Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: donnacrichton on February 06, 2017, 08:42:07 PM
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Over the past year estradot has become very difficult to get at times. Went to pick my prescription up today and have been given estraderm. Has anyone found any difference between the two? I have a very sensitive system and dobe want to chance anything x
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Just a quickie (I pledged I would only be sticking to posting in 2 threads) but I just want to give you some reassurance. My Consultant knows ladies have problems sourcing the Estradot from time to time Donna, so she prescribes this as the next alternative particularly to ladies with sensitive skin - so I'm hoping it might also suit your sensitive system too! Good luck! xxxx
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Keep posting quickies, lady Tempest! ;)
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;) ;) ;) I just had to sneak this one in there, Menomale! xxxx
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I hope so I'm not known for stability lol. Managed to stay on this one for 8 months been my record so a bit reluctant is an understatement!
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Hi there donnacrichton
There are four main patches that can be prescribed at 50 mcg ( listed under HRT preparations) - Estraderm, Estradot, Femseven and Evorel. Of these Estraderm is the largest - at 4 x the size of Estradot, with Femseven and Evorel being about 3 x the size. Estraderm and Femseven contain the same total amount of estradiol, with Evorel twice as much and Estradot half as much. However they are all designed to deliver the same amount of estradiol through the skin ie 50 mcg per 24 hours. Whether they do or not will depend to some extent on your own skin! However if you apply it to the same part of your body hopefully all will be OK. There are differences in the composition of the adhesive:
Estradot:
Adhesive matrix:
− acrylic adhesive,
− silicone adhesive,
− oleyl alcohol,
− dipropylene glycol,
− povidone (E1201).
Estraderm
Acrylate
Methacrylate
isopropyl palmitate
polyethylene terephthalate
ethylenevinylacetate copolymer,
Not being a chemist I am none the wiser ;D - but hopefully as Tempest says - this one is suitable - it is very big though!
Tempest - you can post anywhere - as we all can!! :)
Hurdity x
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Thanks I have managed to get estradot thankfully with the help of a great pharmacist x
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Hi, I often have trouble sourcing Estradot and even though I use the same chemist each time I still find I have to explain to them the following info that I got back in an email I wrote to the manufacturer (Novaris) some months ago, I have copied and pasted it as I posted it some time ago on another thread but it may be of help to those experiencing difficulties getting your supply, here is what they said:
With reference to your enquiry we had an interruption in supply but stocks of Estradot are now going back into our wholesalers AAH and Alliance, if the Boots are struggling to get It from them they can call Novartis on 08457 419442 and we can supply stock directly to the pharmacy.
If you require any further information please contact us.
Regards
Customer Care
Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited
200 Frimley Business Park
GB- Frimley/Camberley, Surrey GU16 7SR
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Just agreeing with Goosieloosie - I rang Customer Service at Novartis on Friday and they said there had been a delivery delay. They told me to go to my pharmacy of choice and to ask them to ring and they would dispatch my order.
Fingers crossed :)
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Hi As I have noted on other threads, Novartis do not like selling to the two big Wholesalers as they want massive discounts, so they tend to keep the supply to them low. The two large Wholesalers supply all the big Pharmacies such as Boots, hence the supply issues sometimes. I have never had a problem when the Pharmacy deal direct with Novartis.
Rhiner
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hi, i also had trouble getting esrtadot patched from boots, i was scared at the time to not be able to get them so my doctor changed me to ellest solo.
its a shame as i was happy on them but the fear of going back to PMT and mood swings terrified me.
but i wont have PMT due to a full hysterectomy by the way its just these patches kept me sane and level i think. mad way of thinking i hear you mutter but im so scared that i still have PMT?
I went on HRT as soon as i had the op at 44 and im 49 now and have never a bad day yet so im yet to see how id be without them. does it make sense to you ladies?
mandy
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Well for the second time ever (in 10 years) I was given a reduced supply of Estradot. The dispensary (at my rural GP practice) said there were problems getting hold of them and managed to get some from the manufacturers - but only gave me 2 months supply (was only supposed to be one!). Not sure what is going on here because we're not talking about large suppliers! I don't know where the dispensary normally gets them from?
Hurdity x
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My pharmacist phoned the manufacturer direct and has been promised 1 box a month x
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that's great Donna. hope they don't let you down, i couldn't afford the wait. the thought of going a week without a patch scares me.
mandy
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I always try and order 1 box in advance as have been left short before x
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Hi everyone. I'm just coming out of lurking mode to pass on a retweet that I received earlier from the Menopause Matters twitter site:
.@NovartisPharma have advised @BrMenopauseSoc that there may be a disruption to supply of #Estradot patches in UK over next few months #HRT
I wonder sometimes if Novartis actually want women to use their products >:(.
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i gave up staffy, am now on elleste solo. no problem with the supplies.
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Thanks Saffy - I don't use twitter much but if this sort of info is being passed on quickly by the MM team, then I'm following them - but must just remember to look at the notifications on my phone!
I agree I can't understand why there seem to be regular problems with this product - the only one of its type (compared to the other patches). It's the only "Dot matrix" type available in UK - at least I think that's what it's called.
Hurdity x
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Hi....I wish GPs would be informed of this as I was prescribed estradot patches and have wasted a couple of days trying to get hold of them. Have now got a prescription for Estelle solo patches but I have heard that they can cause weight gain.....does anyone know about this?
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My pharmacist phoned the company direct and have managed to get 1 box per month worth a phone call x
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All oestrogen patches contain the same active ingredient - estradiol so you are no more likely to put on weight with one brand than another - even though the patches are different sizes.
Hurdity x
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resurecting this thread. I've been on hrt for a little over 2 months on Evorel patches 50mg. I went to get a repeat prescription, went to the pharmacy and came back finding that I'm been given Estraderm rather than Evorel. Does it matter? I was happy on Evorel. To be fair, my prescription only says Estradiol. It's bad enough getting used to hrt when starting it, the last thing I want is to mess it up if indeed, my skin can react differently to this brand compared to the other. Should I go back to the pharmacist and asked for Evorel instead?
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If you want to find out the difference between the two products - if you Googgle the name of the patch and "SPC" ie Summary of Product Characteristics, you will get the full product info on EMC. The first section gives the size of the patches and how much total oestradiol they contain. The 50 mcg relates to the average restradiol released per day irrespective of the total amount actually in the patch. If you jump to section 6 it tells you the "excipients" on the patch ie what's in all the sticky stuff as well as estradiol.
Hurdity x
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Thanks Hurdity, but that doesn't tell me whether I'm likely to react to it differently or not. I guess my question is, should I take it back and ask for Evorel instead, or can I go ahead and use Estraderm because it won't make any difference. Surely if there are differences in composition as opposed to just a difference in name, the GP should be specifying the name of the brand on the prescription?
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Hello all
This thread is old but has been truly enlightening! Thanks to all who have contributed their wisdom.
It's 2020 now and there are STILL HRT shortages but I'm wondering if it still works (on a regular basis) to get one's pharmacist to call Novartis direct? Or is it just to stressful to keep having to try and source Estradot? Very interesting to read about the extra greedy wholesalers causing so many problems! They might be relatives of Tesco's! Haha!
I'm about to start surgical menopause and wondering which application (and dose) to ask for/hope for. I'm keen to try Estradot but have been concerned that I might keep having supply issues if I go for that. Although the new spray sounds interesting too.
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My recent prescription is for Estraderm 100, start it next week, been on progynova for the last 4 months, will see how the change goes, not entirely great on progynova so hopefully might be an improvement, waiting on appt for meno clinic. x