Utrogestan capsules - supply issues

[starlilly88]

I can't find these anywhere, one Boots said they might get some end of November. I need to try and talk to my GP again but does anyone know of an alternative, or what happens if you stop taking them? I have been on oestrogel, about to switch to patches which I can get

How do you do that?

They would not let me proceed with the order if I had not given permission for them to contact my GP

Oxford refused my order, as I am prescribed double the amount of utrogestan, with my GP's and Consultant's approval. I was gutted.
I had abnormal bleeding, but scan and hysteroscopy were normal, and GP subsequently reduced my oestrogen.
I fear they will refuse my order, as I am willing to pay privately for peace of mind, I just don't want the NHS to stop my script when the private docs contact the GP.

Hello, I've just been prescribed the gel and utrogestan but like everyone else my chemist does have it in! Does anyone know if I can take anything else instead without needing

utrogestan ? Sorry this is all new to me. Thanks

That was meant to say they haven't got it in!

The manufacturer has stated wholesalers should get stock around the 12th January.

Sorry posted too soon. I would expect it to have made its way to retail by now.

It's expected to be restocked by the end of this week.

This is what makes me panic, I am paranoid no one is able to get utrogestan easily, despite Besins the manufacturer and the British menopause society saying the supply issues with utrogestan are now over.
Having said that I am sorry you are not getting it.
After reading the painful irritating difficulties women are having, even recently, despite the problem supposedly being over, out of paranoia, I rang boots to ask if utrogestan was in stock, as I had put a request for that and other meds in yesterday.
I was reassured utrogestan is in stock, but as they are behind with general scripts, I would probably have to wait till Monday for it to be dispensed.
After that, I got a text from them today, phew! I heaved a sigh of relief, but, on the way to the chemist I got paranoid again "What-if I get everything but utrogestan?" and I managed to reassure myself, as the staff lady told me it was in.
When I got to the chemist, my package, seemed "little" and lo-and-behold, the utrogestan was not in it, and another lady said "Stock" I f*cking hate that word.
"We get our delivery on Monday, so, come back then"
So, I did not get my utrogestan after all.
It doesn't help when I hear things like long term manufacture problems, what's the problem? make more? then they can make more money selling it, and everyone is happy.
I would die if I stopped dead through running out.
That is because it is cross-tolerant and binds to the same receptors as the dangerous diazepam I am prescribed, so, running out is not an option for me, as the utrogestan binds to the same receptors as dangerous-to-cold-turkey life-threatening diazepam, effectively meaning, I would be making a massive hit on my GABA receptors.
I quite like living, and don't want to die.
I am in support groups for people withdrawing (Gradually) from diazepam as the withdrawal is that bad, and I have heard loads of stories of women coming off progesterone and being incapacitated and disabled, bedridden. It's that bad.
Note, it is not a life-or-death thing if women have not had benzodiazepines, or not been dependent on them.
Sorry to sound dramatic, I just begrudge being forced off this stuff all because people seem to be playing silly bu99ers with stock.
I read that suicides for menopausal women had gone up in 2021, makes me think they want rid of us.

That's what the British menopause society say, and begins, the manufacturer, but, as a woman on another forum said, things are still different for us on the ground, people STILL scrabbling round for not only utrogestan but other HRT.

That's what they say, yet I am reading posts from the end of January by women who are still scrabbling round for it, ringing pharmacies, driving 20 mile radius to get it, load of hassle.
If it was not life-threatening for me to come off (I am diazepam dependent and progesterone binds to the same receptors, effectively acting like a very strong benzodiazepine, making stopping life threatening) I would stop HRT, am fed up of it, and resent being tied to it.

Do you get the feeling they are just fobbing us off, as they said it would be sorted, and I think they are putting the "sorted" date further into the future?

Still? I got my other meds from boots today but no HRT. I was asked to come back on Monday, as they get their delivery. So far, my paranoia around this, has turned out to be real, it really wasn't in, as feared, even though I was told by boots they had it in stock. They are so busy and understaffed, I wonder if they just wanted rid of me off the phone. I think lots of services are treating customers really badly, since the late part of the '00's, and it's deteriorating.
Sometimes, boots ignore their phone or switch it off, you used to be able to get through straight away, and don't get me started on trying to speak to a GP, I have just tried to manage without.

It’s weird- I picked three months worth of utrogestan from the chemist yesterday with no issues. I was expecting nothing would be in stock.

Which area are you in, if you don’t mind, and was it an independent?

I am in the SE- near Brighton. Small town and yes an independent pharmacy.

I think supply is still patchy. Besins' latest update is that as from 24 Jan the supplies are more or less back to normal AT THEIR END but it could take a week or more for this to filter through to warehouses and then to pharmacies.

www.besinshealthcare.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/BHUK_2023_025-Product-Supply-Update-No.7-Jan-23-v1.pdf

^Following a short interruption to supply, we have received
new supplies into the country which are available to
wholesalers. We are continuing to bring in supplies to try
and meet the high demand we are experiencing. As these
supplies work their way into the supply chain, pharmacies
may experience temporary interruptions at their local
wholesaler. We sincerely regret any inconvenience this may
cause.^

Just tick the box that says not to contact GP. Boots definitely allows you that option- maybe other pharmacies don’t.

@whydontpoo - apparently if you take the tablets vaginally it can minimise side effects but technically GPS are not supposed to prescribe this.

I now keep a month's supply in hand to avoid this as I got really panicky when I couldn’t find any. Expensive but worth it.

Dianne Danzebrink just put a video up in the menopause support network fb group saying that more will be in the U.K. on 13th feb but then could take time for logistics to get to wholesalers and then the pharmacies

I bought a 3 month supply just to ensure that I don't run out.
This was after the last debacle when women were going to pharmacy after pharmacy in desperation during covid or asking friends to buy abroad!

so go back to your gp and ask for an alternative?

there is a national shortage of these
my GP prescribed Provera (medroprogesterone) instead.

Thanks, I have had some ladies send me utrogestan, but I get trouble in future I will try boots.

I went to collect my repeat prescription today and my local independent had no Utrogestan 100 and recommended I ring round other local pharmacies to see if anywhere has it. I only started HRT last Nov so haven't been taking it long enough to build up an emergency stash so I am going to be screwed if nowhere has it. HRT is doing wonders for me but these supply issues every time are stressing me out. My symptoms have been so debilitating that they prevented me working so no Utrogestan is a terrifying prospect.

I'll try ordering from boots online as they apparently don't insist on notifying your GP like the others.