Print

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

[Seasidegirl]

I usually have Estradot 75, I've tried two pharmacies and they both say it is unavailable and they can't order it.   

I've reluctantly agreed to Estraderm 75 and am waiting for these to be issued as the pharmacist needed a new script.    I mentioned that I thought there was a SSP but they said they still needed a script.   

 Looking at the SSP it is only in force until 19th January for the 75's whereas for the 50's the SSP is in place until 25th February.

Does anyone have any knowledge as to whether this means that it is anticipated that the 75's might be about to become available again? 

I wonder if I'd have been better to hold off for a couple of weeks to see re Estradot. 

HRT has been a real rollercoaster for me and I'm really nervous of any change at this point.   I keep reading that the Estraderm patches are big and plasticy and I could really do without any issue is it was avoidable 😢

https://cpe.org.uk/our-news/three-new-ssps-issued-for-estradot-patches/

[CLKD]

MayB have a lookC at the Manufacturer's website?  IT may be that Europe has first call on the product due to the NHS not wanting to pay. It's getting towards the UK Financial Year.

[Seasidegirl]

Just to update this,  it does appear to be an NHS shortage,  I can get Estradot on a private prescription from a private pharmacist....

Looks like I'm paying again....

[CLKD]

I would be asking questions at the surgery if it's available privately: I would expect the NHS to reimburse my prescription!  A letter to your MP MayB?

[Seasidegirl]

I would be asking questions at the surgery if it's available privately: I would expect the NHS to reimburse my prescription!  A letter to your MP MayB?

I'm led to believe that this may be a bit of a feature about how the NHS purchase meds so it may be that other countries or entities are supplied first.   Just open market forces in action.

I can't see that I'm likely to get anywhere with a complaint,  if the NHS can't get supplies then they can't supply it.   

I am interested as to others experience at the moment of getting Estradot. 

I can't see a way of contacting Sandoz on their website.

[CLKD]

That's a shame if the Company doesn't have a website contact facility.  I did mention that mainland Europe often has first call on medications as the NHS won't pay 'as much' 

[Hurdity]

Hi Seasidegirl

There has been an update by Diane Danzebrink/Menopause Support on Instagram (video) about a meeting she had with Sandoz giving some information on Estradot supply - but can't remember the timeline!

Re Estraderm - if you can possibly avoid it I wouldn't go for this one but it may be too late re the prescription. I've tried lots of them and thats the only one I didn;t like - mainly because it is so big and like a polybag stuck to your butt! But needs must - if that's all you can get, it is oestrogen after all but the dose or frequency of patch change might need tweaking.

Funnily enough it was during the Estradot shortages some 7 or 8 years ago that I was put on that - and I objected after a few months, and was put onto Elleste Solo patches for quite  a while until these became in short supply and then was put onto Evorel. Because I am very happy with these I never asked to be put back onto Estradot when supplies resumed and have been on it ever since. I'm sure I absorb better from Evorel than Estradot and find it more stable in the summer when hot and out in the sun - the Estradot used to slide about a bit and as they're so small I wondered if it was losing absorption....

Hope my experience is helpful - but as always we all seem to be individual in our responses.

Hurdity x

[Seasidegirl]

Thanks Hurdity, apparently the pharmacy can't get Everol either at the moment. 

I'm still under Newson from when i started HRT (GP wouldn't prescribe initially) and they've said they can get Estradot via one of the private pharmacies. 

I think I'm going to go for that,  I'm fortunate that I can afford to and I really can't handle the idea of slipping backwards,  I've only just managed to tolerate the full dose of progesterone and I'm trying to reach a point where I'm stable after starting HRT at the end of May. 

I'll see if I can find the Diane D Insta post and see if that helps.   I have found an email address for Sandoz and I've emailed them for an update. 

[CLKD]

Well done U.  Let us know how you get on.

[Seasidegirl]

For anyone in the same position I've found the Insta post, Sandoz say:

75/100 stock due end January
50 stock due 35th February
37.5 are apparently available in the UK now

Diane's concern is that there will be so many back orders that the stock will disappear really swiftly still leaving a shortage.

[joziel]

Thanks Seaside. I just heard back from Pharmacy2U who usually dispenses my NHS prescription that they are out of stock of the Estradot 100s but they still have Estradot 50s in stock - if that helps anyone.

In the most ridiculous move ever they refuse to be able to prescribe me 2x 50s to make up 100 without my GP changing my prescription. Insane.

But as I'm on 200mcg, that would be a lot of patches anyway. So I am just going to have to spend ever more money and get them via Newson and CLoudRX

This is not acceptable, for women to have to deal with this.

[Seasidegirl]

I've had the following response from Sandoz.  This doesn't fill me with joy.....

Dear Seasidegirl

I refer to your recent correspondence in which you requested information regarding Estradot 75mcg in reference to the below question:

Are you able to provide an update on the availability of Estradot 75 patches to the NHS
In response to your request In response to your request:

Firstly, we are sorry for the difficulties you are experiencing in obtaining this medicine and recognise the distress the shortages of HRT medicines can have for patients. For background, we are finding the demand for HRT products has grown significantly due to greater awareness of menopause. Therefore, we are currently facing a supply challenge as we respond to the significant growth in the demand for Estradot in the face of a global manufacturing constraint, which is impacting many HRT medicines. We are already exploring options within the business to increase manufacturing capacity. We are also in ongoing dialogue with the Department of Health and Social Care and industry trade bodies on potential solutions to address the growing demand for these important medicines.

In the case of Estradot, it is produced through a third-party partner and due to capacity constraints at their manufacturing site we will have limited global supply which will impact our ability to meet UK demand.

As a company we are investing to increase future capacity of Estradot by building more manufacturing capability in our plant in Germany. Until these production lines become operational, which will be in 2026, we will continue to have limited supply of Estradot.

However, for the time-being we cannot guarantee any dates for the supply of Estradot transdermal patches. Any supply to the UK market in 2025 may also be limited and inconsistent.

We hope this information is helpful.

Yours sincerely,

Medical Information, UK

[joziel]

Bloody hell.

After the whole Oestrogel debacle, I thought we were past all this.

Yet somehow the private pharmacies will continue to have it, I bet. Amazing what happens when you have money and can pay....

[CLKD]

Department of Health and Social Care and industry trade bodies on potential solutions to address the growing demand for these important medicines.

any particular H&S Card Industry ?