s good - that’s where I was though, half filled and waiting for the gel

It is so stressful for us all! I hate relying on medication to feel normal but here we are. Without it I'm a mess.

I asked my GP for sandrena today. He has sent the prescription but said I need to wait a few days. If they cant get any he said he will prescribe patches. I only need oestrogen as I have mirena for the progesterone part of the HRT can anyone recommend an estrogen patch?