Estrodot supply issues- alternative?

[ouch44]

Went to pick up new HRT prescription the other day and there seem to be supply issues again!

I'm on Estrodot because I seem to absorb oestrogen better from them and they also stick well.

Does anyone know about these supply issues? Pharmacist says they haven't had any for months. Or failing that any recommendations for the next stickiest alternative?! I did know all this but forgotten as haven't had problems getting my HRT for a while!

I've just had a new pack but went to a boots much further out of town.

I believe that pharmacies are capped at how many they can have - this May but be true now but was in the past. So open prescriptions get filled first when new batches come in.

Apparently there's no supply issue at source but there is in terms of flow into and out of pharmacies-too much demand, constant catch-up.

This was posted on menopause support network fb group but in July:

"If you are still having issues accessing
Estradot patches, Novartis recommend asking your pharmacist to contact them on their customer care number-0845 741 9442.

Novartis claim that supplies are being distributed to wholesalers as normal so please encourage your pharmacist to report any issues to them."

Thanks @WarriorN. Yes I saw whilst having a Google that pharmacists were limited to 4 packs not sure the time frame on that.

Will check out that FB group too. Might give that number a try myself too if I get desperate. Luckily pharmacist asked me to put prescription in a month early so I've got a supply for now

I checked Boots prescription checker and there are none to be had nearby. Only found out about that today

That definitely doesn't work/ keep up with what's happening- ime!

I find I have to start ringing pharmacies a month before and ask them to see if they can re order. I suspect the pharmacy I've had success with is one where not many women are queuing for hrt. The main one I use is in a busier (and more affluent) area. Anything that comes in is usually owed already.

I also had success with an out of town Asda pharmacy previously.

Ah that's no good then. I was in a nearby big city yesterday I should have tried there.

I will see if I get any recommendations for alternative patches before I start ringing round. I hate it. Shouldn't have to do it!

I'm having the same problem. The pharmacy says there's a manufacturing issue and they don't know when they'll get more. In my case it's exacerbated by an unhelpful and obstructive GP surgery,. I've requested an alternative (local pharmacy has Evorel patches in stock) but they've told me to keep ringing round the pharmacies for Estradot.

I managed to get four out of the six boxes of Estradot l was prescribed last week, so just owed two this time. That's normal for my local Lloyd's Pharmacy as they rarely have enough in stock. I did switch to Evorel for a while but I can't stand the 'plastic' texture and they are so much bigger. Much better for sticking though as I find Estradot can fall off before they are due to be replaced.

That's interesting, I find Lloyds (local and online) are often out of stock. My scripts are only for two months at a time (after the menopause clinic requested in a letter that my GP prescribes more than a month's supply!) and it becomes labour intensive when any part of the process is interrupted.

It's all madness isn't it?! My GP at one point was prescribing mine a month at a time because I was under review at the Meno clinic. One of the reasons I was referred there was brain fog. GP did actually listen though when I pointed out how difficult all this was with brain fog!!

I find it hard to get Estrodot patches off! I do have some lower dose Evorel patches at home so might experiment with stickiness!

I had composed (and deleted) a slightly unhinged rant about it in my last reply. Yes, it's bonkers. Meno clinic said GP can prescribe up to six months.

Btw I just came back to say that I've found some Estradot locally. Not sure if it's remaining old stock or if they've had a new delivery. Maybe worth another ring around?

@crispinglovershighkick sorry missed your reply. Glad you managed to find some.
My GP actually prescribed me 2x 6 months. God knows what they'll do next time though. they like to mix it up to piss me off in different ways!!
I've counted up my patches and because I don't always change my patch on time I have enough for a month still. But I will phone round next week.

I have had a dreadful few months without being able to get hold of Estradot. I got one box of 75mcg in early October, and that was after phoning around about 25 pharmacies. The following month the GP prescribed generic estradiol patches and I was given Evorel which are massive, crinkly like a crisp packet and within days my skin was reacting really badly to the glue. Then switched onto the gel which is a faff and just didn't agree with me at all - whether I was on the wrong dose, or using it wrong or what I don't know but my symptoms all came back with a vengeance and it's been back to the anxiety and with the bonus of my first ever panic attack. Nice.

I have managed to find Estradot patches through an online chemist and my first delivery of 3 months supply is arriving in the post today.

No idea what is going on as the British Menopause Society page on supply says that "Novartis UK is not experiencing any Estradot supply issues at present." But so many people can't get Estradot and lots of us feel that this is the only HRT which really works for us.

This is awful isn't it @HufflepuffRavenclaw? 25 pharmacies! Guess I was lucky to get 6 months supply last time!

Did you have to pay a lot for 3 months? Might have to look into this option

It was £55, the pharmacy was offering a 10% off your first order deal so it was just over £50, ordered Friday afternoon and it's arriving this morning. You do have to fill in a fairly comprehensive medical questionnaire but if you are clear with them that you have been prescribed HRT in the past and are struggling with supply issues there shouldn't be an issue. I do really grudge paying for something which is supposed to be available on the NHS but I really do think Estradot is the only thing which works for me.

You might have to shop around to find stock of your particular dosage, I could get 75s no problem, but if you use 100 mcg patches they are out of stock everywhere - although you could I suppose order two lots of 50s, or a 25 and a 75.

I am also investigating getting patches overseas this summer when we go on holiday. Uptake of HRT does not seem to be as high in continental Europe and apparently 4 weeks supply of patches bought in Spain is around 6 euros.

I have 100 mcg patches. Not sure I can bring myself to pay that much for them either even if I could find them. Might see if I can get a month of Evorel and get the pharmacist to leave the prescription open. Might be a good chance to see if I really do absorb less with them?

Yeah it’s a lot of money. But at the moment I feel so low that I don’t feel I have many other options. I really hope they sort out these supply problems soon.

@HufflepuffRavenclaw I had exactly the same experience of trying the gel and getting all my old symptoms x100 as well as overwhelming anxiety. I'm so much happier on Estrodot. I need to pick up my prescription from Boots this week actually and dreading being told it's not in stock.

Reading this reminds me Lloyds owe me 2x boxes of 100 Estradots but haven't phoned yet to say they are in stock which doesn't look good. I have to buy my Testogel through Newson Health and they supply through CloudRX so might have to put in an order through them, which will be £37 fee to Newson then about £14 per box. I wouldn't be fit to work without HRT so looking at it that way makes it a small price to pay!

Managed to find part of my prescription of Estrodot 100mcg. Was in nearby big city. Boots checker said they were in stock in 2 so tried the one in the studenty part first and they had 4 boxes and are ordering the rest in that they should have in March and they will phone me!!
Couldn't help me with the Utrogestan though!! Will now have to chase that!

Having the same supply issues re Estradot. Also have unhelpful GP practice. I have some Evorel from a previous time when Estradot not available but they irritate my skin so much and always crinkle up. It is so annoying.

It might be regional? I expected issues with re ordering Utrogestan but no issues at all.

I clearly have to plan where I go for estradot.

I don't think it's regional, these supply issues are across the board.

I have heard all sorts of tricks such as going to an independent rather than a chain, or trying pharmacies in city centres or very "studenty" areas where there are fewer women trying to get HRT.

But it's so hit and miss and a complete nightmare as well as being so time consuming to go through the palaver every month or two to track down what you need.

I don't think it's regional. My local pharmacist which couldn't get it and didn't offer to order it as hadn't had it available for months is only a few miles away from where I found it.

I checked the Boots prescription checker last night and the Estradot was showing as out of stock. For some reason it doesn't work with Utrogestan.

I just managed to get some more from my local Boots but it took a couple of weeks. I wish the supply issues could be sorted out. It's so stressful worrying about running out and not being able to get more. Evorel is fine but I prefer Estrodot.