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[Tempest]

There is something rather sinister going on with drug supply in the UK, I fear. I had a long conversation a couple of weeks ago with my very good pharmacist who says that drug supply across the board is being affected by the NHS's reluctance to pay the full price that the pharmaceutical companies want, and that other countries are willing to do so, so this means we are no longer seen as a 'priority market'. This is why we are seeing these problems of shortages.

My Dad's partner who lives alone since Dad passed phoned me in tears a few months back after driving all over Northampton and was unable to get her heart drug. She was informed of the same thing by the pharmacist at Boots. Her GP then had to subsequently switch her medication, which neither of them were happy about. Rosemary didn't do well on it, and as she has now been able to source a supply of the drug at last, her GP has switched her back again but she lives in fear that the drug may become unavailable again. It's a worry she doesn't need at her age!

[CLKD]

It's been known for years that the Government of the Day/ won't pay full whack which can restrict the NHS/Pharmacies access to drugs whereas mainland Europe will - of course the Government of the Day don't give a ………… 

[Janice68]

Hurdity I'm going to try the 2 a week vagifem régime. I think it's me getting confused it dosent take much with my foggy mind but have been told if  I take more vagifem I will need to take progesterone and I do not want to take that route again.  I have to say I was happy taking  Vagifem every other night though for my VA.
Thanks for the info Hurdity!!!

[CLKD]

Who on Earth told you that Janice  - it's a vaginal application with local uptake, nowt to do with progesterone surely?

[Janice68]

I was told if I take more than is recommended I need progesterone!! My doc said I might need more vagifem if I was post menopause. My VA bad enough now let alone post meno!!

[Tinkerbell]

As Huridity said the Estring gives a weekly dose of 50mcg with no additional progesterone needed.
So surely 5x10 Vagifem a week if needed is fine....my doctor was quite happy to prescribe that amount and did for whoever couldn't manage on less.

See another doctor if two a week is not enough.

[Janice68]

I was told sometime ago I wld need progesterone even with an estring and that was by a gynae hopefully you will understand how I get confused by it all!

[Jc2]

Been reading this thread with interest as my GP also told me i would need progesterone if i upped my dose of vagifem from twice weekly.  I didnt agree with her as I had read on this site that many ladies use more so i rang a local menopause clinic and spoke to a clinical nurse specialist who was so helpful. You CAN use it safely more than twice weekly and she said i should go armed with the NICe guidlines which confirm this fact. Needless to say i have an appointment to see a different Gp next week. None of us want to put ourselves at risk and I actually hate using anything but sometimes needs must for qualityof life.

[Janice68]

Thank you Jc2 for that I thought i was going mad and even asked my OH last night just to make sure I was getting it rite what has been said to me by two docs and gynae who is a bit old school even preferring the premarin hrt route.

Thanks again for info I think I will go back to my every other night. I'm one for quality of life especially when I can't take full Hrt only local!!

Pls let me know what this other gp says to you?

[dahliagirl]

I have come across the quota thing before...........

I took my prescription in Fri and was told that they had none in, so to come in Saturday when they would have had their delivery.

I went in Saturday and the Pharmacist came out to say that the assistant had been wrong blah blah...., that it did not come with the normal delivery because blah blah....quota....blah  and that they had to make an order for it but it would be in on Monday.

To be honest, I did not understand what he was saying, but I get the feeling it is a problem small pharmacists have.  I got my vagifem on the Monday, and it hasn't happened again.

My old doctor used to make me put in a paper prescription request every time I wanted a pack in under 12 weeks in spite of prescribing 'one or two twice weekly' and even though I told them I was using 3 a week.  This used to take at least 3 days, and a drive to the surgery, then find a pharmacist and needed to be done on a Monday to make sure I got it in the shortest time.  So I was using them very sparingly and always on the point of running out especially if things went downhill and I needed a reboost.  My new gp gives me 2 boxes and so I can time my prescriptions better and factor in the pharmacy problems.  And even better, I can do it paperless, so I just have to specify the pharmacy and pick it up from there.  This is much quicker, so if there are any delays, it is not noticeable!  Last time, it had been sitting there for me from the date I ordered it (mid-afternoon).

[CLKD]

It is the drop in oestrogen that causes skin thinning = dryness all over the body, inside and out - so replacing oestrogen locally so that the vaginal walls are plumped up and less likely to itch, split etc. is what is recommended.  It doesn't say in the leaflet that increased use of Ovestin1m will require progesterone.

[linz57]

Some time back a gynae told me if I intended staying on Vagifem for life I would need progesterone . She then suggested the Mirena!! Talk about overkill!
There are so many conflicting approaches and no two gynaes tell  me the same. Very confusing.

[Janice68]

Some time back a gynae told me if I intended staying on Vagifem for life I would need progesterone . She then suggested the Mirena!! Talk about overkill!
There are so many conflicting approaches and no two gynaes tell  me the same. Very confusing.

Thanks linz57 at least I'm not the only one it is very confusing. May I ask how may Vagifem you use a week?

[linz57]

I'm currently using 2/3 Vagifem alongside half a Femseven Conti patch. If I do eventually leave off the patch I'm sure I'll have to take more Vagifem though.

[babyjane]

Back to the original question.  I have, this morning, approached another pharmacy in the town, Lloyds, which is not as big as Boots but neither is it a small independent.  The young woman I spoke to could not have been more helpful and she confirmed that they do not have these quotas applied.  If something is not in stock they order it and it is there the next day. 

I shall be contacting my GP surgery to remove my nominated pharmacy request and will, in future, be taking my prescription to our nearest Lloyds