Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Perinowpost on July 26, 2019, 04:37:37 PM
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Just spoke with Pharmacy2U and they told me there was a national shortage of all HRT. Something to do with the manufacturers, and they couldn't say when it will be resolved!
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The BMS have posted about this. Google British Menopause Society HRT shortage. Quite a few of us have had problems getting our HRT for some time now. :'(
Taz x
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Just spoke with Pharmacy2U and they told me there was a national shortage of all HRT. Something to do with the manufacturers, and they couldn't say when it will be resolved!
I thought that the manufacturer problem only applied to Femseven. A Boots branch told me that the problem with Evorel conti was to do with the middleman restricting supplies to pharmacies. I don't know regarding other types.
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So the manufactures sell down the line - it shouldn't happen, end of!
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I asked 2 different pharmacists last week about femseven sequi. One said they thought it was coming back "in dribs and drabs" but the other said "definitely still out of manufacture and not available". I'm more inclined to believe the latter as the "dribs a d drabs" theory seems a bit implausible to me.
I think from reading on here the problems recently seem to be mainly with patches. I might be wrong but there doesnt seem to be an issue with gel.
I'm on estradot 100's. They always have to be ordered in but seems o.k at moment.
Xx
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Hi ladies. Tried to get my estraderm patches today to be told that they've no supply. Apparently the manufacturer didn't pass some sort of inspection and was closed down pending improvements ( as per my pharmacy) Doesn't just affect HRT but other drugs they manufacture.
I've got a few weeks worth left of various patches that I can adapt but I was quite upset. Apparently there are no alternatives. I don't get on with Oestrogel and I am absolutely intolerant to synthetic progesterone ( struggle with Utrogestan tbh but it's the best for me ) so any sort of combined patch is out of the question.
We go on holiday in September and I dread to think what a state I might be in if this supply issue isn't sorted.
Any recommendations/ suggestions. I'm crying just at the thought of not being able to manage after years of trying to stabilise my situation
:o
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Go back to the Pharmacist and discuss? Is your Surgery aware?
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Not a lot the pharmacist can do. And the surgery is useless useless useless. Banging my head off a wall... :cuss: :cuss: :cuss: :cuss: :cuss: :cuss:
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Hi Michele, can the pharmacy not get Evorel or Estradot for you as an alternative to Estraderm? I have just gone back on HRT, currently using Estradot & have had no probs so far getting supplies of 2 strengths in that, though mine are very low dose. If you get your GP to issue the script for (generic) Oestradiol in whatever strength you need, rather than branded Estraderm, the pharmacy might have a better chance of filling it for you.
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Not a lot the pharmacist can do. And the surgery is useless useless useless. Banging my head off a wall... :cuss: :cuss: :cuss: :cuss: :cuss: :cuss:
MicheleMaBelle, why don't you print off a list of all the HRT treatments that are suitable alternatives (available on this website), take them to your pharmacy & ask them to confirm which ones are available, then take the list to your surgery?. Ask the receptionist to show them to a GP & get a script issued.
I'm sure Doctors are willing to help us but sometimes they don't get the most up to date info from suppliers & pharmacies. By doing this small thing we could all help ourselves save time & a lot of anguish.
It's just a thought.
Cazikins x
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I'm on evorel patches and Femoston and was informed they cannot get hold of either of them, but that also a lot of other HRT's are affected. Pharmacy2U did suggest trying local pharmacies to see if they have any x
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Many Surgeries are locked into Lloyds these days.
It's other drugs as well as HRT. Until the Patents run out it limits the numbers of manufacturers than can make medications and many are packaged in India etc..
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I'm on evorel patches and Femoston and was informed they cannot get hold of either of them, but that also a lot of other HRT's are affected. Pharmacy2U did suggest trying local pharmacies to see if they have any x
I persuaded my practice to give me the prescription so I could try. I managed to get 1 box of 16 Evorel Conti but not the usual 24. I have since asked at 3 other pharmacies but no success so glad I took the 16.
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MichelleMaBelle - I know this very radical and you really shouldn't have to even consider it (desperate times though..) but I believe you can buy hrt over the counter in certain European countries - where are you going on holiday. It might be an idea to buy some of the type you want if it is not too expensive if you are really desperate to continue with what you had. The supply thing might sort itself out over time but at least it would see you over? - just an idea?
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Many Surgeries are locked into Lloyds these days.
That is not my experience CLKD.
GP surgeries will only send a prescription to the patients nominated pharmacy. If the patient does not nominate a pharmacy then the script stays at the surgery for the patient to collect.
Any patient can take their prescription to any pharmacy weather they have a nominated one or not.
I have not heard anything about surgeries being locked into Lloyds :-\ I'd be very interested if you could find something relating to this.
Cazi x
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Many Surgeries are locked into Lloyds these days.
That is not my experience CLKD.
GP surgeries will only send a prescription to the patients nominated pharmacy. If the patient does not nominate a pharmacy then the script stays at the surgery for the patient to collect.
Any patient can take their prescription to any pharmacy weather they have a nominated one or not.
I have not heard anything about surgeries being locked into Lloyds :-\ I'd be very interested if you could find something relating to this.
Cazi x
I haven't either. However I recently asked at my nominated pharmacy about whether they would let me take the prescription to other pharmacies if they couldn't supply. The answer was yes. However when I persuaded my GP practice to let me have a prescription for Evorel to take to other pharmacies, I had to collect it myself from the GP. The receptionist believed that Boots would not be allowed to let me take it to any other pharmacy. I will mention this to Boots next time I am there.
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Hi Katejo, did the script have a nominated pharmacy (ie Boots) in the top left corner of the script? or was it blank or did it say "collect".
If you have not nominated a pharmacy than you will have to collect it from reception, as there is nowhere else it can go.
Let us know how you get on Katejo.
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My mother's surgery in the Fens is locked in with Lloyds and the 1s we use also. It is more common that people realise.
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A prescription is for the patient and they decide where to take it. A surgery cannot prevent a patient doing this.
Our surgery has its own pharmacy but only for those who are not able to travel to a pharmacy as it's a rural area. No pharmacy is nominated by our surgery.
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My mother's surgery in the Fens is locked in with Lloyds and the 1s we use also. It is more common that people realise.
What do you mean by "locked" in CLKD?
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New Surgeries often have Lloyds Chemists adjoining their premises. This means that the Chemist benefits from local 'trade' as well as dispensing to patients who can take their prescriptions where they like but this is unlikely, as it is handier to drop into the same premises. Unless the product isn't held there. Our satellite surgery has always had a pharmacy which dispenses when the GP or Pharmacist is on duty, it was built in the 1970s specifically to avoid having to get the bus to town ::).
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New Surgeries often have Lloyds Chemists adjoining their premises. This means that the Chemist benefits from local 'trade' as well as dispensing to patients who can take their prescriptions where they like but this is unlikely, as it is handier to drop into the same premises. Unless the product isn't held there. Our satellite surgery has always had a pharmacy which dispenses when the GP or Pharmacist is on duty, it was built in the 1970s specifically to avoid having to get the bus to town ::).
But patients don't have to use it if they don't wish to.
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But that doesn't mean they are "locked" in with them CLKD!
It simply means that the pharmacy has seen an opportunity for business, and might I add a very good idea!
What the hell is wrong with that?. I do wish you wouldn't run down the NHS quite so much - especially as you use to work for them. They are under pressure, get slagged off a lot of the time & get very little thanks for all they're trying to do. >:(
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Thanks ladies- yes, I'll try for estradot. It's what the consultant originally asked my GP to prescribe but I've always been given Estraderm ( presumably cheaper)
I'm going to Japan in September- that would be an interesting trip to the pharmacy! 😂
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Hi Katejo, did the script have a nominated pharmacy (ie Boots) in the top left corner of the script? or was it blank or did it say "collect".
If you have not nominated a pharmacy than you will have to collect it from reception, as there is nowhere else it can go.
Let us know how you get on Katejo.
I think you have misunderstood me slightly. I don't have a prescription to collect now. I have nominated a pharmacy and my prescriptions normally go there. The point was whether that nominated pharmacy was allowed to hand the prescription to me if it was unable to supply (so I could try elsewhere).
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The pharmacy should always offer you the repeat slip so that next time you can collect wherever. I order mine online and can change it each time. I'm not sure whether once it's gone through to the nominated one that you can then change it though. Last month I called the pharmacy I usually use to check stock before ordering.
Taz x
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As I understand it, you can collect a prescription from any pharmacy you like regardless of whether you have "nominated" a particular one, especially if it is inconvenient to visit it that particular time or they do not have the supply. Either take it somewhere else if you prefer or ask for the prescription back if they don't have the supply. There should be no issue with this at all. xxx
MichelleMaBelle - Japan huh...yes that would be interesting since it is recorded that "Japanese women don't suffer from the menopause" - studies say it is something to do with their diet but I think more likely it is a combination of diet, culture and not having excessive hormones in their water or their food! Maybe asking at a pharmacy isn't my best idea!! xx
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This is the article I found on line :
https://inews.co.uk/opinion/comment/hormone-replacement-therapy-uk-shortage-women/
My current and previous surgeries were both rural with their own dispensary attached, but I do sometimes ask to take the prescription away. They might mark the prescriptions to go to the "attached" or village pharmacy by default but I don't think you're obliged to have it from there.
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I can change the nominated pharmacy on the online booking system, so for example, if I go on holiday in the UK, I can order meds and pick up locally.
I have just ordered a new prescription - the next will be due about the time of Brexit(again) so I am a little worried about how that will affect things (again) and very aware of the shortages that have been taking place.
Hoping to order as soon as the computer allows next time, to allow for disruption.
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Thanks for that Mogster71. I hadn't noticed until it affected my hrt. Will ring doctors tomorrow and see what my options are x
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You're welcome, my GP didn't know the reason things were being held up. I would like the option to try another HRT for myself but its hard to know whats available!
Hope you can find something somewhere.
Perhaps all us women should go on a march and protest about our poor treatment and options, that would put the fear of god into them!
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I would if I thought it would get us anywhere!
I've rung my doctors this morning and explained, and they're issuing me with a prescription that I can collect at 5.30pm so that I can try and get my hrt elsewhere. They've also taken Pharmacy2U off as my preferred option. Fingers crossed x
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Hi Perinowpost
Hope you manage to get your prescription from somewhere and not have too much chasing around :)
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When I needed a new Hrt tablet prescription recently, because the ones I was taking stopped working for some unknown reason, I had to go back and forth between gp and pharmacy 4 times before I could get one the pharmacist could get hold of, unfortunately this one isn't working either, so I've asked to be referred back to a meno clinic in the hope they will know more.
I just don't understand how such a shortage can happen :'(
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I managed to get mine from the third Pharmacy I tried. Only 3 months worth though, so dreading it next time x