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.

@SoftPillowAllNight I know you asked another poster about this but my prescription round about the same time, was fulfilled with some 'blue top' and a white top. This was at a pharmacy in a private hospital who are usually able to source most drugs. The pharmacist said the white top bottle was smaller, same amount, and 'all they could get'. So I don't think there is any guarantee that private pharmacies can source particular bottles.

I was using The Independant Pharmacy - I’d call them first and see if they have the blue tops

Will they actually do anything though ? 😫 It looks like complaints are just being ignored . I am going to yellow card the return in my symptoms though

Back on new bottles now and weighed this morning - discarded first two pumps as they say. Each subsequent pump was variable but all running about the 1.1x range.

Given how desperate I am, I'll happily take the pharmacist out for coffee/drink in exchange for the blue top

@Rockschooldropout - thanks, I did come across them at one point. My next prescription looks ages away

My last bleed, on the newer bottle, was later and lighter. Will see what the next one is like, now I've upped my dose to 4 pumps (to get rid of the symptoms that came back when I started the new style bottle).

Besins wanted me to send a bottle with gel still in it whe I complained. I refused and said enough of us were yellow carding and talking about it on social media for them to get bottles off their production line and check. They seemed to be implying that my one bottle that I gave the number of was faulty, rather than many women experiencing problems.

I’m going to call them tomorrow and see if they have any old style bottles in . No guarantee they have of course but worth a try

If there is a quality assurance issue and it eventually affects women using it for osteoporosis (as an example) and they have been producing something 'not as licensed' for several years, then Besins stands liable legally and could be sued. So it's in their interests to make the correct analysis.

I think if you feel strongly that it isn't working, you/we have to send them evidence.

In that case I’ll contact them tomorrow and take it from there - it’s very demoralising though to see others have done it to no avail .. it seems the issue is well raised yet they aren’t interested ?

I think the amount of pumps I got out of that second bottle though says it all .. I suspect the pump isn’t releasing a full dose ..

@Rockschooldropout My understanding is that pharmacies access a number of suppliers and non-NHS pharmacies or independent ones can use whichever wholesalers they want.
This doesn't guarantee anything however as they can only order what's available. I don't want to name the hospital pharmacy here, but I know that they would move heaven and earth to get the 'right' (or best?) drugs for patients. They were very good to me when there was the Utrogestan shortage and were calling their suppliers daily for stock.

I think it's about the quality of the gel as opposed to the quantity

I think it will be interesting to see what the old private pharmacy I used says then - this was my first prescription with the new favoured one with my clinic and the first time I’d received the new bottles .. I’m annoyed now that I got a six month prescription as it’s essentially money down the drain … I’m also going to call the clinic too and see what they suggest

Oh this is so interesting. I've finished my first bottle of the cylinder bottles. Started on my second. 42 days since my last bleed when usually 26-28 days.

I use two pumps, have been for around 4 years now (switched to gel when there was an issue with patch supply in 2019).

Wonder if I should increase to three pumps?

Brain fog has been worse and not sleeping as well, but also a stressful time as applying for a divorce so put it down to that.

I get a period like clockwork every 28-30 days. I'm 15 days late for my period this month. I thought the flu jab might have delayed it ( I know the Covid jab did). Do you think the gel not working would delay a period. I was hoping this might be the beginning of the end

Hi you’d only need to take extra progesterone if you where using more than the licensed amount of 4 pumps or they may suggest if you where having issues with bleeding.,

Was sweating like a pig last night again after starting on new bottle and I weighed out.

@mrsnjw You should get a withdrawal bleed using the sequential type of HRT although some women skip them now and then.

They don't 'end' because they are not linked to your own fertility or cycle. Women in their 70s using the sequential HRT method still get withdrawal bleeds.

😩😩 no way.

😂The bleeds on sequential HRT are not periods. They are withdrawal bleeds to give the lining a chance to be shed.

Why would women in their 70s opt for sequential (rather than combined) HRT?

Rather than continuous

A couple of reasons...

1 Choice. Some women don't get on at all well with daily progestogen (either Utrogestan or the older synthetic types.) There seems to be confusion even amongst GPs over when to stop sequential. It's actually a choice.

2 The stats on breast cancer risks show a lower risk on sequential than continuous. This is especially relevant for women using it for longer than 5 years.

The women I know who are older and using sequential are doing longer cycles (not just 4 weeks) and with medical supervision/agreement.

Thank you - that's good to know.