Ovestin shortage?

[needanewername]

Hi, does anyone know the reason for the shortage of Ovestin and how long it’s likely to last? I’ve been using Ovestin for the last 6 years or so with no problem apart from finding that I need to use it more frequently than recommended to manage my symptoms (every other day rather than twice per week).

Suddenly I’ve been told it’s no longer available and been switched onto estriol cream. The pharmacist at the GP practice told me it would last me longer than the Ovestin because it was an 80g vs 15g tube. However it’s 10x weaker so this isn’t true! Also I’ve found that half of it comes out again in the morning the first time I go to the loo so I’d much prefer to go back to the smaller more concentrated dose of Ovestin! Has anyone else had this problem with Estriol and found something more similar to Ovestin that is not in short supply?

There's a long thread about this which will be somewhere down the page.

Ovestin is a brand name and the patent has expired.

The cream that was called Ovestin is now called Estriol cream- it's the same packaging (purple box) and the same product.

Your GP should have prescribed Estriol Cream 0.1% whereas you've been given 0.01% so have to use 10 x as much (larger applicator).

Agree - ask for the generic.

Great, thanks for the clarification. I normally get my prescriptions from Pharmacy2U online and they were very unhelpful about this. They couldn't suggest an alternative and told me to go back to the GP and come back with another suggestion and they would say yea or nay. So presumably generic 0.1% estriol is in stock also?

I can confirm this as I collected my new prescription last week. Exactly the same just a different name. I was freaked out too but no need. It’s all good. Phew

Do any of you get an automatic repeat prescription? Just ordered my second tube but is there any way to just get a few months worth? Seems a pain to have to request a new tube every month or so.

Just picked up this months prescription and it’s Ovestin again! Thought the name had gone!

It has. It'll be old stock from the pharmacy wholesaler.

It says it’s sourced from the EU and repackaged.

It used to be made in Ireland which is part of the EU.

Yeah I know that!! It’s just that the last tube didn’t say that.

Thanks all for your help. I raised an online query with the GP complaining that, apart from the poor absorption of the larger volume of 0.01% estriol, the 80g tube would only last approximately half the usual time of the more concentrated 15g tube.

I have now been prescribed 0.1% which looks exactly the same as the Ovestin as per PP experience. As a bonus, I’ve been prescribed 2 tubes rather than the 1 per request I received when it was Ovestin. So fingers crossed they’ve changed my repeat prescription to 2 tubes!

That’s what I want op. Can’t be doing with going to pharmacy every month. It’s expensive being a woman!