Switching Oestrogel to Sandrena - how long did it take to work?

[Whatapickle78]

Just that really.
I’ve been at rock bottom as Oestrogel has completely stopped working for past 4-5 months and bloods show v low levels too, despite using 4 pumps per day.

NHS Gyno has just switched me to Sandrena and advised to yellow card the (new packaging) Oestrogel bottles etc… which I will now do. She said she had many more cases like mine at the moment due to the change in packaging/product.

so if you’ve already switched, how long did it take to feel better? Need some hope here :)

Thanks

Good luck, I'm back at my gp next week due to this very issue to ask for a change from oestrogel. I will likely ask for sandrena. What dose did u get? I'm on 4 pumps of oestrogel.

2 sachets a day - one in AM one in PM.

good luck at the GP!

How are you getting on with sandrena? I have just been prescribed this today due to the problems with oestrogel.

Not noticing any change yet Im afraid… I started on Thursday PM last week.

I had hot flushes last night and couldn’t sleep so feeling very much back to square one on HRT again.

hoping to see some improvements soon when it kicks in!

I've also changed from oestrogel to sandrena in the last few weeks. I feel I've put on loads of weight in just a short time. I'm panicking a bit about it.

@Melstarrynight do you feel like you are hungry and eating more, or just bloat and water retention?

Not eating more just feeling and looking bigger. It may well be water retention. Hopefully it will settle down but I'm already considering going back to Oestrogel.

AI had the same problem.. The new Oestrogel bottle wasn't the same and as effective. I tried patches but got headaches and felt woozy. Been off hrt for a few months. Started Sandrena in the Week. I only used half 1 sachet and felt really fatigued within the hour and really dozy the next day. Also piled on a few pounds

I changed to Sandrena in January after Oestrogel didn’t work as well. However, the Sandrena gave me horrible anxiety and I’ve gone back to Oestrogel.

I changed to Sandrena from Oestrogel for the exact same reasons.

But when I looked into the equivalent doses, what they tell you to use doesn’t add up - 4 pumps Oestrogel is actually equivalent to 3 sachets of Sandrena, not 2.

People will come along and say it’s not the same product etc etc, but when you look at the active ingredient (oestradiol) in each product it’s basic maths. Plus I felt terrible on 2 sachets - it just wasn’t enough.

Anyway, I’ve now increased to 3 sachets, which is technically off license. It’s better, but still not as good as the (old) Oestrogel.

I just WISH they hadn’t messed around with it.

I should say, I haven’t noticed any weight gain etc on Sandrena; I just have many of my old symptoms still (muscle aches, anxiety, poor sleep).

@Namddf how did u find out the equivalent dose as sandrena is a different strength to oestrogel. My GP said 2x1mg sachet was the same as 4 pumps. I didn't think much about it, but I'm wondering if I need more?

I swapped to sandrena in December after Oestrogel stopped working ..initially I started to feel better after a couple of days .. however I’ve seen my menopause specialist today and swapped to estradot patches.. while I did feel a bit better on sandrena , I’ve also gained weight .. feel fatigued and have terrible palpitations of late so it’s not for me

Hi @Whatapickle78 - I have just been prescribed Sandrena instead of Oestrogel for the same reasons and was wondering whether you got used to Sandrena and are still on it? I have only been on it 1 day and had a terrible night last night, so hoping this will improve...
Many thanks

Hi it worked well for first couple of months (BIG improvement on the Oestrogel for sure) but definitely not back to my old self.

I started to feel quite a lot better after about 1 week.

I am wondering if I could increase the dose slightly, but think I might be on the maximum now.

hope yours kicks in soon and it works for you!

@Chrisg79
Oestrogel contains 0.75mg of oestradiol (the active ingredient) per 1.25g pump.

Sandrena contains 1mg of oestradiol per 1g sachet.

This means that 4 pumps is actually equivalent to 3 x 1g sachets of Sandrena, not 2. It’s just maths.

Even more confusingly, my pharmacist told me that the maximum licensed dose of Sandrena is 1.5g, so even the 2 sachets would be technically off license. It’s a total mess.

All I know is that I have to use 3 sachets to get anything like the same effect as the old Oestrogel.

This is interesting - I’ve read this elsewhere too. Has anyone managed to get an opinion on it from a Gynae consultant?

Im now trying alternating days (2 sachets/3 sachets) and my sleep has improved. I’d love to go up to 3 a day but feel a bit nervous about this without advice. I wonder if having a Mirena adds more protection? Ie higher oestrogen dose is less of an issue?

I’ve also got weight gain :(

not sure if it’s actual weight gain or water retention (how do you tell?) but my jeans don’t fit well any more.

this may be the Mirena I had fitted on Feb though, so will give everything 6 months to settle down as they say…. Sigh.