Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Donna-paul on December 08, 2018, 04:21:19 PM
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I really would like to know if any other women are having trouble taking estrodose instead of estrogel? This topic has been discussed I know before by myself as well i have now been taking estrodose for a month as chemist couldn't get the other and keep saying it's the same! Well I feel awful liked I did when I tried it last year! For me it is not the same and given me awful migraines and I'm not imagining it as this happened before. Is everyone else able to get estrogel in uk particularly Norwich as I don't know what I'm going to do? I have M.e so react to things hence I was allergic to all the tablets so went on gel!
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I started Estrogel last week. I live near Cambridge.
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Sorry to hear Oestrodose is making you feel so ill. Have you considered trying the Sandrena gel instead of Oestrodose/Oestrogel? I've never had any supply issues in the 3 months I've been on it.
JP x
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Hi donna-paul
Sorry to hear about your reaction to the oestrogen gel.
If you think it is the Oestrodose rather than your own cycle kicking in, then do take note of the batch number and the origin (manufacturer and importer) as per the patient information leaflet. It is important that you write to Besins ( their e-mail address should be on the leaflet or online) to ask them about this particular batch - as they are supposed to be exactly the same product - as manufactured in their plant in Belgium. If necessary they might ask for a sample if you are getting headaches from this one and not the product named Oestrogel.
As Joaniepat says there is always Sandrena to try too.
Hope your headaches ease soon.
Hurdity x
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Hi donna-paul
Sorry to hear about your reaction to the oestrogen gel.
If you think it is the Oestrodose rather than your own cycle kicking in, then do take note of the batch number and the origin (manufacturer and importer) as per the patient information leaflet. It is important that you write to Besins ( their e-mail address should be on the leaflet or online) to ask them about this particular batch - as they are supposed to be exactly the same product - as manufactured in their plant in Belgium. If necessary they might ask for a sample if you are getting headaches from this one and not the product named Oestrogel.
As Joaniepat says there is always Sandrena to try too.
Hope your headaches ease soon.
Hurdity x
To me this estrodose makes me unwell with migraines it happened last year when I tryed it and it's happened again . Also my blood pressure has shot up. I can only take a low dose because hrt gives me migraines and the consultant worries about me having a stroke. I've just taken estrogel with low dose of progestrone for 5 maths and been ok only thing changed is the estrodose!! I've now got a battle with the pharmacist to get the proper one in the tin canister called estrogel.
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You need to explain to your GP what's happening and ask him to change your prescription so that it says Estrogel specifically and not just estradiol gel (which leaves the pharmacist to dispense either product).
This IS possible to do as I have to take a branded antihistamine rather than a generic version - which gives me headaches!
Personally I wouldn't rush into changing over to Sandrena as I found that quite different from estrogel!
Well I give you an update went to pharmacist today and said I can't take estrodose once again!He said again it's the same and all depends what Gp puts on prescription. Well I asked my Gp and he said always puts estrogel!
so he said I will ring manufacturer to check I replyed great otherwise I will move pharmacy as I've had migraine all weekend and blood pressure gone up and this happened when I tryed to take last year!! Well I had been home 10mins and he rang to say he's managed to get hold of 3 estrogel so I say he found out there is different agredients or fillers.
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Just update if anyone interested! Just picked up the proper original estrogel from the chemist after awful month on estrodose. Well I'm know I wasn't imagining it the pharmacist said he spoke to manufacture wouldnt go into but there is something in estrodose which I must be reacting to! I had same with tablets bad rash and consultant said it's the fillers! Also I messaged the menopause dr who kindly came back and she said she's had women similar and that it is weaker! Just hope it gets out of my system soon as awful migraine for days and sweats! Don't give up as we all know are bodies and not imagining it.
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Hello Donna-paul,
Well done, I hope you feel better soon. Do you have the Oestrodose bottles? If yes, would you mind posting the details (PL number, company, labelling) or a photo? This is a very serious issue and as stated earlier and on another threads all users experiencing side effects and inconsistencies (smell, texture) should report to MHRA via the Yellow Card Scheme https://www.gov.uk/report-problem-medicine-medical-device (https://www.gov.uk/report-problem-medicine-medical-device)
Conolly X
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Hello Stellajane,
The problem here is that Oestrodose is not a generic of Oestrogel or Estradiol gel. It is supposed to be the same product, manufactured at the same plant (Drogenbos, Belgium), so any inconsistencies or side effects MUST be reported to MRHA, as they may be due to inadequate storage or something worse, for example, they could have been imported from markets outside the EU with different fillers.
Conolly X
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Hello Stellajane,
The problem here is that Oestrodose is not a generic of Oestrogel or Estradiol gel. It is supposed to be the same product, manufactured at the same plant (Drogenbos, Belgium), so any inconsistencies or side effects MUST be reported to MRHA, as they may be due to inadequate storage or something worse, for example, they could have been imported from markets outside the EU with different fillers.
Conolly X
Hello Stellajane,
The problem here is that Oestrodose is not a generic of Oestrogel or Estradiol gel. It is supposed to be the same product, manufactured at the same plant (Drogenbos, Belgium), so any inconsistencies or side effects MUST be reported to MRHA, as they may be due to inadequate storage or something worse, for example, they could have been imported from markets outside the EU with different fillers.
Conolly X
I'm trying to attach a picture but don't know how to? What was interesting the pharmacist said something like one was for European use which I guess it the proper one and he said we are going to get a lot of trouble getting drugs! He wouldn't exactly say what was different apart from could what it's made with!!
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Hello again Donna-paul,
Can you send me the picture via email? My email address is below my avatar (click the envelope) and I will post it for you.
Conolly X
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Hello again Donna-paul,
Can you send me the picture via email? My email address is below my avatar (click the envelope) and I will post it for you.
Conolly X
I'm sorry but there's no button to click for attachment? I'm not very tech!
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I see what you mean. Don't send me an email through MM, just copy my email address and send me the photo through your own email service provider.
Conolly X
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I see what you mean. Don't send me an email through MM, just copy my email address and send me the photo through your own email service provider.
Conolly X
It doesn't show your email address just says Conolly
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I will PM you my email address.
Conolly X
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(https://i.imgur.com/BpLrE4Rl.jpg)
Oestrogel box and Oestrodose (relabelled) bottle.
(https://i.imgur.com/T5PS49bm.jpg)
Oestrodose box.
(https://i.imgur.com/2ZhTsmUm.jpg)
Oestrogel bottle and Oestrodose bottle.
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Hi again Donna-paul
I'm a bit confused by what your pharmacist said to be honest. You said he phoned the manufacturer who said the ingredients were different? This is puzzling as it is totally contrary to the information I was given by Besins who said it was just one product that was manufactured and packaged differently for the different markets.
To clarify about the European markets: as I explained on the other (long-running) thread, the estradiol gel which Besins makes is packaged into different plastic canisters and boxes according to where in the EU it is to be used. In UK ( maybe the only country in EU?) it is called Oestrogel but everywhere else including the countries it was originally made in and for (Belgium and France?) it is called Oestrodose. This will be what the pharmacist meant by that comment. I would be very surprised if Besins told him they were different (in composition).
As I mentioned on the other long thread there are intermediaries who buy Oestrodose in bulk from Besins slightly cheaper than they can get the UK packaged Oestrogel, and it is imported by other companies who supply the pharmacies. However unless there is something shady going on (as I have also said many times) these two products will be identical (unless as I've said previously Oestrodose is stored in unfavourable conditions by the intermediary companies, although there have been extensive stability studies according to Besins – ie it's been tested at different temperatures for different lengths of time.) which is why it is so important to report any reactions.
Anyway from your point of view the most important thing is that you feel better (soon) but it would help everyone to provide info about this particular batch – the batch number of the Oestrodose should be on the canister?
Hurdity x
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Hi again Donna-paul
I'm a bit confused by what your pharmacist said to be honest. You said he phoned the manufacturer who said the ingredients were different? This is puzzling as it is totally contrary to the information I was given by Besins who said it was just one product that was manufactured and packaged differently for the different markets.
To clarify about the European markets: as I explained on the other (long-running) thread, the estradiol gel which Besins makes is packaged into different plastic canisters and boxes according to where in the EU it is to be used. In UK ( maybe the only country in EU?) it is called Oestrogel but everywhere else including the countries it was originally made in and for (Belgium and France?) it is called Oestrodose. This will be what the pharmacist meant by that comment. I would be very surprised if Besins told him they were different (in composition).
As I mentioned on the other long thread there are intermediaries who buy Oestrodose in bulk from Besins slightly cheaper than they can get the UK packaged Oestrogel, and it is imported by other companies who supply the pharmacies. However unless there is something shady going on (as I have also said many times) these two products will be identical (unless as I've said previously Oestrodose is stored in unfavourable conditions by the intermediary companies, although there have been extensive stability studies according to Besins – ie it's been tested at different temperatures for different lengths of time.) which is why it is so important to report any reactions.
Anyway from your point of view the most important thing is that you feel better (soon) but it would help everyone to provide info about this particular batch – the batch number of the Oestrodose should be on the canister?
Hurdity x
I really don't understand the pharmacist didn't really explain properly just it same product but could have been made different ies like fillers in tablets also some are for European and others not. I don't think he was telling me everything! Is there any other women had problems can you see batch number on the pics collenly kindly put on everything got stickers put overtop!
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Posting a bigger pic so you can see the 'Lot' (batch) number on the French Oestrodose.
(https://i.imgur.com/2ZhTsmU.jpg)