Are your HRT medications readily available?

[Daftapath]

I have been using elleste duet for a number of years (except for a while when this was unavailable and had to swap to a similar med) and this seems to work for me and to now be consistently available.

My GP now wants me to move to other forms of hrt medication which she feels is safer. Whilst I have no problem changing the meds that I take, I do not want to agree to a change and then find that the 'new' meds are unavailable.

Does anyone know whether there are still supply issues with combined hrt (I'm not sure what medication I would be prescribed - a gel and a tablet I think) and how easy has it been to find alternatives when there have been issues?

The GP did agree that that are issues across the country but didn't seem to think this should be a reason not to change! We have agreed to speak again once I have looked into the situation currently.

The British Menopause Society has an up to date list of all HRT on its website. You may have to use the search facility on their site but the list is usually reasonably up to date.

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

here you are :)

Many thanks for the list. I will take a look. The problem is that I have no idea what I would be prescribed so can't really check specific availability/alternatives.

I was more wanting anecdotal experiences of availability and whether it seems as though there are still supply issues.

My challenge is finding an independent pharmacy that can dispense any HRT my GP would write a prescription for. The local ones can't tell me which HRT they can order so I can't tell my GP which ones they can prescribe that I can get hold of. And I can't find an online pharmacy that dispenses a wide range.

I use an independent pharmacy who’ve had no issue getting gel and progesterone tablets, and now patches

i’ve found Boots etc useless

@LittleMy77 I'm looking for one of those. Online. 🙂

Slightly off topic so my apologies, but what are the concerns about Elleste Duet? (I take it!)

Thank you for all your responses so far. Seems a mixed bag.

@User124929321 she said that there is a very small/minimal risk of breast cancer

I suspect because as you age / get other health issues it is deemed safer to switch from tablet form HRT to gels and patches.

I take a tablet and suggested last autumn to my GP practice that perhaps I should change to patches. The GP said that I might them be impacted by supply issues which have never been a problem with Kliovance and so to stick to tablets for now.

@Daftapath Has your GP explained in detail why she wants you to change?
You say she mentioned the small risk of breast cancer. So does she want you to change to something with lower risk?

The only HRT that has (possibly) a lower risk is Utrogestan (the progesterone needed with estrogen.) This is used alongside a patch, gel, spray or a tablet containing estrogen only.

There has been a big supply problem with Utrogestan during this year. More demand than they can produce. It was on the SSP (serious shortage protocol) list and this was being reviewed on 18 August. I can't find an update on it.

Women were being rationed to 2 months' supply each time and even then there were problems getting it.

This may have eased a bit by now.

The lower risk with it applies to 5 years' use. (no added risk using it for 5 years.)
There isn't a lot of long term data for it beyond that.

@Daftapath Is it really your job to track down availability? This is your GP's role!

If she is suggesting a change, she ought to know the current supply situation. And the issues with Utrogestan have been around for almost a year- began around November last year.

It's not realistic to do a 'straw poll' around the UK.

A lot depends on the tenacity of the pharmacy to track some down (during the shortages.) I usually get mine from a pharmacy in a private hospital and they did manage to get some but it took a month. They phoned their supplier every day.

Other women here have reported no problems. I have the feeling (and it's just that) that the shortages are worse in areas of the UK where HRT is popular, and better in more rural areas where demand (based on numbers) is less.

Besins, who make among other things Utrogestan (tablet form of progesterone) have built an extra facility to deal with demand, and now I’m not having any trouble with supply at all. They publish availability info each week, and as of this week, for the first time in six months, everything they make is in stock. So it is improving.

I thought the new factory wasn't going to be ready for years? They'd acquired a 9 acre site (in France I think) but the interview with them seemed to suggest it was years away from completion.

Well, something has clearly changed so I was attributing it to greater capacity. Regardless, it is a better picture this week. I haven’t seen a supply status report like this since I started HRT 7 months ago.

Last year I had an issue getting gel and moved to patches. These have worked well, are less messy and more convenient so I've stayed on them.

Lots of issues with getting the progesterone pills and the pharmacy have had to negotiate with the gp a few times to get a prescription they could fill but I've not been left without, just sometimes given a weeks supply whilst they source more

Just making sure you're all aware of the new pre-payment option for hrt that is much cheaper too. £19.30 for the year

www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/help-nhs-prescription-costs/nhs-hormone-replacement-therapy-prescription-prepayment-certificate-hrt-ppc

Well, that's good news and let's hope it continues @EbiRaisukaree ! The availability notice on their website changes regularly but it would be fantastic if the shortage was over.

I've scoured the web today for an update on the SSP that was being reviewed on 18 August but can't find anything.

It's been very stressful for almost a year, trying to get this.