Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Saffy on August 15, 2018, 11:25:41 PM
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I'm due to collect my second 3 month prescription of gel on Thursday and dreading the palaver trying to get my hands on Oestrogel. I'm very reluctant to use Oestrodose due to the discussions on the Oestrogel Vs Oestrodose thread and elsewhere on here but wondered if there is actually anyone who has been happy with Oestrodose? Have you tried both and found them equally effective or have you always used only Oestrodose?
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Always give it a go, the only problem I had was itchiness on my back, but I am severely allergic to many things x
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I've always used Oestrogel but lots of people are fine on Oestrodose. Try it and see. X
Annie and Daisydot.... just want to say that your posts are always kind, thoughtful and to the point . Keep posting xxx
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I'm due to collect my second 3 month prescription of gel on Thursday and dreading the palaver trying to get my hands on Oestrogel. I'm very reluctant to use Oestrodose due to the discussions on the Oestrogel Vs Oestrodose thread and elsewhere on here but wondered if there is actually anyone who has been happy with Oestrodose? Have you tried both and found them equally effective or have you always used only Oestrodose?
I have just started Oestrodose and never tried any gel before (have tried many other HRT options over the last 18 months, tablets, patches). I've only been using it for a week but I know it's made me feel significantly better than anything else I've tried, I wonder if I am absorbing it better and it suits me because I'm over weight. So far it's working well for me and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I think for me it's helped significantly with my headaches, which is so important for me. I feel I many have finally found my answer. *keeps praying* . I can't compare it with Oestrogel though as never tried Oestrogel. Sorry if this isn't much help. :)
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I've always used Oestrogel but lots of people are fine on Oestrodose. Try it and see. X
Annie and Daisydot.... just want to say that your posts are always kind, thoughtful and to the point . Keep posting xxx
Aw Dotty thank you so much !
My meno experience is somewhat different to the norm (no womb, ovaries disappeared, 2nd meno etc) but I can resonate with so many women and if I can ever help, or reassure, I will xxxx
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I'm due to collect my second 3 month prescription of gel on Thursday and dreading the palaver trying to get my hands on Oestrogel. I'm very reluctant to use Oestrodose due to the discussions on the Oestrogel Vs Oestrodose thread and elsewhere on here but wondered if there is actually anyone who has been happy with Oestrodose? Have you tried both and found them equally effective or have you always used only Oestrodose?
I have just started Oestrodose and never tried any gel before (have tried many other HRT options over the last 18 months, tablets, patches). I've only been using it for a week but I know it's made me feel significantly better than anything else I've tried, I wonder if I am absorbing it better and it suits me because I'm over weight. So far it's working well for me and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I think for me it's helped significantly with my headaches, which is so important for me. I feel I many have finally found my answer. *keeps praying* . I can't compare it with Oestrogel though as never tried Oestrogel. Sorry if this isn't much help. :)
I'ts an extremely helpful post carrywarry and I'm so glad you posted a positive post for oestrodose xx
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Personally i didn't but like the others have said give it a go, especially as you have nothing to compare it to. If it works for you then thats fabulous! Some poor women on here struggle for so long trying to find something that works. Good luck and hope you continue to to feel better! Xx
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As they say - suck it and see!☺ You may very well get along just fine. There is no 'one size fits all' when it comes to menopause and HRT. Good luck! xxxx
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I have tried both and not noticed any difference.
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Just in case you think that Estrodose is different to Oestrogel, Hurdity looked into this, even contacted the manufacturer that makes both these products and the actual gel is exactly the same in both products - just different packaging.
Apparently it is also just a difference in the name for different countries.
DG x
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Thank you all so much for your replies!
I guess I'm a little nervous as I was on Estradot patches over 18 months, gradually increasing, and my oestrogen levels never rose above 100 (also tried Evorel but was allergic). Oestrogel hasn't been much of a miracle for me either (possibly v. slight improvement-ish, I'm now at 3 pumps) and I'm due another blood test in a month or so. If I have to change to Oestrodose then I won't be testing the results of the Oestrogel IYSWIM. I'm getting exhausted of all of this (as well as being just, well, exhausted!) and impatient to get it sorted now ::).
I'll try the practice pharmacy first as they won't make me pay until they order it in and I see the product!
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Saffy - Oestrodose and Oestrogel are exactly the same product but under different names. DG x
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Yeah, I know that's the official line but it doesn't seem to be reflected in everyone's subjective experiences and I think they are worth listening to as well (in this instance anyway) :).
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I have tried both and not noticed any difference.
Me too aspie x
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Hi
I was quite happy on oestrodose when my repeat prescription turned up with oestrogel, weirdly enough right in the middle of the estrogel shortage. My only thoughts are that I found estrogel was more thicker in consistency and I wondered if it was more concentrated as it seemed to coincide with my spotting starting again which I had under control with the right measure of oestrodose. I have since given both up but would go for oestrodose over oestrogel if I went back. I would say give it a try as we are all so different and it may just suit you, how will you know until you've tried it yourself.
Dolly x
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That's interesting Dolly, thanks. Maybe I would absorb it better! My Doctor seems pretty convinced I'm not actually absorbing much from the Oestrogel, refuses another blood test and thinks I should go back to my specialist ::). Ah well, I shall just play it by ear and see what the pharmacy get in for me.
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Bumping for Donna-paul.
Conolly X
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I get on fine with oestrodose. X
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I personally couldn't get on with Ostrodose and my prescription specifically states not Oestrodose they are definitely not the same in my opinion. But there are ladies on here who get on fine with so you can only give it a go it may suit you.
Lanzalover x
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I'm due to collect my second 3 month prescription of gel on Thursday and dreading the palaver trying to get my hands on Oestrogel. I'm very reluctant to use Oestrodose due to the discussions on the Oestrogel Vs Oestrodose thread and elsewhere on here but wondered if there is actually anyone who has been happy with Oestrodose? Have you tried both and found them equally effective or have you always used only Oestrodose?
Glad I didn't see this before I started mine! I've been saying all along I'm on estrogel but just looked at the box and it's Oestrodose!!
5 weeks now and on 4 pumps. I didn't start to get out of the horrible depression until I upped to 3 pumps.
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As I've explained (many times now!) Oestrodose is relabelled as Oestrodose because Besins 0.06% estradiol gel is called Oestrodose in Belgium France and many EU countries, and Oestrogel in UK and some other countries. We do not have Oestrodose listed on our meds because it is called Oestrogel - hence its absence from MIMS and the EMC - and the relabelling. I can see this is very confusing to everyone! Why do we (UK) have to call it something different!!!! It would be so much easier and more straightforward if it was called the same thing in the whole of the EU....(whatever that's going to become ::) !!). It would not say estradiol gel because it is not a generic. It is the same product made by the same company.
The issue we're all trying to get to the bottom of is the labelling on the cannister.
If Oestrodose is NOT the same as Oestrogel then the cannister should simply have a label of 'Oestradiol gel'.
All we want is to know what we're being prescribed. We're being told they're both exactly the same but clearly several women are manifesting symptoms which imply this is not the case.
So far there is no definite explanation of the symptoms some women are experiencing with some of the formulations which may or may not be due to differences in the gel itself.
Hurdity x
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Hello Hurdity,
Actually only in the UK Oestrodose is relabelled as Oestrogel. Oestrodose is only available in France and the Phillipines. All other EU countries have Oestrogel or Gynokadin (Germany) and Estrogel in the US.
I don't understand why Besins UK can't provide Oestrogel for the whole UK market. The only explanation for many parallel importers trading Oestrodose is because it's cheaper to buy it from France or the Phillipines.
The reason why the pump-pack is called Oestrodose in France is because Besins had already launched Oestrogel tube over there.
Conolly X
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Hello Hurdity,
Actually only in the UK Oestrodose is relabelled as Oestrogel. Oestrodose is only available in France and the Phillipines. All other EU countries have Oestrogel or Gynokadin (Germany) and Estrogel in the US.
I don't understand why Besins UK can't provide Oestrogel for the whole UK market. The only explanation for many parallel importers trading Oestrodose is because it's cheaper to buy it from France or the Phillipines.
The reason why the pump-pack is called Oestrodose in France is because Besins had already launched Oestrogel tube over there.
Conolly X
For anyone stumbling upon this thread the most up-to-date information about the differences between Oestrodose and Oestrogel for the UK market in EU (ie no difference apart from box and canister) is found on this thread: https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,40586.0.html and I will copy this reply onto that thread as it gets confusing to have too many threads going on about this particular topic ie the facts as we know them re the two products.
Just to reiterate – as reported in the first post on that thread, Besins Belgium do not manufacture Oestrodose in the Phillipines and no such product from there reaches UK. It is confusing to suggest that they do. All the Oestrodose in UK is imported through parallel importers who purchase it from wholesalers supplied by Besins Belgium (the supply chain may be even longer than this?). The manufacturer of the Oestrodose you receive in UK will be given on the Patient information leaflet, and probably also the canister and the box and there will be a batch number.
I agree it is confusing to produce an identical prodict with two different names to the same country and it should ideally be called one or the other for whole of EU countries they supply!
Hurdity x
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Hello again,
Just to be clear... I never said Oestrodose is manufactured in the Philippines. I said that Oestrodose, as a brand name, is only available in France and the Philippines. I don't know how can you be so sure that parallel importers buy all Oestrodose from France. After all, if both are manufactered at the same plant (Drogenbos), it doesn't matter if they are imported from France or the Philippines.
Regarding the brand names, it's quite common to have the same product with different names around the world, it's just about international trademark registrations.
What I REALLY don't understand is why Besins UK can't provide Oestrogel for the whole UK market.
Conolly X
P.S. Oestrodose is also marketed in Tunisia and Lebanon by Besins.
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Where can I find more Oestrodose?!!! It’s the only thing that’s worked for me so far. It was perfect on just one pump! Oestrogel brings my symptoms back. They are definitely Not the same. Oestrogel also takes twice as long to soak in.
I need to get some Oestrodose again before I go insane!