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[KiltedCupid]

I need to wait till 7.11 for prescription... I hope my GP will give it to me. If not - I will pay this 99 pound but I will have 6 months without stress My husb said that he will not let me have menopausal symptoms - he is too scared  and it's better for my bones 

Haha- Viwi, I think there's quite a few husbands happy to part with their cash in these lean times! Orangefoot has managed to get some at her pharmacy, maybe you could call around if you haven't already?

[Viwi]

Bear - happy to hear that, that I'm not that stupid 

KilkedCupid - true - who want to have crazy-nagging woman at home - I once forgot to put a patch after bath... literaly I was late for 10h - couldnt sleep, was hysteric and had 2 blackouts from hotflushes before my husb asked about patches - I never forgot after that. I will be calling all pharmacies here on 5-6.11 to have information right before my GP. If not - I will show him online pharmacy and tell him to give me this 6 months worth prescription  He is great GP so if I use strong arguments he should listen 

[KiltedCupid]

Viwi - I cant stand to be with myself at times, never mind someone else putting up with me! Good luck with the sourcing, your GP sounds like a good one overall and I'm sure he'll help in your quest for the right patch.

[Hurdity]

Hi hurdity,

The results of this recent study..

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6454296/#

'...although the estradiol in Estradot patches was not affected by storage at +21°C, at +35°C, estradiol decreased by 57% (±1%) in cut pieces.'

...are not very encouraging for Estradot.

Hi Viwi,

Your idea, on the other hand, is recommended! 

'One limitation of this study is that the effect of humidity was not tested. Although the absence of guidance from the manufacturer suggests that humidity is not an issue for storage, we do not rule out the possibility of an effect. On the other hand, E2 is only slightly soluble in water, and we therefore believe that humidity will have little impact on stability. Until this is established, we recommend using an airtight plastic bag in order to avoid any effect of humidity during storage.'

BeaR.

Interesting study bear but doesn't really alter what I said, and your implication that my suggestion re cutting Estradot and using in 3 days is not recommended - probably not justified under most normal circumstances, I would maintain!

The study was nothing to do with HRT but to try and investigate the stability of cut up pieces of patch (apart from Estradot - cutting 3 different 50 mcg patches into 8 pices) to give small doses to young girls with Turners' syndrome or hypogonadism - and because there are no very low suitable doses therefore they would need to keep their little pieces for a month and hope they still had oestrogen in them.

Storage instructions for Estradot patches anyway are from 2-30  deg C.  As always the deil is in the detail.This experiment showed that when 50 mcg Estradot patches were cut in two there was no deterioration after a month at 21 deg - (as you quoted from the study and I am emphasising), but equal deterioriation occurred in both uncut, unopened patches and cut ones stored in sealed bag when stored AT 35 DEG FOR A MONTH ie 5 deg above the max storage specified by Estradot. Therefore the result is not surprising. Also they only measured the oestrogen after TWO weeks and then FOUR weeks so even at 35 deg there may have only been minimal deterioration after 3 days under normal storage conditions.

I did mention ambient temperature and exposure to air in my post that you blue-boxed - it is common sense after all that these are going to have some effect.

[Huridity - I have this funny thing to seal things in vaccum... - I hope it make sense So I can keep it safe.

Sounds good - although I think if you are just keeping it for 3 days (with the twice weekly patch change) just folding over the sealed sachet should be fine - it's OK with me anyway...

Hurdity x

I still stand by this - but of course it is sensible to seal it all up as an extra precaution but keeping your other half for 3 days at normal temperature (the mind boggles  ).... I imagine would only have a marginal effect. Now if you go to Spain or Greece in the summer.... well that might be a different matter - but your uncut patches might also deteriorate if you are away for a few weeks!

Good luck in your quest for patches Viwi. Now I have Estraderm of course I can bask in the tropics for weeks merrily snipping my patches to my heart's content - only problem being having to put up with these plastic liners on my butt - can't imagine what they will feel like in hot weather 

Hurdity x

[KiltedCupid]

Viwi - I've kept cut up bits of estraderm in the paper pouch they come in, unsealed In a drawer, for weeks.

They're perfectly ok.

[Hurdity]

...as confirmed by the study kilted cupid - although they sealed them up again. Similarly I have used cut up pieces of Estradot for at least a couple of weeks (which was apprently the dubious one in this particualr study - but only at 35 deg!) without issue (apart from them being more difficult to undue the plastic liner as some stuff had oozed out.

Bottom line (!) is don't let 'em get too hot if Estradot (ie tropical!).

Hurdity x

[KiltedCupid]

Given that estradot have a unique dot matrix hurdily, I wouldn't ignore the results of the study. As you've pointed out  in other posts, studies are very important, if not more important than anecdotal user reviews. I'd be careful.

Happily for you Viwi,  this doesn't apply to estraderm.

[hotmama]

I'm on the same dose as you, Hurdity, 62.5mcg Estradot and cut my 50mcg. I cut it a quarter at a time and keep the remainder in the original little packet. I change patches twice a week so the whole thing is used within two weeks. Seems fine and my GP is ok with it.

[Viwi]

Now I'm scared like hell XD I ordered Estraderm MX100 24 patches from this PharmacyPlanet - I thought that I will have to send them prescription - didn't know that they will contact my GP themselves XD Ok - I wrote dosage (1/2 patch 2 times per week) but I have bad feeling that phonecall from my GP will not be the nicest one on monday XD I just wanted to see how it works... mum - I'm scared now Especialy that I got my previous prescription 10 days ago... meaby I will be able to convince them to give it to me as there is so big shortage and problems. Depending who will call me from GP...
Can I hide myself somewhere and pretend that I'm not here? I'm scared of people

[KiltedCupid]

Don't worry Viwi - just explain that you can't get estraderm any other way and that you can only get that dose of patch which you cut in half. GP's need to be flexible with us at a time when there's such difficulty in sourcing our preferred product. You can opt to have them not contact your GP and you send the prescription.

[Hurdity]

Given that estradot have a unique dot matrix hurdily, I wouldn't ignore the results of the study. As you've pointed out  in other posts, studies are very important, if not more important than anecdotal user reviews. I'd be careful.

Happily for you Viwi,  this doesn't apply to estraderm.

Kilted cupid - just seen this - didn't you read my comments about the paper? it is irrelevant in terms of Estradot because the storage instructions for this patch are recommended at between 2 and 30 degrees and this trial (not designed for menopausal women who might cut a patch and retain the cut portion often for no longer than a week - usually less) found a deterioration in ENTIRE UNCUT SEALED PATCHES kept for ONE MONTH at 35 degrees - above the upper storage limit, as well as the cut ones. This is so far outside the parameters of estradot and what women were asking that once again - although interesting, is a bit of a red herring, and again sets hares running unnecessarily. Like I said before  ( but mistyped!) the DEVIL is in the detail  .  I did think I made this clear in my post but maybe not 

Totally agree that studies are important but if they are linked to  and used to illustrate a point - then this needs to be clear and relevant, otherwise members get unduly sidetracked and some often worried.

Once evidence from trials has been established - then personal experience is relevant as individuals can react differently whereas trials report on the results of averages amongst populations/groups of women or whatever is being researched.

Like I said - my experience supports the idea that keeping cut Estradot for a week or so in its foil pouch in a drawer at temperatures welll below the upper storgae limit of estradot - had no discernible effect on me - as would be expected from the results.

I'm on the same dose as you, Hurdity, 62.5mcg Estradot and cut my 50mcg. I cut it a quarter at a time and keep the remainder in the original little packet. I change patches twice a week so the whole thing is used within two weeks. Seems fine and my GP is ok with it.

Ditto with hotmama!

Hurdity x

[Hurdity]

Viwi - I did comment on your thread in the other section when I noticed you had gone after I'd been away from forum for a few days. Very sorry to see you have left and I do hope you reconsider? We are here to support you! Also I hope you got your prescription for Estraderm OK and are now happily cutting and using it allright?!

Please come back and let us know how you are - we miss you and hopefully we're not too scary! 

Hurdity x

[flossie fiddler]

Interesting discussion above. Thought I'd give you an update on my experience.

As you know, Royal Mail let me down with the Special Delivery, however, can't fault the services of Oxford Pharmacy. They rang me on the Monday afternoon as soon as they had received my written prescription, so that I could make payment over the phone. Apparently they had to order my patches from Europe, but I had them by the Saturday. So, I would allow a minimum of a week to get yours if you're going down this route.

By the time I had received my Evorel Sequi patches I'd already been without them for a week, and had no symptoms. So I decided to stay off them and see what happens. I've been on HRT 6 years now (I'm now 54.5 years old) and was going to change to Conti at my next review in March. However, two weeks off the patches and still no real symptoms. I'm sleeping well, mood is good, minimal headaches that usually disappear with a glass of water. Had one or two tropical moments, but no major flushes and sweats. I tend to run cold mostly, so the warm moments are often welcome as they warm me up nicely.

I will report back in around a month, but will probably start a new thread. Good luck to everyone who is trying to get your therapies. Couldn't fault Oxford.

[KiltedCupid]

Flossie Fiddler - I've always had great customer service from Oxford. Interesting that you're managing without hrt, I always got to around 2 weeks before my mood and night sweats sent me back to it. The sweats were bearable but the mood and tiredness meant I couldn't function. I'm on low dose now and it suits really well and means less prog which is a big bonus for me.

Keep us updated on how you get on.

Good luck.

[kcupcake]

Hi, I have started Estraderm patches MX 25 and MX50 to make it up to MX75 (due to shortfall), but the GP says he can only prescribe 1 month at a time due to govt regulations on repeat prescriptions, so I am confused how some people manage to get prescribed a few months at a time and send their prescription to an online pharmacy.I'd love to do that due to current shortage as I'm scared of running out, however I also need Utrogestan as I still have my insides etc
Any advice pls?