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.

All of mine start with 74.
I've upped my pumps to 4 and have felt better over the weekend. I've been on 2 pumps for a while so it might have needed upping anyway. Who knows 🤷‍♀️

My GP perscibed 4 sprays of Lenzetto for 3 pumps of Oestrogel I reduced to 3 sprays then 2. GPs need to take into consideration, every patient is different, not just handing out scripts without advice regarding absorption temperature etc. I wouldn't mind but I'm seeing my GP privately and paying for the privilege.

Besins imo cannot be trusted with the ever changing packaging and changing ingredients. Hence my changing product.

@gabbyaggy very true, we all have different symptoms and take to new products differently.
I am just about to try sandrena gel, as the patches are just not as good. I've tried the lenzetto spray and it did not work for me.
I hope besins do listen to us, if we make enough noise 🙂

I mentioned it to my GP and to my surprise she took me seriously. She too wondered whether the dose is smaller, so she supports me increasing to 5 pumps. She says to let her know if it works. She also emailed the pharmacy to tell them (I’ve already reported it to Besins). Only thing she did say is that if I request the curvy bottle only I might not get any due to shortages…

@Namddf I hope it works for you, good luck 🙂 my doctor told me to try 6 as I was already on 4 pumps of the older style bottle. But sadly it done nothing.

Hi @Hartieharts I'm about to try Sandrena too. I'd be really interested to hear how you get on with it. Fingers crossed it's like the good Oestrogel. It's a much smaller amount if gel. 😊

I have my meds review in a couple of weeks. It will be interesting to find out if they even know about this as they do their annual " why don't you start to cut it down" line. My bet is they will not know a thing.

I'm switching to Sandrena too. Spoke to my GP today, going to start on the lowest dose and see how it goes.

Unfortunately also need to start progesterone soon as my Mirena is 5 years old and gone walkabout up there! Have been waiting for a gynaecology appointment to have it removed for nearly a year as GP can't do it. Not looking forward to bleeding again 😒

I emailed Besins who have asked me to return the dodgy bottle (with some gel in it) to the pharmacy so they can send it for testing.

I switched to lenzetto, not working for me, cant get dose right. I know when im out of sinc as my trigeminal neuralgia flares up, so its obviously hormone related 🙄

@Namddf I discussed the cylindrical container with the nurse practitioner today who did my HRT review because I've now changed to 3 pumps since having some symptoms creep back. She also took it seriously and said she was seeing the rep later today and had planned to discuss it based on other people feeding back similar.

I went to collect my prescription and it is all the new style bottle 😱🙀

@vjg13 I feel your pain, I've got 5 1/2 bottles of the new style bottle, the pharmacy ignored my requests for the older bottle and told me its all the same and it's impossible for the product not to be the same.
You might be one of the lucky ones that upping your pumps will work for you.

Update: I increased to 5 pumps about a week ago now and I definitely feel a bit better, so I do wonder whether it’s a dosage issue.

The GP also got back to me after speaking to the pharmacy and they said the product is the same 🙄

I pumped 2 pumps today, One from cylindrical & one from conical, there seems a significant difference in amounts

I know we should have to to be but is anyone weighing the dose on one of those small scales ?There is a lady on Instagram called bloomingthroughmenopause & she has highlighted the difference between doses between old and new bottles. Has anyone tried weighing the dose to make sure they are getting the right amount? And has it made a difference? https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cxc39HhMYIX/?igshid=MWZjMTM2ODFkZg==

Ladies, be prepared for this, sticky labels are back 🙄

'The cylindrical bottle with a white lid may come with either a preprinted canister label or a canister with the label adhered.'

https://www.besinshealthcare.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/BHUK20233_681-Product-Supply-Update-In-Stock-Template-18-Sept-23-v1-FINAL.pdf

What does this signify @Azaleah ?

I've ordered a pair of those scales. They should be here tomorrow. I will start weighing mine out on Monday!

@Lotusflower75 Remember when Oestrogel had a sticker label stuck on Oestrodose bottles? Besins is probably renaming the cylindrical bottle marketed elsewhere (Gynokadin in Germany, for example) and sticking an Oestrogel label over the original print.

@Lotusflower75 Something like this

Thanks @Azaleah for clarifying What they’ve stated there isn’t actually factual or correct now is it? We’ve seen proof that the amounts being dispensed by the different bottles is considerably different! Unless they’ve been able to recall all cylinder shaped & sort out the dosage dispenser in the last 2 weeks! I just am gobsmacked at how they are being so bull headed and getting away with it!!

@mrsnjw ooh let us know how it goes 👍🏼😊

Yes, I agree. They are hiding their heads in the sand and waiting for the next batch of 'canisters' to deliver the right amount. And I think their strategy will probably be successful because estradiol is addictive. Once everyone is satisfied with the gel, no one will care about their appaling lack of quality control, until the next chapter of this saga.

Supply and demand and no real competition so they don’t give a sod and because the ingredients are the same, they seem to want to ignore the evidence that there is something going on with the different bottles / manufacturers

I’m really surprised that someone like Davina or Meg Matthews havent spoken up about this because as far as I know they use this gel. I think it’s a disgrace that a pharmaceutical company with as much clout as Besins are blatantly flouting regulations and no one is able to do a damn thing about it and it appears, no one who has a platform that could call them out on it and hold them to account is doing anything about it!

An interesting thing about Gynokadin, Besins' estradiol gel marketed in Germany, supposed to be exactly the same as Oestrogel and Oestrodose.

The amount of alcohol and the the shelf life after opening (not mentioned in Oestrogel PIL).

001638-99517
July 2023
PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION
Gynokadin® dosing gel

1. QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION

1 g gel contains 0.62 mg estradiol hemihydrate (corresponding to 0.6 mg estradiol).

Other ingredients with known effects

This medicine contains 0.5 g of alcohol (ethanol) per dose of 1.25 g gel.

Duration of shelf life: 3 years
Shelf life after opening: 3 months

https://www.hormonspezialisten.de/praeparate/wechseljahresbeschwerden/gynokadin-dosiergel/uebersicht