Print

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

[K45]

Just been to my usual pharmacy and they're now replacing utrogestan with generic progesterone. The pharmacist says it's exactly the same as utrogestan but after hearing horror stories of gepetrix I am reluctant to risk going backwards. I asked for the name and they just said it's progesterone? Is this definitely safe. 

[Bunny lady]

Hi I have tried Gepretix did not get in with it and had spotting and now in 2 week pathway. I switched to Zentiva which was better but have asked for utrogestan to be specified which my GP was happy to do.
There are some who prefer gepretix and had a good experience too. We are all different and our bodies absorb progesterone and oestrogen differently I guess.

[K45]

Thanks for replying - I  had heard bad things about Gepretix last year causing unusual bleeding/spotting. The pharmacy wouldn't tell me what brand it was as they all have a name so I don't know what it was. In the end I found a pharmacy that had utrogestan as it's taken nearly a year to finally feel ok so I am not prepared to risk it. Will definitely leave plenty of time next month and phone ahead to check the6 have it.

[Ms_london76]

My pharmacy (Canada) also wanted to give me a generic progesterone. I refused and said I wanted the brand name prometrium

They were unable to answer the question of whether the generic version was bio identical (they didn’t know).

[bombsh3ll]

The active ingredient is exactly the same - micronised progesterone.

It is just like buying nurofen vs Tesco's ibuprofen. Both do exactly the same job.

Whilst there are a minority of users who will react to the excipients in one form or the other, and in this case a branded product is warranted, with the vast majority of people it is psychological, and expecting the NHS to provide brand name medication when there is a much more cost effective option is unreasonable.

I am not just talking about progesterone, this happens across all drugs, people want the brand name.

There are very few instances where this is clinically important eg some anti-epileptics.

Also, I would recommend always having your medications prescribed generically, because in the event of shortages you can much more easily be supplied with an alternative by the pharmacy.

If you are prescribed the brand name exclusively and it can't be supplied, this can lead to either going without or a delay whilst this gets sorted out.

[K45]

Thanks for the explanation Bombsh3ll- I did wonder if there might be a psychological element if they are genuinely exactly the same but read on Louise Newson's site that some people have reacted quite badly to different brands of progesterone. We don't have NHS where I live. Healthcare is extortionate even to see a GP here so didn't want to risk something different as there's a lot of meds I can't take.

MsLondon - that's exactly why I wasn't sure about taking a random version of progesterone as opposed to the utrogestan. If even the pharmacist isn't 100% certain it's bioidentical then it's definitely preferable to stick with the usual prescription.

[SundayGirl]

All same-type generic medications have the same active ingredient. It's just the excipients, or 'fillers' if you like, that can be different.

The 'fillers' are there to bulk up the medication otherwise the tablets/capsules would be too small to handle easily.

It's worth trying different versions/brands, you may find one that suits you better personally.

If you don't have reactions to any fillers then all well and good. If you do react badly to anything, your GP will be able to specify the brand on your prescription.

Talking from experience 🙂

[bombsh3ll]

If it is micronised progesterone, then it is body identical. Brand names include utrogestan, gepretix and prometrium. There's also cyclogest but as these are for vaginal use only they are not strictly interchangeable.

Your prescription is probably written as "micronised progesterone" which then means the pharmacy can supply any brand.

If there's a significant difference in out of pocket costs at the pharmacy between one brand and another I would recommend trying the lowest price one - if you plan to use it long term this could save you a lot of money.

Obviously if you are in the unfortunate minority who genuinely has to stick with the expensive brand at least then you'll know.

[K45]

Thanks both for your responses - the pharmacy assistant called me over to explain they dont have my prescription available as it only says specifically "utrogestan, Besins healthcare" no mention of micronised progesterone and wanted to check whether the generic one was okay.

 That's very helpful to know that if I can't get the utrogestan anywhere then the generic progesterone would still be body identical and would just be a case of see how it goes. They were charging the same for both types.

It is quite strange though that so many women reported unusual bleeding when they changed to a cheaper version. It's the first time I've ever come across this and everyone I know on hrt here are also only on specifically utrogestan so it will be interesting to see whether all pharmacies start to opt for a different type. Not good if you have anxiety, that's for sure!

[Rumbaba]

Hi, my pharmacist changed my progesterone to zentova a few months ago, and at the bet of December I began bleeding, and experienced cramps too.

I've had a scan and endoscopy is 3.2 mm .

I asked for my prescription to specifically state utrogestan, and have thos last week switched back. Bleeding has not yet stopped, but is much less, so I'm hoping it's tapering off.

So, definitely not psychological for me.

My menopause specialist said there had been a lot of these problems with zentiva, so definitely not in our heads .



I hope you get it all sorted soon

[Hurdity]

There is a difference between generic versions of a particular drug and something which is produced identically or almost identically with the same excipients (fillers that come with the drug). In some cases the patent has expired - so the company that first produced whatever it was had a monopoly so when this expires other companies can produce it - and it becomes "generic". That's not exactly how it works but I think approx!

Think of estriol vaginal cream. The 0.01% cream used to be called Orthogynest cream (or maybe Gynest?) - and now it's just estriol 0.01 % cream. The 0.1% cream used to be called Ovestin, now just estriol 0.1 %. I imagine other companies could produce a formulation with completely different fillers but still the same dose of the active ingredient.

This is also what happened with Vagifem - though in this case the company originally producing it still does and other companies have produced their own version - Vagirux and Gina. I haven't looked recently at the composition of these but if your prescription says 10 mcg vaginal tablet then I guess any of these could be given? (Correct me someone if I'm wrong here).

Re Gepretix - I did look up some information about this a while ago and started a thread which I can bump. I think it is pretty much the same formulation and shape though I would be surprised if any substantial difference was noticed - at least not as much as would occur say when changing from one of these to Cyclogest - which is a very different formulation and absorbed in a different way.

What horror stories? I mean really it would not be a licensed product if it didn't do the job it was designed for

I would go for it with the expectation that it will work for you.

Good luck!

Hurdity x

[Seasidegirl]

I've just managed to get done Utrogestan from a different pharmacy as my usual pharmacy says there is a shortage of it. 

I had Utrogestan via a private prescriber initially, then she GP took it on last summer I was given Zentiva which triggered my migraines.   The surgery added "please dispense Utrogestan" to the micronised progesterone script which my usual pharmacy was happy with. 

Usual pharmacy can't get Utrogestan currently and also can't order it,  different pharmacy has been able to order but needed a specific script saying Utrogestan so it's all been time-consuming

I've really struggled with prog generally since I started it at the end of May last year.   I am only now managing to take a full dose and I can only do that vaginally.   As I understand it only Utrogestan can be used vaginally off licence as the generics haven't been tested in this way.