Getting Intrarosa on NHS when not on local formulary?

[KizzyKoala]

Has anyone been successful in getting Intrarosa prescripted by the NHS when it’s not on their local formulary?

I understand that you can put a case for individual consideration. I’ve managed to get GP to refer me to an NHS gynaecology clinic (called HealthHarmonie) but it would helpful to know anyone who has managed this.

i have Intrarosa via online private pharmacy clinic but its £50 per month so I’m trying to put my case forward for an nhs prescription. What should I expect at the appointment? I can tell them the other things I tried didn’t work/caused irritation and that Intrarosa is working well. Will that be sufficient? It’s a 1.5 hour round trip to the clinic they have sent me to and I really want to say the right thing!

Hi - mine has suggested that they can’t do it but that I can ask the urogynaecologist I see - unfortunately they had never heard of it.

If it’s not on the formulary of your local Independent care board then the specialist won’t be able to prescribe it either. It’s worth having a look at the local formulary for your ICB

If it's not available at all on the NHS, your only option is to buy it privately.

That could mean seeing a private consultant which would cost you, but it often means that when you have a 'paper' prescription to take to a pharmacy, it's cheaper to buy the item compared to online pharmacies (which have huge mark-ups.)

This is the same, for example, as buying Ovestin (now Ovesse, or a generic version.) With a private prescription taken to a pharmacy it's around £9 compared to £20 online.

Sounds like the appointment they have given me with the gynaecologist to ask for this to be prescribed is going to be a waste of time then. I will go on the off chance and just have to continue to pay privately for online prescriptions if not.

I'd ask in a pharmacy how much it is to buy in person with a private prescription. Or look online (not on a website selling it.) Online sites are often 2 to 3 times the RRP (simply because they are online.)

Is it definitely not on the formulary at all? Or just not something that the GP can prescribe?

It's a postcode lottery. There is info online as to which regions prescribe it.

It is on the formulary (recently) but GP is deferring to specialist

Went for the appointment with NHS Consultant Gynaecologist today. She agreed to prescribe it! She couldn’t find it listed under Intrarosa but found it under Prasterone so I’m just keeping everything crossed it is Intrarosa and it all goes through ok.

It now shows as approved prescription on my NHS app as Prasterone 6.5mg pessaries. I won’t believe it until I have the item in my hands though as I’ve celebrated too early in the past with similar situations only to then be told it’s not possible to get!

To update incase it helps others…

I collected the prescription and all was as it should be 👍🏼

After a few weeks I noticed that it hasn’t been added to my repeat list on the nhs app (with my other HRT) so I sent in a request to the GP. Been told it can’t be added to the repeat list “because it’s controlled medication” so I have to write in for it every 28 days and they will prescribe it to collect in the normal way from local pharmacy.

Certainly better than paying £50 per month for it online! 👏