Oestrogel: new packaging (yet again)?

[Cosmetichamster]

Hi ladies,

Just got this month's prescription for Oestrogel, and I have been issued with a bottle that is new (to me at least). Have a look at the photo: left is what I have known and used since June this year, on the right is the new bottle, also from Besins, same labels, same ingredients, and long use by date (07/25). Obtained from a reputable pharmacy, which has filled all my previous HRT prescriptions.

Has anyone seen this sort of thing? Slightly freaked out here.

@Beachlover777 I haven't managed to get them anywhere, they all seem to get the new white lid bottles.
I have had to resort to patches for now.
I still have a prescription for bottles but cannot find them local to me, I'm in Somerset.

I picked up a new lot today and they have reverted to the green lid but it’s the the newer formula, runny consistency which doesn’t work for me. After much research, it would seem it’s determined by the batch numbers.
the batches that worked for me started with 10 and ones that don’t park for me start with 70.
I have no idea what alternative to go for as dint want patches. Has anyone tried the spray?

Has anyone had a reply email if you’ve yellow carded a batch asking you to hang onto it for at all ?

This stuff is useless, my hair loss stopped when I was using the conical bottle and it's back now with a vengeance.

I'm going to take the bottles back to the chemist and ask if they have any of the other ones.

@Strongbeatsskinny i have yellow carded twice. They’ve not asked for bottles on either occasion. The replies I received were the usual we didn’t find anything wrong in those batches.
@Beachlover777 starting off small on patches and increasing slowly helped me. A really good forum for help on anything menopause is Menopause Matters.

Funnily enough someone has begun a thread about the issues with oestrogel on there. As I suspected someone has said “ the pharmaceutical process is very stringent “etc which is true but as Azaleah has discovered there can be changes in production, dispenser and alcohol etc which will affect some women. This is the page if you want to share your experiences https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,67309.0.html

I have also noticed a lot of hair loss, but increased my gel to 3 pumps whilst using cylindrical bottle and most symptoms stayed away, apart from the above & a bit of anxiety. The conical orange square didnt work for me oddly 😬 i suppose we all react differently

same, you have the 74 ones which is the changed formula

Thank you, will check it out. The gel worked so well for me and liked that I could adjust it as needs be too.
I’ve also booked an appointment with a traditional Chinese medicine for Thursday she says she can help me, so will report back. It feels along way off though at the moment

Me too!

It didn't occur to me to tie it up with the new packaging.

I am finding it hard to get a full pump with out the bottle moving and so slipping and so not dispensing a full pump.

I need four at the moment because my symptoms are getting worse, I was ok on 3 with the previous design. But it is hard to consistently get four full pumps and always feel as if they all vary in their amounts even when I do get a "full pump"

You should not exceed four pumps - four is the limit.

I am cautious, and go down to three or even two, if I have been sleeping late over the weekend and then applying six hours earlier on the Monday.

There is a cancer and over dose risk if you do not follow the correct dosage and timings.

This is interesting. My hair loss has also started again but I put it down to starting on anti-depressants (which it could be as that's also a side effect). I'm using the 74 bottle though and have increased from 2 pumps to 2.5-3 pumps to make the reoccurrence of my other symptoms go away. So frustrating!

I've reported on the yellow card. Not going to hold my breath based on the responses others on here have had.

I'll take the bottles to the chemist tomorrow and ask if they have had any other complaints. Then might speak to my GP about alternatives.

I'm changing from gel to patches, I trust the science, big pharma not so much.

@bexter10 i dont think timings matter. I was told to spread the pumps out, but no times given.

@HundredMilesAnHour i 100% believe its the gel causing the hair loss. Im on cylindrical starting 74 too. Didnt notice this on green cap. All very odd. And most ladies swear by the orange square conical, did nothing for me 🤷🏻‍♀️

I raised a yellow card and was told there are no differences.

Which is clearly bullshit.

@HundredMilesAnHour i did also, and was told the same. If this carries on i guess everyone will be changing to patches, may be then they will look into it a bit better

I'm not sure if this is allowed (and if not I'm happy to request a deletion) but I have 4 of the conical bottles, unopened and still in their boxes which I have no use for. I was prescribed them by Newson during the first lockdown but really wasn't ready to start HRT then and I'm still not now, and the expiry date on these is 03/24. If anyone would like them PM me, I'm happy to put them in the post.

Just a reminder: you can try Sandrena gel before switching to patches. I think it's a less stressful transition from Oestrogel.

@BeforetheFlood - thank you. Sent DM.

Thank you Azaleah

@bexter10 I was advised by the doctor to go up to 6 pumps and then 8 pumps. So 4 is not the maximum doseage.
@SamR36 I don't think the pharmacy company cares so long as it's making money.

@Lotusflower75 what is the difference between posting here or on another forum??

@Hartieharts Although it is now common practice for many private doctors and maybe some NHS doctors to increase the dose of Oestrogel to more than 4 pumps, this is the maximum dose indicated in the leaflet.

This means that the risks are your responsibility, given that you are an 'informed patient', although I don't know how this has been informed because this information simply doesn't exist.

Interesting...

The patient information leaflet of Estrogel, manufactured by Besins and marketed in Australia says

6.4 SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS FOR STORAGE
Store below 30ºC. Protect from light.

The gel formula is the same, but the manufacturer is not disclosed.

https://www.ebs.tga.gov.au/ebs/picmi/picmirepository.nsf/pdf?OpenAgent&id=CP-2019-PI-01489-1&d=202106301016933&d=20230905172310101

The packaging for Estrogel in Australia is the conical bottle, batch number 7##### probably made in Belgium, but Besins' patient information booklet shows a woman applying the gel in a cylindrical bottle.

https://besins-healthcare.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Estrogel-Pro-Patient-Information.pdf

Unfortunately not many women are using estradiol gel in Australia because it is not yet government funded (both Estrogel and Sandrena) so we are unlikely to find women complaining about it on the internet. Estrogel is only available in Section 29 directly from the supplier Pharmaco, according to the Australasian Menopause Society.

https://www.menopause.org.au/images/stories/infosheets/docs/AMS_Guide_to_HRT-MHT_NZ_180322.pdf