Really bad news for anyone who relies on Estradot

[HufflepuffRavenclaw]

From the British Menopause Society website supply section.

thebms.org.uk/news/british-menopause-society-update-on-hrt-supply/

Novartis pharmaceuticals
Novartis UK confirms that we will go out of stock on ESTRADOT TTS-50, ESTRADOT TTS-100, and ESTRADOT TTS-25. Based on our current information, we expect that these presentations of Estradot will start to go out of stock from January 10, with supplies returning to normal levels within four weeks. Supplies of ESTRADOT TTS-37.5 are unaffected.

Novartis has responded to the significant and sustained growth in demand for Estradot by increasing production three-fold from 2019 to the present day. Despite expanding supply, we have capacity constraints within the manufacturing plant, which we are working hard to resolve. In addition, other HRT suppliers are having supply difficulties, which has increased the demand for Estradot.

We understand shortages such as these can cause great uncertainty for patients, and we are working hard to resolve this matter as quickly as possible. We have notified the Department of Health who are working with us to look at alternative solutions in the interim.

We encourage any patient affected by this shortage to speak with their doctor or pharmacist for information on available alternative options during this period.

Just found one box at a Boots about 20 mins drive away. I've asked them to hold it.

@WhereAreWeNow yep it's all really hit and miss for sure. I want to switch to Estradot, as they are smaller than evorel, but daren't get my prescription changed, as I fear I could end up with nothing.

Even the online pharmacy's don't appear to have any. I did see Pharmacy Planet selling them at £41 per box of 8 the other day. I'm sure they are profiteering because before the shortage, they were around about the £25 mark.

Well done!! 👍

This is an update from Diane Danzebrink who runs the menopause support network

It may take a week or so to logistically travel to pharmacies though

The problem is in my experience is that the prescriptions will quickly get fulfilled.

I now don't get any of my oestrogen patches from the local pharmacy where I get everything else sent as there is always a queue of prescriptions waiting ahead of me. I use one further out.

That's something I guess. But then there will be loads owing to women far and wide, taking them back to square one again pretty soon? M
How are pharmacy planet managing to get them, when no other online pharmacy can?

Oh that's great news that more stock is on its way. I'm on the 100s.

I feel it's mixed news tbh, good it's coming back but there will be so many owed that I do think there will be shortages for a while.

This was my experience last year. It wasn't actually of stock but as so many people on gel were using patches temporarily for a while earlier in the year it seemed to have a knock on effect that lasted till late autumn here. As soon as new deliveries came in, it all went out on scripts owing. (Where one box may have been given and IOUs issued.)

Diane said on radio 5 live for the first time yesterday that manufacturers have said that demand is outstripping supply.

Yes agree, it's definitely a supply and demand issue. Wonder if Davina has added to this, with her TV programmes?

Possibly a little though I do think social media has been helping women to find out more for the last 10-15 years

But it's a good thing that more women are accessing what they need if suffering with symptoms. Too many have had to leave careers or loose relationships for far too long.

Both of mine have suffered

But the manufacturers must have known this would happen for the last 2 years and shortages were happening before that according to forums

Yes it's hard to know what's behind it all. A mixture of different factors I guess.

Let's hope all women who need HRT, can access what they need soon. It's not been that easy, to just have a different brand of hrt prescribed. Some women absorb better from one, more than the other .

Getting the vote for women, was just the start of the struggles!

Sods law that it's the 100 mcg I need. I have an alert set up with a private online pharmacy in the hope that they will get them sooner.

It's a real worry. I was awful on the gel, and allergic to the Evorel. I NEED THE ESTRADOT.

I think the problem is that the pharmacies are constantly playing catch up. There will be thousands of women all over the UK who are "owed" part of their prescription from last time they ordered, and when the next delivery comes in, they'll get it, and there will be no stock again. So the pharmacies will ration and "owe" boxes and it's just a vicious circle going round and round.

Nobody in government is talking about this. To be fair, Estradot which is made by Novartis, is not made in the UK. So they can't really influence the makers or give them money to incentivise them to make more. And this does seem to be a combination of factors rather than purely a Brexit thing, there are lots of desperate Scandinavian women on social media too.

www.novartis.com/about/manufacturing/global-biotech-cooperations/our-manufacturing-sites

There’s been problems with HRT products for the last few years, with different ones going out dips stick and patients having to switch, it’s been a real nightmare for gp surgeries and pharmacies as you never know what will be in stock.

I’ve just seen this, I’m on Estrodot 25 and have 2 weeks left, just put my repeat request in 2 days ago so will find out on Monday what the situation is. Cross everything!!

This makes me even more reluctant to go on HRT. I worry about getting dependent on something I might have supply issues with.

The thing is @WombatsAndGumTrees that for many women this is not an issue. They can quite happily switch between various brands of patches, gel and spray and not notice any difference to their symptoms. Some of us are just more awkward. There aren't supply issues with gel or other brands of patches and if you're on those, you're probably wondering what the fuss is about.

It was the same when I was on the contraceptive pill, I had to go through about four brands before I found one which suited me. HRT has had so many benefits for me and I would hate to think of people not even giving it a go because of supply concerns.

Thanks for the clarification on that. I'm talking to my doctor about it next week but the shortages a while back are really giving me pause.

25 might be ok; I got some last week easily

It's the 100s at the moment

@WombatsAndGumTrees I agree with what @HufflepuffRavenclaw said. Don't let it put you off. If you go for patches, you will probably be able to choose/swap between different brands like Estrodot and Evorel. The gel is in stock and I think tablets are too. Even where there are supply issues, they tend to be short lived.
@HufflepuffRavenclaw would your GP/pharmacy consider giving you 50 patches but twice as many so you can get the 100 mcg by wearing 2 Estrodot patches? Or 75mcg and 25mcg? Maybe that's not allowed but I'm just wondering.

Thank you for posting this. Frustrating that there seems to be a demand v supply issue.

I've had two 50s before when 100 were unavailable.

It's a possibility, @WhereAreWeNow . 2 x 50 mcg Estradot patches are still much smaller than 1 x 100 mcg Evorel patch, which is about the size of a crisp packet.

I use 2x 100. The everol are huge 🙈