Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[luna66]

Hello All

I have been using Estrogel for a few years and a new brand came in during UK shortages, apparently made for the EU market. Last time I collected my prescription the pharmacist asked me if I was 'ok' to use the newer brand. I asked if the contents were the same as the other brand, he said yes. Yet... I've been suffering from anxiety, acne, breakthrough bleeding (I use a mirena to deliver the progestorone) etc. I asked my gynae (Studd's clinic on Wimpole St) and he said that some women had reported problems with the newer brand.

Any other experiences of issues with the newer brand here, and any understanding of why if the ingredients are the same? I'm not sure how to get hold of the original brand if I'm to go back to it.

Thank you!

luna66

[CLKD]

What's it branded as?  it may be the fillers rather than the active ingredient that is causing problems.

MayB go back to what was helping? 

[luna66]

Thank you CKLD.

It's branded 'Oestrodose.' The trouble is, when I order a repeat prescription this is what is being delivered. I guess I have to have a chat with my pharmacist to see if there's any way I can get hold of Estrogel.

Has anyone else had any issues with Oestrodose?

[Asher]

Hi luna66, I have never used Oestrodose, but there are lots of reports of it not working the same as estrogel.
I’ve always been on estrogel and don’t have any experience of using Oestrodose but I think some ladies on here may have used it hopefully they will see your post and let you know.
There were posts about it on mums net and women not feeling it worked as well as estrogel .

[Abc123]

This is a long thread but well worth reading it all. Grab a cuppa and see how lots of people have had problems since Oestrogel changed - both with new oestrogel and Oestrodose. https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,67309.0.html

[luna66]

Hi luna66, I have never used Oestrodose, but there are lots of reports of it not working the same as estrogel.
I’ve always been on estrogel and don’t have any experience of using Oestrodose but I think some ladies on here may have used it hopefully they will see your post and let you know.
There were posts about it on mums net and women not feeling it worked as well as estrogel .

thank you so much Asher - I've just found another very helpful thread on here which confirms my problem.

[luna66]

This is a long thread but well worth reading it all. Grab a cuppa and see how lots of people have had problems since Oestrogel changed - both with new oestrogel and Oestrodose. https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,67309.0.html

Thank you so much! This is super-helpful. I see that I'm not going mad! It's the Oestrodose after all.

[Abc123]

Definitely not going mad! I hope you can find another regime that works as well soon.

[luna66]

Definitely not going mad! I hope you can find another regime that works as well soon.

Just to list my symptoms in case this is useful to anyone else: bad acne on one side of my face (I've never suffered from acne), itching skin, vaginal itching, terrible sleep, pounding heart, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, joint aches. I wish I'd realised before that it was the Oestrodose. I've been suffering with this for months. I never suspected it as I was told by the pharmacist that it was identical to Oestrogel. Argh!!!

[aj1971]

It is definitely the oestrogel to blame. Despite everyone insisting that it is the same as the 'old' oestrogel, it just isn't.

I, too, noticed a difference when it changed for me back in November 2023. Not only is there a difference between the 'old' and 'new' bottles, but there is inconsistency between the new bottles themselves.

Estrodose is notoriously weaker than oestrogel. You can ask for oestrogel, but be aware that it may also feel different to what you used before.

That does not mean that estrodose will be of no benefit, but you may need to increase the number of pumps you use, and your GP may not be in agreement with that.

I discussed this with my menopause specialist very recently and she has seen many women complaining about the inconsistency. I think if we stick with oestrogel or estrodose, we need to find a way of managing the inconsistencies (eg increasing pumps when it feels weaker).

In another thread, I posted about the difference between the new bottles with gloss labels, and those with matt labels (more recent). I find the matt label bottles to be more like the old oestrogel in viscosity. Not as watery/runny. It dispenses more smoothly and doesn't spurt out. Comes in the same bottle/pump as the more watery stuff.

So, who knows what is going on?  I contacted Besins, who say it is all the same. But in my experience it ain't. Something is affecting the consistency between products and we have to learn to manage them if oestrogel is the best option for us.

Neither Sandrena nor patches work for me, which is another mystery since surely it should be pretty easy to substitute one form of HRT for another. But Sandrena makes me feel completely wiped out, and patches make me feel anxious and jittery. So oestrogel it is, despite all its ups and downs.

I am glad the menopause specialist gets it.

I also think that those best qualified to comment on this are those who use the stuff every day.

[luna66]

Thank you for sharing aj71. It’s good to know I’m not imagining things.

I managed to swap some unopened bottles of Oestrodose for Oestrogel at my pharmacy on Monday and am already feeling less anxious and less itchy. The itching and anxiety was driving me nuts. Too early to say if my acne is improving. Sleep has been terrible too and am hoping that will improve.

It’s so helpful to have this forum to speak to!