Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: mand3966 on May 02, 2013, 07:11:39 PM
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Hi ladies,
Not posted on here for a while, things seem to be going well with the Evorel Conti patches, a year and 3 months since starting on the patches, and vagifem 25 mcg that I have been taking for roughly 3 years or so.
Well, went to pick up my 3 monthly repeat precription after work tonight, and was told by the pharmacist that the 25 mcg strength of vagifem has been discontinued, and was given 10 mcg ones.... not only that, but instead of getting the usual 30 tablets for the price of one prescription, the 10 mcg box only contains 24 tablets!
When I asked the pharmacist if I still take 2 a week, was told, 'yes, carry on your normal routine, even though they are a lower dose, it has been proven that 10 mcg works just as well as the 25 mcg and obviously will give you less side effects'.
As I don't get any side effects from the vagifem, I don't really care what strength I am taking, just want to make certain it does its job!
I am now worried that going from my normal dose of 50 mcg a week, right down to 20 mcg a week (quite a decrease) is going to have some effect and leave me in pain during and after intercourse as before! Surely that amount of decrease in treatment is going to have some effect????
I can see myself resorting to taking 5 tablets a week to get my normal ration!!!! hee hee...
Just wanted to know if any other ladies have also been told about the 25 mcg being discontinued, and if so, and they are taking the lower dose, has it had any effect????
Many thanks,
mand3966
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There is another topic running on this mand.
I think all your questions will be answered there.
Honeyb
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This is one of the threads Mand http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,20822.0.html
Taz x
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Thanks honeybun,
I was so keen to post my question on the forum that I didn't check first to see if a topic on the subject had already been posted..... just had a good read of all the ladies comments, and am so happy I still have one box of 25 mcg to use! At least I know I can cope for another 7-8 weeks! Trouble is, my 10 mcg's kick in just as I'm due to go on holiday! great!
Thanks again,
mand3966
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Thanks for the thread taz2,
I'll take a read......
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Maybe just use 2 at a time during your holiday? Then try the new dose once you return.
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Hi Mand... yes, I agree with Milliemoo. Speaking from experience, I would also recommend you wait until you come back to try out the lower dose and use 2 x 10mcg twice weekly whilst away.
You will see all my comments on the other thread, but these comments from the pharmacists ' it has been proven that...' make me so cross. This statement was based on a survey of a mere few hundred - 230? - women across the US. GRR.
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Thanks both Milliemoo and Scriv for the advice,
Hadn't thought of taking 2 x10mcg twice weekly whilst on holiday (can I take two tablets at the same time, or do I need to spread them out over 4 days?), even then its still a lower dose than my normal 50 mcg a week though! It just makes me so cross that this can happen when theres probably thousands of women out there who count on the 50 mcg dose!
Scriv, as you say, when the pharmacist commented about it being proven that the lower dose doesn't make a difference, I immediately thought of this site, and wanted to reply back that I'm sure I can find plenty of women who would not agree with his comment!
Any how, I will use my 25mcg ones up, and then as suggested take the 40 mcg weekly whilst away, and then try the 20 mcg a week after! Dreading that though, and as soon and if any pain returns I'm straight back to GP to get 2 boxes of tabs each 3 months and not one!!!! I pay for my prescriptions and would pay alot of money not to have the horrendous pain back like before which meant that my husband and I three years ago at the ages of 43 and 45 only had sex 3 times in a year! I do not want to go down that route again!
Thanks again,
mand3966
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Yes it'll be fine to take the two at once, as you say it is still less than your current weekly dose.
Makes me cross too! These people have clearly never suffered.
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I am exact same as you, patches and vagifem, I was on 25mgs for 4 years, now on 10mgs and I have been fine, not noticed any affect at all. If I had I was going to increase to 3 tablets to see how I got on. But I have been fine.
Ann
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Thanks the the positive post ann123, I suppose before being negative, I should just wait and see how I get on.... all may be fine x Nice to hear someone is doing ok on the lower dose who has been on the higher dose for about a year longer than me x
Thanks for the answer to my question Milliemoo, 2 at once for my hols it is then!
mand3966
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Why don't you use one 25 and two 10s in the course of a week when you are away.
Honeyb
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Hun I agree with you
I dont like the idea of putting 2x10 in may be one in am one pm is ok but not togeterh seems!!!!
Yes dont ruin your jholiday say 25m then 3nihgtd later 10 then 2 nights later 10 still only 45
Gradually decrese if you can but if it hurts say you needd more xxxx
sorry got a splint in my finger so wont be replying as much it hurts iyts my thumb right hand too sods law
Thanks to my xmas present a kindle I now have a trigger thumb and yeaterday and today a wee wee fanny bggar xxx
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but...........2 x 10 is less than the 25 she would be putting in normally :-\
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Rather than putting two in at a time use 1x25 and then 1x10 and then 1x10 over a course of a week. Then it's only 5 less than before.
That way the reduction is slower and make the remaining stock of 25 last longer.
Honeyb
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HB are you saying that over the course of a week you use 25 plus 20?
I THINK I understand the logic but I kind of struggle with this sort of thing!!
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Yes that's it.
It might be a big drop all of a sudden for some. Mand said she had quite a few 25mg left but her new prescription was for ten.
This drops the amount but only by a tiny amount and then she could reduce again from there rather than using all the 25s at once.
Just a thought and now I am getting myself tied in knots too.... ::)
Honeyb
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Rather than putting two in at a time use 1x25 and then 1x10 and then 1x10 over a course of a week. Then it's only 5 less than before.
That way the reduction is slower and make the remaining stock of 25 last longer.
Honeyb
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THATS what I tried to type bit easier with the splint today
But it was hard getting the Vagifem in it went in at an angle cos my right hands pretty iffy and i clicked with my left thumb OUCH
So Thursday takeing splint off to ut Vagifem in hehehehehe
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Thanks Honeybun,
Never thought of using one 25mcg + 2 10mcg per week up to and including holiday, I was going to use all the remaining 25mcg ones up, leaving me none for holiday (sods law, but the 25mcg ones would have run out 3 days before my hols begin!).... I will give that a go, after all, as you say, thats only a reduction of 5mcg a week, and instead of putting two in at once I can put one in every other day, spacing the 3 out over a week......
Thanks ladies for all your suggestions, where would I be without you!
Mand3966
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Great now who ever said that 2x10 over 7 days is the same as 50m over 7 days needs their head examining
If thats the case why 25m in first place the trial a couple of thousand women in USA determins a regime 4 the world
I dont think so its money money money the more we buy the more we pay
Even if we manage to persuadethe GP to double up the script using 40m a week instead of 50
which i think I probably could just cope with with the knowledge That an extra one could be used if I needed it
Theres 2 problems 1 MONEY the cost of buying 1 pkts to do less than the original by 175m
yet the price is almost the same as 15x 25m i a pkt just a wee bit cheaper for so much less medicine
Its all money money money in to shareholders pkts and company proffits we middle aged women are their cash cows
2 trying to persuade GPS especialy ones whos knowledge of menopause is about as much as mine in astrophysics
To give more I can see in roughly a year this site full of women in pain again painfull sex painfull dry vaginas everyday
All day aching soreness peeeing feeling like you want to curl up and die with the never ending ache in the vagina
Theres more eveidence that HRT pills cause far more harm distress weight gain headaches depression fear of cancer
Break through bleeding having to try HRT after HRT and some never working than using 2 Vagifem a week
2x25 a week for a year the amount getting in to your /body is the equivalent of taking 2 HRT pills in a YEAR
I only have to read on here the problems etc of women taking HRT and the minute amunt women on Vagifem with sides
Knowones suggesting lowering dose of HRT by over half well not yet anyway maybe your turn next ladies on HRT pills
Baby boomers post baby boomers masses of us everyday growing more money to Pharm comps HRT pils turn will come