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[bear]

I found Emma's link on twitter - thank you! It explains why a lot of us who want Estradot have 'been able to get' Estraderm (as if it's a luxury!)

Estraderm is awful. The 75mcg is a massive patch 5cm x 5cm and no wonder Estradot is preferred.  I bet all this Estraderm was ordered at the same rate as Estradot but sitting on the shelves, unprescribed as Estradot was prescribed more and more. 

Now that the NHS has put anyone off even selling HRT to the UK what we've got now is what was left on the shelf.

It's bad enough that in many areas Utrogestan is on the RED list of the CCG Formularies defining it as specialist prescription only. Then nationally they go and move all the HRT into the fixed price cupboard making it pointless supplying it.

I can't tell you how mad I am. It doesn't help that my husband gently stroked by thigh when I got into bed and the stupid Estraderm rolled right off my leg. I couldn't be bothered to get out of bed to put another one on and ended up going 12+hours without it and I've had a very frustrating powerless and tearful afternoon whilst negotiating the sale of a house (I'm an estate agent) and writing oodles of letters to all sorts of people. Thank goodness this is my own business!

Hi I'm writing about the bit of your post that I have bolded.
I am addicted to valium and take 200mg utrogestan daily as it is cross tolerant to valium.
For this reason I cannot take a cheaper progestin as it will mess up my GABA receptors with disasterous results.
I read that red list drugs are hospital only prescriptions and it takes ages to get a hospital appointment in my area.
I am worried about running out of utrogestan, the menopause expert Elizabeth Vliet says it is like a strong benzo, so altering my dose or removing it will either have disasterous effects or it will kill me.
I cannot order online because no one takes conti progesterone 200mg daily, so the online doctor will not approve it.
I don't know if it is on the red list in my area. I tried to check online to see if it is on the red list in my area but I can't check. I think it needs a clinician to check.
The independent pharmacy don't sell utrogestan.
What am I to do?
I can only order so much at a time, and worried that when I come to order it next on 3 Dec I will find that it is on the red list.
What is the way forward?
I'm too young to die or suffer disasterous consequences by changing from micronised prog.

Hi Dandelion,

Even in Scotland where the NHS operates under stringent economic policies you can get Utrogestan if needs be.
See this thread https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,45831.0.html

BeaR.

[Hurdity]

I've done a separate post about the BMS update too so it doesn't get lost as all the info on that update is in one place

Hurdity x

[Dandelion]

Dandelion I have answered your last post on the thread about Utrogestan prescription as this thread is about the general shortages issue rather than what docs will prescribe - OK? Do not fret

Hurdity x

Hi Hurdity thanks for your reply.
Do you mean the post to me on this page? https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,45779.msg743228.html#msg743228
I hope I don't sound contradictory to you, I'm just confused, I read your post on the thread about utrogestan prescription and you say it can be prescribed as long as they can justify it, but the doctors have not put on my notes about how my valium addicction relates to the progesterone and cross tolerance.
As any GP in my large surgery signs the online prescription requests, as I order online I am worried that they will just refuse it, as they will  not see it as justified.
I'm panicking because on the 9th October on this thread https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,44773.msg733285/topicseen.html#msg733285 Reply #291 Oldsheep said there's been a total supply shutdown of both of her HRT prescriptions. Evorel 50 patches and Utrogestan 100.
Your reply Reply #298 to oldsheep said it sounds very scary and if utrogestan starts to become in short supply, we're doomed.
So, I'm worried that I won't get my utro when I request it online on 3rd December, I am too scared even to ring my local pharmacist, in case they say it can't be issued.
Sorry to keep panicking, it really is a matter of life and death for me, due to the severe withdrawal effects on the GABA and the GP's don't understand it. As far as I know, there isn't anything on my notes about utrogestan and valium addiction to justify it.
My notes just say about the bleeding episodes, and they can prescribe an alterative progestin which would be disasterous.
Sorry to fret.

[Mary G]

Dandelion, if it's a matter of life or death, you could try and source it elsewhere.   

There are no HRT supply problems in Spain so if either you or someone you know is in Spain, you could ask them to buy Utrogestan for you, it is not very expensive and it would give you some much needed peace of mind.

[Dandelion]

Dandelion, if it's a matter of life or death, you could try and source it elsewhere.   

There are no HRT supply problems in Spain so if either you or someone you know is in Spain, you could ask them to buy Utrogestan for you, it is not very expensive and it would give you some much needed peace of mind.

Hi Mary thanks for your reply.
I don't know anyone who is going to Spain or abroad.
I cannot get it online as I am on conti and no online doctor would prescribe the 200mg daily utrogestan that I need.

[Orangefoot]

@Dandelion  Utrogestan has been on the red list i many CCGs or ages. It can be prescribed by GPs but mine wouldn't/couldn't due to this red warning on her screen and she's a rule taker!

It is on the NICE guidelines for menopause treatment and if you've been prescribed it before, a repeat prescription should be fine.

I had a bit of a battle to get Utrogestan but it turns out I can't tolerate it at all anyway and I now have a Jaydess IUS which takes away all the worry about supply issues on that side as it's in me now and that's that.

[Dandelion]

@Dandelion  Utrogestan has been on the red list i many CCGs or ages. It can be prescribed by GPs but mine wouldn't/couldn't due to this red warning on her screen and she's a rule taker!

It is on the NICE guidelines for menopause treatment and if you've been prescribed it before, a repeat prescription should be fine.

I had a bit of a battle to get Utrogestan but it turns out I can't tolerate it at all anyway and I now have a Jaydess IUS which takes away all the worry about supply issues on that side as it's in me now and that's that.

Thanks for the reassurance, glad you are feeling better.

[Hurdity]

Hi there - this post is about supply issues - the main subject of this thread.....

I just provided some info on another thread about ESTRADOT - but will repeat the essence of it here:

My (prescribing) pharmacist ( who works in my local GP practice dispensary) phoned just now to let me know that there were still no Estradot available despite info to the contrary on the latest BMS update. He phoned Novartis this morning and there are still very few Estradot patches being supplied into the marketplace.

Apparently a few were released last week (he said 100s but then said 25s??) but there are none at the moment. he couldn't say when they would be back on track. He said Novartis supply to Alliance which is owned by Boots and he looked online (at Alliance) after discussing with Novartis (while on the phone to me) and they are also showing red ie none.....

Presumably there are still some ( a few boxes?)  somewhere in the supply chain but not consistently.....

There seems to be a discrepancy in what we (and BMS) are being told and what pharmacists on the ground are finding - even direct from the manufacturers. It is puzzling to say the least.

The pharmacists also said due to lack of continuous combined patches that patients were being returned to oral therapy - I didn't get into a long discussion about patches/gel with separate prog!

ESTRADERM - as indicated in the BMS info - is now in short supply - not surprisingly.

I have been prescribed another one that is probably rarely used - ELLESTE SOLO MX 80 mcg - quite a bit higher than I need so what a waste, but didn't want to return to 50 mcg. This is the ONLY other twice weekly patch available . He prescribed me two months instead of the usual 1 month when there are shortages - but I should get 3 months worth....

Hope this information is helpful and also that others manage to get hold of the few Estradot patches that are floating around. I am mystified as to why it is still not available - I mean is the factory lying idle or are they just supplying elsewhere?

Hurdity x

[Perinowpost]

My sister lives in Scotland and they have told her she can only have oral hrt (apologies if this has already been covered) just now.  She's not happy about it, so has bought her usual patches in Spain to get around it x

[pepperminty]

BUMP x

[bear]

Hi girls,

Latest AAH update (16th Dec) https://www.aah.co.uk/resource/blob/30378/021d26f1fd97d7057dc8e5ae7bbe4be8/aah-out-of-stock-pharmacy-and-dispensing-doctors-data.pdf

Estradot 25 and 100µg are in stock at AAH.

This is the latest Alliance update (4th Nov) I could find. Only Estradot 50µg had limited supply.

http://www.northstaffordshirejointformulary.nhs.uk/docs/DDS/Alliance%20Healthcare%20Out%20of%20stock%204.11.19.pdf?UNLID=105893532019121803746

BeaR.

[Foxylady]

Thanks BeaR. x

[Hurdity]

Supplier to my pharmacy is Alliance - and I reported on my pharmacist's attempts with them and Estradot manufacturers a couple of weeks ago and I don't hold out much hope anyway in my area - as there have been supply problems with Estradot for a number of years - maybe 4 or more? Nothing to do with current shortages - just an Estradot issue.  Unfortunately I now have 2 or 3 months of other patches until we can try again!

Hurdity x

[bear]

Hi girls, Merry Christmas

Latest AAH update (23rd Dec) https://www.aah.co.uk/resource/blob/30378/17942161c6d755048dc3497ad8c795b8/aah-out-of-stock-pharmacy-and-dispensing-doctors-data.pdf

Estradot 'Weekly deliveries into AAH but demand is higher meaning shortage'.

Femseven 50, Sequi and Conti  'Expect mid to late 2020' 

Elleste Duet Conti 'Expected wc 13/01/2020' Good news.

BeaR.

[bear]

Hi girls, Happy New Year   

Latest AAH update (31st Dec) https://www.aah.co.uk/resource/blob/30378/256b06c298c6e6cadecbc0e9f04dc0d6/aah-out-of-stock-pharmacy-and-dispensing-doctors-data.pdf

Estradot 'Shortages in the market of generic alternatives are increasing the demands'. I suppose they are referring to the US market, as far as I know there are no generic alternatives in the UK, meaning this is a global issue.

FemSeven 'expect mid to late 2020'. No mention of FemSeven Sequi or Conti. 

BeaR.