Why isn't there a Utrogestan shortage outside the UK?

[Bayleaf4]

Despite the Government's "assurance" last month that women would be assured access to a continuous supply of Utrogestan 100mg tablets, I'm finding it impossible to find any and have been told by my GP pharmacist that this situation is likely to last for months.

I'm progesterone sensitive and want to avoid synthetic progesterone for this reason and also because of its enhanced risk of DVT etc.and loss of beneficial effects on cholesterol and carbohydrate metabolism. The only alternative my GP practice is giving me is to give up HRT!

I Googled the situation in Germany and found no end of suppliers there with the drug seemingly being manufactured by several German based companies. So why is it that we're being given to believe that the only manufacturer is Besins Healthcare? Why isn't the Government taking steps to source the drug from elsewhere?

We have shortages in Ireland also apparently. Doctor told me it may become impossible to get soon but I just got it and it's a Spanish brand. Would it be worthwhile for those of you who can afford it to literally fly somewhere else to get your prescription? Lots of American go to Mexico to get drugs that are available but completely unaffordable in the US.

@Bayleaf4 Dr Louise Newson held an interview with Besins and posted the outcome online (might be on Twitter or her own website.) They said they have acquired a 9-acre site and are building another manufacturing site for production. Obviously this is longer-term solution.

There are other options for women who can use tablet form, like Femoston, as the progestogen in it is almost the same as Utrogestan (it's dydrogesterone.)
In Ireland @Pollyputhekettleon this is known as Duphastan and is available as a separate tablet (so can be used with gel etc.) it's not available as such in the UK.

Ironically, this forum is full of women who hate Utrogestan so maybe the time has come for GPs to stop prescribing it as the default option. Offer patches or tablets with a different progesterone (I expect a lot of Utrogestan is ending up unused by women who can't tolerate it.)

For the majority of women using HRT, the other options are safe and the benefits of Utrogestan are more relevant for long term use ( over 5 years.)

It's a shame dydrogesterone isn't available on its own in the UK, but only in combined oral form (Femoston) since taking oestrogen orally increases the risk of blood clots compared to taking it in the form of a gel or patches.

The UK Government should be getting Utrogestan from manufacturers other than Besins, but they either aren't bothered or can't (Brexit?) And it's so much easier for them to pretend they've solved the problem. Meanwhile many women are left with Hobson's choice: they either take an alternative that will make them sick due to having progesterone sensitivity or they give up taking HRT altogether.

Op I get massively over prescribed utrogestan, they keep giving it to me with my estrogel when I haven't requested it and don't require it. I have a drawerful of the stuff. If you DM me I could send some. If that's allowed. Apologies MN if not allowed, or illegal, just delete my post if so.

Fwiw I love utrogestan

I’m so fed up of this shortage. I’ve only managed to have my prescription filled once last November and once in May.
If anyone has unused boxes of it lying about, I would be very glad to take it off their hands!

DM me

The blood clot risk is tiny (less than the Pill) and Femoston is a good alternative for women under 60. The clot risk is more about risk for older women.

I have no idea about supply from other suppliers- maybe there are none.
I don't know if it's anything to do with the government as private clinics are sometimes having problems too..

Me too, I have been waiting for two months for my pharmacist to call with the prescription - I can’t get an appointment with my GP so am assuming once I run out I have to stop taking my hrt.

this fills me with such dread as my symptoms were mentally crippling me!

I get mine from a local independent pharmacy and have had no issues with supply (so far... )Our boots and lloyds pharmacies however are utter shit, hence me moving to an independent!

There are other manufacturers in the EU. I know that in Germany at least, I wouldn't have a problem accessing Utrogestan today whereas here my GP pharmacist is saying we'll probably have to wait months. (On top of that, she also said there are constant problems sourcing many other (non-HRT) drugs too.)

It's the Government's responsibility to ensure adequate supplies of medicines in the UK, not just for the NHS but for private providers too.

Unfortunately, you are likely to have problems getting your prescription filled for the next few months.

If you don’t need it stop taking it from the pharmacy, take it out of the bag before you leave and hand it back to the person on the counter.
The amount of people who hoard stuff and home and the return it to the pharmacy is unbelievable, there is so much waste. If people only ordered/took what they needed the NHS would save so much money.

So sorry to hear that. The Government should be sorting this, not saying they've already done so by rationing the number of boxes one can get to 2 instead of the usual 3 - rationing something of which there's nothing doesn't help!!

Brexit

This was on Besin's website last week if it helps.

New supplies of Utrogestan 100mg are due for arrival in the UK week commencing 26th June. We expect pharmacies to be able to access stock from wholesalers from Wednesday 28th June onwards. We are also expecting a significant amount of stock to arrive in the UK in the coming weeks which should ease the supply situation. If you are a patient, please check with your pharmacy and in case of any concerns about your treatment please consult your GP for advice.

[[https://www.besinshealthcare.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/BHUK_2023_436-Product-Supply-Update-No.-26-June-23-v1.pdf

It just seems with HRT that it’s always something. First it was gel which couldn’t be found anywhere. Still ongoing problems with Estradot patches. And now the progesterone. Op if you are going overseas this summer on holiday - or know someone else who is - take an old box with the pharmacy sticker with you. A friend recently got 6 months supply very cheaply in Spain.

Then why is Ireland also suffering shortages? I have no idea if they're as bad, the same, or worse, than yours though. I doubt there's any complete or honest data available on that. The medicines shortages made front page news here regularly. My doctor wasn't even going to prescribe me utrogestan to start with as she said so many patients are telling her they can't get it, and she expected it to be completely unavailable soon.

Also it appears to be literally global. Why are there medicine shortages and what is the solution? | World Economic Forum (weforum.org) I've no doubt it's worse some places than others, but you'd have to prove it's worse in the UK if you want to blame Brexit for it.

there are also lots of Scandinavian women moaning about lack of patches. Hrt is not so widely used in places like Spain so it’s easier to get hold of.

Spain has also just always been different when it comes to pharma drugs anyway. You can get all sorts of things freely off prescription there which would horrify our minders here in nanny state Ireland. It wouldn't surprise me if the shortage is less of an issue there.

Fyi I DO need it. I am on hrt . I never requested it once I realised it was piling up a little( as said in the op). I have no idea what's in the bag as I don't open the bag until I get home . I have even taken lately to writing on my repeat script " DO NOT GIVE ME UTROGESTAN" . That's worked. I don't have an enormous stockpile, just an excess of several boxes in a drawer that I came on this thread offering to others in need. So frankly, your comment is a bit off to say the least.

Seriously, came on this thread to be helpful , only to be carped at by some self righteous cow. MN all over. Forget it, I'm off.

I just wanted to say thank you for the kind offer, but I don't want to bother you.

Has anyone actually tried to buy it in Spain? I'm seriously tempted to book a flight to Barcelona and see if I can stock up.

I've been prescribed Lutigest pessaries off license as an alternative and I'm not sleeping and I can feel the depression kicking in.

I know it's bonkers but the only thing stopping me is the though of trekking around pharmacies all day and still not getting any. If I could guarantee it I'd be on the next flight!