Progesterone change

[menopours]

After being on gel + utrogestan for 3 or 4 years, GP has change me to the spray (low oestrogen, maybe bottle change, long standing thread on this!).

The spray has arrived but the progesterone has changed from utrogestan to Zentiva own-brand (see photo). Has anyone else used this one?

I'm loathed to change both meds at same time. I have enough gel + utrogestan for one month so I may change gel to spray first with old progesterone.

Urgh. For so long both worked so well for me! Why do these things have to change!!

Looks like the same thing?

One made by Besins (utrogestan), the other by Zentiva.

Anyone used the Zentiva one?

I would love to know too as just picked up my prescription and similar, it has been changed from Utrogestan to Zentiva!

Do a search on the product and it should come up with the ingredients (or they are on the patient leaflet.)

They are often identical and just a brand/generic name difference and cheaper for the NHS to buy.

I've just had an awful period after months and months of nothing and the only change is this generic progesterone. Anyone else?

They contain the same active ingredient at the same dose and you shouldn't notice any difference.

When there was only one brand available that was all pharmacies could supply, now there is a generic (unbranded) version the wholesalers will send whichever they have in stock or may offer different prices to the pharmacy.

Having more than one brand available is a good thing, if one manufacturer struggles there will still (hopefully!) be another available.

I had a return of almost daily migraine when on the changed progesterone - although they look identical, there must be something different! Went back and got the original and migraines have settled (fingers crossed). My GP has now put Utrogestan specifically on my prescription.

I wish this happened when I couldn't get utrogestan for love nor money!!!

I had to switch to provera which tbf I have settled on now but it was stressful

They are the same. If you read the ingredients on the patient info (online) I'm pretty sure they are identical (like buying ibuprofen instead of branded Nurofen.)

It's a good thing, as women were selling Utrogestan online to other women to try to get some when there was a massive shortage last year.

It's likely to be a price issue as shown here.
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/progesterone/medicinal-forms/

Gepritex is just over £4 a pack and Utrogestan is £6+

I was given Gepritex - or they tried to- and I asked them to swap it as I was paying for it and they were charging me the Utrogestan price!

Could you list the ingredients as listed on the leaflet in the box so posters with Utrogestan can compare?

I was on Utrogestan but I have been supplied with that brand and Gepritex and notice no difference at all. They are all the same.

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15401/pil#gref

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/352/pil#gref

These are the links to the leaflets for both versions

6.1 List of excipients

Sunflower oil, refined

Soyabean lecithin

Capsule shell

Gelatin

Glycerol

Titanium dioxide

Purified water

They seem identical.

I've also been switched onto it from Provera, which is not included on the HRT prepayment certificate. Does anyone know if the Zentiva progesterone is included on the PPC??

The brand name isn't relevant- you're getting micronised progesterone so it ought to be part of the cert. I can't be certain as I don't use the certificate.

Hi, I have just opened my prescription pack and found mine has also been changed from Utrogestan 100 to the new Progesterone 100. I will check with pharmacist what differences exist between the two. I also have a HRT pre paid prescription and to answer your question it was included as part of certificate. I am apprehensive to the changes. But will give it a go if ingredients are the same. Hope that helps.

@AllofusNo1 two or three posts back, there is a link to the ingredients in both brands and also the ingredients are listed in that post.
They are identical.

Just to update, still bleeding in and off so have a doc appt tomorrow. Anyone know if I will be referred for a womb scan?

In the end as mentioned above the pharmist did say ingredients are the same, the Zentiva is generic and ingredients are a cheaper version hence cheaper to buy. I managed to take my Progesterone 100 back unopened, then requested Utrogesran 100 from Doctor. Picked them up next day. Thank you everyone for the heads up👍

I have also been given Zentiva today. The leaflet makes no mention of it being micronised progesterone which utrogestan and gepretix both are. Surely they would mention it if it was. In which case it is quite different

@limebunny Zentiva is definitely micronised. This is the company's information and section 2 states its micronised progesterone.

www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15401/smpc#gref

If you open the link @limebunny left by @pharmachameleon this is what it says -

Qualitative and quantitative composition

Each capsule contains 100 mg micronised progesterone.

Excipient with known effect: Soyabean lecithin

For a full list of excipients, see section 6.1.

It should be on the leaflet info pack.

I thought I had read and reread the leaflet in the pack. Thank you so much for the information