Estradot shortages

[Caroline72h]

Hi, does anyone know how I can get estradot patches privately? Any recommendations? None of the other patches work and I'm getting desperate. Feel like everything is falling apart. I have a NHS GP prescription. Thank you

When there are shortages, it usually doesn't matter if you want an item with an NHS prescription or a private one. The only 'benefit' of a private prescription is that some pharmacies within large private hospitals may already have some stock, but they tend to order from the same wholesale supplier as any pharmacy.

My HRT is on a private prescription and when there was a huge issue with Utrogestan being in short supply, the pharmacy (in a private hospital) did try every day to by phoning their supplier.

If you went down the private route, you'd have to start with a consultation with a consultant, or a private GP.

The other option is to look at online pharmacies (assume you've done that) to see if they have any in stock, and I think the process is you send them your prescription or a copy of it. You'd need to check that.

Are you willing to try Oestrogel or Lenzetto spray?

Thank you. This is really helpful. The pharmacist at my gp said the amount of gel I'd need won't be very manageable due to the strength of my patches. I have looked at private pharmacies they all seemed to have run out too. I think I'll need to get a consultation booked in with a private clinic. I looked at Newsom but their prescription charges seemed really steep. After the cos of the consultation. Thanks agsin

@Caroline72h As far as I know, the maximum dose for gel is 4 pumps. This is the same as a 100mcg patch, according to a table of 'equivalents' by the British Menopause Society. Presumably you're not on a higher dose than that?

They also say that for women using 4 pumps of gel they can use 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening.

Does this correspond to what the pharmacist said? Because 4 pumps a day is very do-able AND you may not even need that much as the absorption can differ between products.

Most private providers are charging anywhere from £40-£50 per prescription as they say this covers the admin time to write it and the dr to sign it off.

If Estrodot is out of stock, it will be out of stock everywhere.
The info on the website for community pharmacies shows out of stock till early July.

I get my HRT through a private clinic and they can’t get hold of estradot. It’s out of stock everywhere and will be until 2026 until a new factory is built (this is according to my doctor).

I’ve had to switch over to Evorel patches which I don’t like as much and I suspect I’m not absorbing as much Oestrogen. But have no option to carry on with these. It’s very frustrating.

Oh and they just keep delaying the date - it was Feb, then April, now July. Gives people false hope. It will be next year.

Thank you both. Really helpful information. I can't believe we're having these issues and there's no clear or accurate information. I'm thinking the patches may never come back. If I actually find somewhere that has them I will have to make a switch at some point anyway. Can't help but think the fact it's a female hormone related issue isn't a coincidence. Took me so long to find the right HRT .

There are shortages in many medicines, all the time, to be fair that are nothing to do with being for women.

I'd really suggest you try gel. I know someone who was on Estradot for a long time and the shortages became an issue.

The pharmacist is incorrect to say gel would be unmanageable at 4 pumps a day (which can be split am and pm.)

You can't get them privately either, there are just none to be had. It's completely shit and I am getting desperate too. A few months ago I managed to buy some 37.5 mg patches and some 25mg patches and am now using one of each instead of my usual 75 patch. I'm feeling OK so far so might reduce the dose a bit more to make them last longer.

I'm allergic to the glue on the alternative given by the pharmacy which is Everol. I have a couple of boxes of FemSeven on order to see if those are any better. It's shit.

The pharmacist isn’t really right. As @JinglingSpringbells says, a 100mcg patch is largely equivalent to 4 pumps of gel daily which is entirely doable. You can do 1 pump on each limb for example, or 2 morning and 2 evening.

Our prescribing and pharmacy alerts are telling us Estradot is unavailable for the long term and to look at doing a long term switch to alternatives, even with a SSP.

If the gel is unacceptable to you and you’re low risk for risk factors you could try an oral preparation, 2mg would be comparable to a 100mcg patch.

Estradot has had issues for years. I was on them for IVF between 2020 and 2022 and they were frequently unavailable, certainly for all of winter 21-22.

I was wearing 2x 100mcg patches at a time and changing them every 2 days. Estraderm was the most acceptable alternative, better than Evorel. Also try different spots, the most robust place I found was the middle of my butt cheek.

what dose are you on OP? It’s only some of the estradot patches that have supply issues. I’m on 50 estradot which is in short supply and the pharmacist gave me an alternative patch which was huge and shit. I struggled with it and then asked my GP to prescribe 25 estradot patches which are available, and I’ve just been sticking 2 of them on instead.

I can't get ANY strength of Estradot. I have in the past bought 37.5s and doubled them up, or 25s and tripled them, but I just can't get any. All strengths of patches are unavailable at the moment.

I'm on my first day of FemSeven as an alternative. Patch is larger than Estradot but not as big as the Evorel. Crossing everything that I am not allergic to it.

Fingers crossed! I was on the 37.5 estradot and they didn’t have any in December so you did well to make them last.

I’m convinced Evorel is not working as well for me. Keep getting random bleeding. So frustrating. I know I won’t remember to put the gel on so I guess I need to persist. Will get a blood test in a month or so to see.

I have been on 100mcg for years - gel, then Evorel then Estrodot and am now back on Evorel due to the shortages. I don’t like them because they are huge, come off if I get sweaty exercising and I am slightly allergic to the glue.

I had to cut down the Estrodot patches when I first started on them as I was getting oestrogen overdose symptoms but gradually increased them as peri menopause symptoms came back.
i am having to use an extra 1/4 of a patch with Evorel or else I get peri symptoms.

I know that oestrogen is only licenced for up to 100mcg and I am technically overdosing, but I am clearly not absorbing the dose I need from a 100mcg patch.

I might see if I can try femseven patches if they are smaller than Evorel.

I switched to gel from 100mcg estradot because I don't want the alternative huge patches. I started on 4 pumps (2 pumps 2 x day) and actually reduced to 3 per day because I think I am absorbing more from the gel. It is a pain vs the patch because you have to think about it so often but it's not so bad, I don't hate it as much as I thought I would!

St Erme medical in Cornwall is a good alternative to Newsom. They use a private pharmacy in London who still had some last week. I am allergic to Evorel (rash) so also trying FemSeven

I am at the end of my rope. Day 6 of the Fem Seven patch and I've had to remove it because my skin is red and itchy. Not as bad as it was with the Evorel. I have removed it and put a new one on the other side and crossing everything it's just a one-off. Estradot still out of stock everywhere, SSP expires on Friday but no indication that it won't just be extended again.

Honestly could cry.

So stressful @SnoozingFox I’m
sorry you’re still struggling. Is gel an option for you? I’m holding off switching to gel as I’m so forgetful. But if my tests show I’m not absorbing Evorel will think about switching.

I also have a friend who takes it by pill. No or low risk factors for her and it works better for her that way.

@SnoozingFox I thought I would hate the gel but actually I really don't mind it at all. I went straight from Estradot to gel and I feel really good. It's a slight faff but nowhere near as bad as I thought.

I tried the gel and didn't get on with it at all. I am thinking of making an appointment with the GP to discuss Lenzetto spray as an alternative.

Ah sorry to hear you that's not an option. Hopefully you can try the spray.

Will report back - if I can get an appointment with the GP by winning the fastest finger first competition.

Thank you I am asking for the gel now but yet to hear back from the pharmacist, I also thought I wouldn't be very reliable with it but after getting no luck from other patches I now think I have to just get in with it . If I get to speak to the pharmacist I will also ask about tablet form which has never been mentioned to me. I don't think I have any risk factors. Thanks again

I'm not in the UK (EU)! but I'm getting estrodot again just fine after earlier shortages.

I am holding out hope for getting some when I go to Spain at the end of June.