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[Clovie]

Hi ladies

I've been happily taking Utrogestan for years now but I received a letter from my GP (who was not the GP who put me on Utrogestan as we moved from down south to Scotland 5 years ago) saying they were reviewing ladies on HRT and wanted me to make an appointment saying 'Utrogestan is no longer recommended in Scotland ' and that she is aware that finding products suited to me was difficult.

Please, does anyone know anything about this?  I've not heard anything about Utrogestan not being recommended anywhere in UK unless I've missed something big?

I simply cannot use the synthetic progs, I've tried a few, and they all  make me have raging PMT to the point I really cannot function. I really do not know what I'd do if they took Utrogestan off me...

[Lolafraola]

Hi Clovie,

I'm on Utrogestan and haven't had any updates or heard any recommendations about its withdrawal. I'll def follow-up. Thanks for the heads up.

LF

[Choc Ice]

This so depressing, I just managed to get a GP to prescribe oestrogel and utrogestan yesterday, . I am supposed to pick it up Monday, if they aren't recommending it, what the(xxx) alternative are they going to use and anyway why?
 I am beginning to lose hope with all of this and am now looking at all sorts of deep and dark sinister meanings for it. ( I know probably my meno depressed brain) but really, if it were men having this then they would not have all the power and control of their own treatments taken away. I feel just like a manipulated pawn in a bigger game where I have no idea what the rules are. This absolute loss my own ability to choose and guide my own physical condition is horrible.
Sorry depressive rant over

[jaycee]

Are you sure it isn't Norethisterone, as that has been reported as not being recommended,if the letter said Utrogestan it is strange that no one else has been told  the same
I thought it had been recommended instead of norethisterone

[KiltedCupid]

I live in Scotland and have utro on my repeats. Nothing from GP to say it's banned. A quick scan of Scottish NHS prescribing doesn't mention anything either. Call your GP on Monday.

[Turkish delight]

Hia!

Can't even imagine this could be true anywhere, by the way I don't live in Scotland.

Can you add "in Scotland" at the end of your header? As it will attract the others that live there to chime in.

TD

[Choc Ice]

Just been trawling  the net, and apparently in 2009 there was a statement to say utrogestan was not to be recommended for HRT treatment in Scotland.
But, also Tayside Health board ‘s current HRT recommendations, are for Utrogestan only to be prescribed by meno specialists from clinics and are not recommended for GP' s to prescribe as first line treatment. There doesn't seem to be anything more recent than that, or more broadly, cross countrywide. So not really sure what info your GP is going on.
I am hoping my GP doesn't know yours!!!

[Clovie]

Thanks girls.

Please don't worry too much, anyone!

I've looked myself online and can see NO mention of it not being recommended at all! - I fear it is a cost cutting exercise having seen the price of Utrogestan compared to Norethisterone!

And yes it is DEFINITELY Utrogestan and not Norethisterone I'm talking about, sadly.

I will certainly be arguing my case! 

[Clovie]

Just been trawling  the net, and apparently in 2009 there was a statement to say utrogestan was not to be recommended for HRT treatment in Scotland.
But, also Tayside Health board ‘s current HRT recommendations, are for Utrogestan only to be prescribed by meno specialists from clinics and are not recommended for GP' s to prescribe as first line treatment. There doesn't seem to be anything more recent than that, or more broadly, cross countrywide. So not really sure what info your GP is going on.
I am hoping my GP doesn't know yours!!!

Hi Choc Ice 

Thanks for this!
Hardly a recent thing is it? I've been with my GP for FIVE years now and just now mentioning it. Hence I think it's a cost cutting exercise perhaps!

My Utrogestan was actually prescribed by a meno specialist at a clinic so I'm hoping I can keep it.
Either way I'll be arguing my case for keeping it!   

Edited - please could you give me a link to the Tayside info? Thank you in advance

[Choc Ice]

Clovie,
Thank you for the clarification. Sounds like they are reacting from a financial point, which is hardly helpful when it comes down to what is more effective.

[Clovie]

Clovie,
Thank you for the clarification. Sounds like they are reacting from a financial point, which is hardly helpful when it comes down to what is more effective.

I'm certainly thinking finance has SOMEthing to do with it And, with the best will in the world, recommendations or not, there ARE no other progs I can try, Utrogestan was given to me as it is bio-identical and the kindest gentlest prog available. I will be beside myself if they take it off me!

Please could you give me a link to the Tayside info you mentioned if it's not too much trouble? Thank you. 

[Hurdity]

Hello Clovie! Long time no "see"?!

There have been recent posts about utro in Scotland and also going back some years too - I think it may well be some of the formularies and defo seems like cost-cutting.

here are some of them (I just did a search for Utrogestan Scotland...)

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,43939.msg702916.html#msg702916

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,45156.msg726123.html#msg726123

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,45018.msg724838.html#msg724838

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,44549.msg714417.html#msg714417

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,44946.msg722331.html#msg722331

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,39957.msg703234.html#msg703234

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,24125.msg543031.html#msg543031


You (your doc) should always be able to bypass the formularies' recommendations although I'm not familiar with Scottish practice but you can in England - none of the HRT I have is on our list for my area - but the GP just has to justify it. I mean Utrogestan is the only bio-identical progesterone available so if you don't want to use synthetics for whatever reason - they have to prescribe it for you (surely!) - but presumably have been told to try to recommend alternative cheaper products?

Don't let them!!!

Hurdity x

[MicheleMaBelle]

Hi Clovie. It's definitely not approved for HRT use in Scotland ( costs presumably) but there are quite a few who get it via the NHS no problem. Mine came from a private consultant ( also works NHS and I attend meno clinic ) but I understand that some GP's refuse to prescribe and others happily do so. It does seem to be a bit of a lottery. You just need to explain to them that you have severe issues with the synthetic progs and hopefully they will continue to prescribe x

[KiltedCupid]

Perhaps someone could write to Dr Currie?

She's based in Dumfries & Galloway and would surely know the ins and outs of Scottish Utro prescribing.

[Clovie]

Hi Clovie. It's definitely not approved for HRT use in Scotland ( costs presumably) but there are quite a few who get it via the NHS no problem. Mine came from a private consultant ( also works NHS and I attend meno clinic ) but I understand that some GP's refuse to prescribe and others happily do so. It does seem to be a bit of a lottery. You just need to explain to them that you have severe issues with the synthetic progs and hopefully they will continue to prescribe x

Hi there

Utrogestan was prescribed for me from a NHS meno specialist in Wales so that should be OK I presume?

But what is more relevant I think , is that I've lived up here in Scotland for five years with not a word said up until now.
I do hope I'm not going to have to start all over again seeing another specialist having to explain again that I can't take the synthetic progs

Hello Clovie! Long time no "see"?!

There have been recent posts about utro in Scotland and also going back some years too - I think it may well be some of the formularies and defo seems like cost-cutting.

here are some of them (I just did a search for Utrogestan Scotland...)

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,43939.msg702916.html#msg702916

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,45156.msg726123.html#msg726123

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,45018.msg724838.html#msg724838

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,44549.msg714417.html#msg714417

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,44946.msg722331.html#msg722331

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,39957.msg703234.html#msg703234

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,24125.msg543031.html#msg543031


You (your doc) should always be able to bypass the formularies' recommendations although I'm not familiar with Scottish practice but you can in England - none of the HRT I have is on our list for my area - but the GP just has to justify it. I mean Utrogestan is the only bio-identical progesterone available so if you don't want to use synthetics for whatever reason - they have to prescribe it for you (surely!) - but presumably have been told to try to recommend alternative cheaper products?

Don't let them!!!

Hurdity x

Hi Hurdity!! 

Yes, long time no 'see'!!!   Hope you're doing OK!

Thanks for your reply! 

I certainly will be fighting my corner for keeping the Utrogestan, it is working a treat, and I'm scared she will take me off HRT altogether if I say there are no other progs to try. (Tried and have been very ill on the synthetic ones)