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[babyjane]

I have been using Vagifem for over 5 years now with no trouble.  When I ordered my repeat prescription this week I was informed by our local pharmacist that they cannot fill my prescription because they have given out all their quota for August and will not get any more in until the beginning of September when they receive that month's quota.

I have never heard of this rationing before.  Has anyone else encountered this?

thank goodness I order in advance.  What would happen if I was about to run out?

[Janice68]

I have not heard of this either BJ.
I'm only allowed 1 box per prescription and been told this has to last me 3 months!!
Janx

[Taz2]

Found this http://www.abpi.org.uk/our-work/news/2012/Pages/230612.aspx 

My local pharmacy works to quotas but we have a further two which are really local to me and I just go to one of those if my usual pharmacist has reached their quota.

Taz x

[Tinkerbell]

I have never heard that and worrying as I need to use one everyday.
Janice...why will they only prescribe one box? That is only 2 a week, I couldn't manage on such a low dose.

[Taz2]

Isn't it supposed to be two a week after the initial loading?

Taz x

[Tinkerbell]

I have never managed on two a week, my doctor says many of her ladies need 5 x a week as that is equal to the old 25x 2 dose and is happy to prescribe more. Sadly she has left the practice, so hope I don't encounter problems in the future

[babyjane]

I use one every other day and get 2 x 24 which lasts me three months.  I will have to remember to re order at the beginning of the month in this case.  So why doesn't this happen with all my repeats then if everything is determined by quotas?  I have never encountered it before.

[Janice68]

I know what you mean Tinkerbell it's ridiculous!!

I asked for 2 boxes of vagifem and my doc said the one box is intended for 3 months supply hence 2 a week as instructed on leaflet. I got told off as I was using every other night which was okay for me because of the new LOWER Dose now.
Am I safe using the 2 a week? I now have irregular periods. I'm only asking as i don't want to take progesterone  and wanted to know if it's safe to take vagifem without progesterone?

By the way i can't take full Hrt as it doesn't agree with me. But local estrogen is fine though. That's why I'm asking the question.

Janx

[babyjane]

I have used VF alternate nights since it was changed from 25mcg to 10mcg with my doctor's agreement and it is prescribed accordingly.

This schedule works so well for me that I would pay for it if it was necessary.

[Tinkerbell]

Janice....I saw a meno specialist last year and she said it was quite safe to use it every night if necessary. She also wrote to my GP and informed them that even using Vagifem every day was only equivalent to one oral HRT tablet a year.
You do not need a separate progesterone if only using topical HRT.

[Janice68]

Janice....I saw a meno specialist last year and she said it was quite safe to use it every night if necessary. She also wrote to my GP and informed them that even using Vagifem every day was only equivalent to one oral HRT tablet a year.
You do not need a separate progesterone if only using topical HRT.






That's what I thought but no she said I run
the chance of endometrial cancer. The problem I have I  can't take full Hrt and I can't stand the progesterone part either.
I get so confused as in professionals saying different things it's unbelievable! At first I did use it everyday then cut it down to every other night and I found it worked well for me and doing well on that then she came out with this very confused!! Help!!
Bless you janx

[Tinkerbell]

That's rubbish, it's a tiny amount and systemic uptake is minute.
 
Is there someone else you can see at your GP practice?

[Janice68]

Yes i agree it is a small amount estrogen nothing compared to our mega amounts before meno!!!!
Already see another doc now too!!!

[CLKD]

Government deciding again that women can't have their prescriptions filled?

Bugga ……..

[Hurdity]

Janice68 was it a doctor that gave you the incorrect information about the systemic effect of Vagifem? If she had looked at this website she would see the official view which is here: "Low dose vaginal estrogen preparations can be used long term without causing any known systemic effect, and without needing any progestogenic protection of the lining of the womb." http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/dryness.php

You will need your doctor's approval for using the higher dose ie more than 2 x per week - and this should then do the trick ie they should prescribe the right amount per prescription ie double. The licensed Estring (local oestrogen vaginal ring) delivers 50 mcg per week whereas the vagifem  2 x 10 mcg deliver 20 mcg - as they say in US "Do the Math" - so doc can't say 20 mcg is too much.

babyjane - I have never come across this before - definitely try a different pharmacy.

Hurdity x