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[Abba Fan]

Hi Conolly, I have picture number 4, I get a private GP to prescribe it, in the past when I got it from the NHS GP, I always got prescribed picture number 3.

[Conolly]

Hello Abba Fan,


Thank you very much. Sorry if you have already said this before, but I would like to know if you have ever felt any difference between #4 and #3 and also if the writings on the box/pump are exactly as the ones you see on these photos regarding composition and repackaging companies.


Conolly X

[Droopeydrawers]

Hi conolly my box is similar to number 4 but all in English.Sorry I can't post photo but if you want to pm me your email I can send you a screen shot.xx D.D

[Conolly]

Hello DD,


Will do, thank you.


Conolly X


PS: Actually a link to my email address is right below my avatar 

[Abba Fan]

Hi Conolly, it's number 5 I get on private prescription, sorry for the confusion. I always insist I get number 5 because yes I have had problems with absorption using number 3.

[Ladybt28]

Hi Connolly, my pictures are: the Box front = 1/the box back = 2 and the bottle back = 3.
Mine is an NHS prescription and I live in Northern Ireland
I have never had anything different so I don't know if there is a different absorption rate.

[sheila99]

I used to have estrogel but recently got ostradose repackaged as estrogel (1&3). I have found no difference. I actually prefer the ostradose pump, the first squirt of estrogel was always a bit small because the gel disappeared up the spout. I don't think they would be able to repackage it unless it was exactly the same.

[Conolly]

Hi Conolly, it's number 5 I get on private prescription, sorry for the confusion. I always insist I get number 5 because yes I have had problems with absorption using number 3.

Thank you, Abba Fan. What exactly do you mean by 'problems with absorption'? Have your symptoms returned? Have you had to increase the dose?

Conolly X

[Conolly]

Hi Connolly, my pictures are: the Box front = 1/the box back = 2 and the bottle back = 3.
Mine is an NHS prescription and I live in Northern Ireland
I have never had anything different so I don't know if there is a different absorption rate.

Hello Ladybt28,

Thank you. So your front box says Oestrodose, the box back says Oestrogel repackaged by Doncaster Pharma and the bottle is the French (with a neck) style or just the print (#3)[size=78%]? [/size]



Conolly X

[Abba Fan]

Yes symptoms returned such as dizziness, nausea, hot flushes and anxiety. I had a blood test done and my levels were around 400, I don't feel well under 800. I increased from 3 pumps to 4 pumps for another month and I still had the same problems. I then went to the private GP and insisted that he write me a script for number 5 as I've never had any problems with absorption while using it. Btw, I only use 3 pumps of picture number 5, I've never had to increase the dose. I'm postmenopause so don't know if that makes a difference.

[Conolly]

I used to have estrogel but recently got ostradose repackaged as estrogel (1&3). I have found no difference. I actually prefer the ostradose pump, the first squirt of estrogel was always a bit small because the gel disappeared up the spout. I don't think they would be able to repackage it unless it was exactly the same.

Hello sheila99,


Thank you. Do you have the straight bottle or the one with a neck?

[Conolly]

Yes symptoms returned such as dizziness, nausea, hot flushes and anxiety. I had a blood test done and my levels were around 400, I don't feel well under 800. I increased from 3 pumps to 4 pumps for another month and I still had the same problems. I then went to the private GP and insisted that he write me a script for number 5 as I've never had any problems with absorption while using it. Btw, I only use 3 pumps of picture number 5, I've never had to increase the dose. I'm postmenopause so don't know if that makes a difference.

Thanks Abba Fan. I think your experience is interesting precisely because you are postmenopausal. If you were still in peri your own hormonal fluctuations would have interfered in the process.


Conolly X

[Hurdity]

It's the same stuff! 0.06% estradiol gel with exactly the same ingredients. There should be no difference in absorption at all - only in that individual women vary from day to day week to week and month to month even on the same HRT.....we read about it all the time. That is in itself interesting! The ingredients are all the same. It's not like Sandrena gel vs Oestrogel/Oestrodose or Testim vs Testogel - these are different formulations and sometimes different concentrations. According to Besins it is all in the labelling. The repackaging is the EXTERNAL packaging and it is all (ie the gel) put into the same inner pouch. It's not the outer carton you want to be looking at - it would be the inner pouch which should have a batch number. I haven't seen any of these though!

The original gel they (Besins) make is/was Oestrodose. That is the "proper" stuff. In UK (and some other  EU countries - looks like Greece too judging by the picture) we seem to want to call their Oestrodose "Oestrogel" so the plastic packaging reflects what it's called here or it is just relabelled because that's what it's known as in UK!!! I mean this is the case for lots of pharmaceutical products - Utrogestan, Estradot patches and all sorts of tablet HRT types - we become aware of it on this forum when we compare products and  find they have different names although the same formulation by the same company. If it was a different formulation it would be listed on eMC as a different product and Besins have explained the position in several e-mails which I have reported here.

The only possible issue is that one of the parallel importers is procuring from elsewhere outsidie the EU with a different formulation and lying that it is Besins gel  but the pharmaceutical industry is very heavily regulated. Anyone who feels there is a difference should report the product they think is inferior through the yellow card scheme after first opening the plastic packaging and noting the batch numbers.

Hurdity x

[Conolly]

Hello ladies,


I know that most of you don't care if there are minor differences between the batches. I respect that. I just like to get to the bottom of things. I have been reading a lot about Pharmaceutical companies and markets and I am personally interested in the business. I have found some inconsistencies in information so far regarding the carbomers. In theory the 934p shouldn't be marketed in Europe, but it is licensed in the US, all Estrogel produced by Ascend Therapeutics (a Besins Healthcare affiliate) has the 934p. Some Oestrogel cartons have the 934p listed, some have the 980 NF, some just say carbomer. If this is a leaflet error (as Besins have told Hurdity) this has been happening for 19 years... wot?


I agree that the batch number is also important, so if you could post the numbers after finishing the bottle, I'd appreciate that.


Oestrodose is not the 'original' product. It's just the French trade mark. Oestrogel is the name marketed all around the world, except for the US (Estrogel) and some Asian countries. I agree that names, carton, bottles are irrelevant but that's what we have to compare, otherwise we have to 'believe' Besins. I'm not a believer. It's business and it's about money. We are the guinea pigs, with brains.


Conolly X

[sheila99]

I used to have estrogel but recently got ostradose repackaged as estrogel (1&3). I have found no difference. I actually prefer the ostradose pump, the first squirt of estrogel was always a bit small because the gel disappeared up the spout. I don't think they would be able to repackage it unless it was exactly the same.

Hello sheila99,


Thank you. Do you have the straight bottle or the one with a neck?

Estrogel was pic 5. Ostradose bottle has a shaped neck, nozzle is flat instead of round, original writing in French on the bottle, English label on top.