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.

That's an interesting question. Maybe they don't feel any difference because they're not as sensitive as other women, maybe they switched to Sandrena gel or patches, or maybe they were just interested in the media hype.

@Azaleah I have the same thoughts. I was going to post onto DM instagram page x

I will weigh tomorrow and let you know. It should be 1.25mg?

@mrsnjw Yes, about 1.25 g.

Like others, my symptoms returned with a vengeance after a week or so of using the cylindrical bottle (after a good 18mths using the blue lid conical). I bought some jewellery scales, measured the blue lid dose 1.25mg (good) but have had varying doses of the cylindrical bottle from 1.05g to 1.16g. It’s just not good enough! I also don’t think the potency is as good as I’ve been taking 3 pumps and my night sweats didn’t even return when I dropped to 1.5 pumps of the blue lid. I’ve filled in a yellow card and will be complaining to Besins and have contacted my GP.

Weighed it out this morning and one pump was 1.16. So short of what it should be. I just pumped out 3mg and applied.

I'm following this with interest as I've been using Oestrogel in conical bottle for nearly a year and received the new packaging in my last prescription. I thought that the dosage seemed smaller when applying it. In the last week my symptoms have really returned so I've bought some jewellery scales to measure out the dosages properly to see if they really are lower. I'm so glad I found this chat to help me find out! If this is an issue with the packaging per se the manufacturers really need to address it!

So disappointed to find that the measures really are different.

Did they think we just wouldn’t notice? That our symptoms are all in our head? I’m sick of women being gaslighted by medical professionals and pharma.

It explains why I’m feeling much better having increased the cylindrical bottle to 5 pumps from 4, but I would rather not have to guess my dosage like this.

GPs and pharmacists need to listen to this and make a big stink with Besins.

Really hoping I get the conical bottles when this lot runs out.

Has anyone had the conical bottle in a recently filled prescription?

General question for people using the CYLINDRICAL bottle.

Do you prime the pump before using it for the first time?

I know the instructions say discard the first couple of pumps and the last few of a bottle.

Regarding the scales people are buying are they just ordinary ones from amazon? Any recommendations?

Thanks @LastHives But how do you prime the pump?

The current Oestrogel patient information leaflet is for the conical bottle.

The cylindrical bottle is from a different manufacturer which also supplies bottles for the US estradiol gel Elestrin (Mylan/Viatris). The PIL says:

Prime the pump before using it for the first time.

'Push the head of the pump down SLOWLY and allow it to spring back AUTOMATICALLY. Repeat this until gel comes out. Throw away the first amount of gel as it will not be a full dose. Once the pump head has come all the way back up, the pump is now primed and ready to use.'

'After each daily dose, return the spout to the locked position and replace the cap'

I don't know if this can solve the problem (probably not), but when I was watching a video on IG the pump of the cylindrical bottle made a strange noise, which makes me think something is not right.

I usually pump it until the gel shows ( so no more air) then pump two lots and discard . I've never heard any noises except when you are at the end and there is not sufficient dose. I've ordered some scales so am going to check as this is concerning to me and I want to be armed with facts when I get the annual "so when are you going to come off" diatribe.

To add to your post @Azaleah re return to locked position etc - I have been on Oestrogel for 8 years so really doubt that I am suddenly unable to pump the right amount ( I realise you weren't saying that) - there is something going on.

Yes, I agree, but since the pump mechanisms are different who knows? Maybe you are on automatic pilot after 8 years 😂

I have sent an email to the bottle/pouch/pump manufacturer (Lablabo) but they can't be arsed to reply 😡

@LastHives they are about £8 on Amazon.

Regarding the scales, yep Amazon ordinary ones. There are more accurate ones available but they're very expensive and currently not available on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Precision-Digital-Milligram-Weighing-Reloading/dp/B016TN8HMY

As an update to my post yesterday I measured out my doses of oestrogel from the new cylindrical bottle with some jewellers scales and the weight was 1.16g each. I measured it out to the correct dose of 1.25g per pump and there was loads more gel. The amount and coverage seemed more like the conical shaped packaging so hoping my symptoms will disappear again. There is a thread on X (Twitter) from Dr Louise Newson that discusses this and advises people to email the manufacturer and submit a yellow card to the NHS which is what I will be doing. I advise anyone this this is affecting to do the same as the issues with the dosage urgently need to be addressed. Here is the link to that thread https://x.com/drlouisenewson/status/1705471806696562978?s=46&t=SueAhNgtQBrMFHBFLAFT_g

It's interesting! Before I weighed the gel out and was just pumping it I spotted blood. No I'm weighting it out to 3mg my spotting has stopped. So not having the right dose of gel definitely has an impact on me. Still moody though 🤣

Ooh I have just got this to use for the first time. Used patches before. Sounds quite concerning….where is best to put the gel? And do you use it at same time as taking the utrogestan?

I apply the gel in the morning and take the tablet before bed x

Rube it into the back of your upper arm or inside leg. Keep gel well away from breasts and vulva x

Thanks ! I’ve been given 3 packs of pills but only one pack of gel …

Yet another voice and so glad I found this thread. I thought I was going mad when the latest batch stopped working within 24th. Upped my dose from 2 pumps to 3 but not helped much.

My doctor and chemist both said I wasn’t alone but have said it’s up to me to source the old batch! I have emailed Besins. Has anybody had a reply or any luck sourcing the old batch?