Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Lamplighter on June 24, 2021, 10:52:20 PM
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Just got my latest prescription for Oestrogel and Utrogestan, but the Oestrogel is actually something called Oestrodose. Googling it (as you do) I came across references to Oestrodose being sub par in relation to Oestrogel, despite having (apparently) identical ingredients and being manufactured by the same company.
Having had experience of taking apparently identical oral HRT with dramatically different effects, I'm loathe to muck about with a different product, no matter how identical it's claimed to be, when I'm only just starting to get stable on the current regime.
I couldn't find anything more recent than September 2020 on here about it and wondered if anyone had heard anything more about this, and whether by now whatever issues there were have been resolved? Or not, as the case may well be ::).
Thanks
LL
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I collected mine yesterday and mine is Oestrogel not the normal Estrogel! They both have the orange ring around it like I’ve seen in a previous post which apparently is the same! Have yours?
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Hi Flan747
My normal one is Oestrogel, the new one is called Oestrodose but has Oestrogel stickers stuck all over the box and bottle - I can't find an orange ring on either of them so perhaps it's a different sort from yours? As far as I can tell from the internet, the spelling Oestrogel is UK and EstroGel not.
Despite what Dr Newson and others here say about trying it out to see if it does work, I'm not willing to have any recurrence of the symptoms now that I've got them more or less under control so am curious to know if the problems that women reported with the Oestrodose in previous years have been fixed.
LL
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Hi you will find lots of threads on here about the Oestradose and Oestrogel debate. The manufacturers insist that they are the same but if you notice a return of symptoms then you should ask for Oestrogel when placing a prescription. x
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Non-independent pharmacies buy their medications in bulk ( and often the cheapest available). I had the same when the pharmacy I used to use changed hands and the manager refused my request for Oestrogel over Oestrodose. I suggest you take your prescription to an independent with a bottle of Oestrogel to show them exactly what you mean- or you could use the online pharmacy who I know stock what you want. I found an independent pharmacy near me and I have had no problems since. ( touch wood!)
Good luck
Kate
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Hi Dotty, thanks for replying. I'm not willing to risk having a return of symptoms after so long trying to get them under control so I'm hoping that by now whatever the problem was has been fixed. The most recent post on here is September last year so I was also hoping that there'd been updates on the situation since. Maybe it's too soon... xx
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Hi there kateJ thanks also for replying - what you say makes sense, I've already written as a reminder on my repeat prescription Oestrogel not Oestrodose, the doctor can specify more emphatically and I think she probably will.
But if the chemist baulks I suppose I shall have to go elsewhere - a nuisance as stuff is all done electronically via local surgery and local pharmacy (I live in the sticks).
Luckily I have extra bottles of the original stuff to tide me over until my next prescription is due.
xxx
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Mine is Oestrogel so take it that’s the right one! I read it should have an orange line around it which it has !
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Hi again Flan747, yeah so has mine (the Oestrogel - both bottle and box), the other one is a completely different bottle and box though it still has the turquoise top and the same shape.
Glad yours is the right one! xx
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Although they are meant to be same i got a return of symptons when i have been given Oestrodose on three separate occassions.
I have been going to a local independant chemist for last 18 months where they have noted on my records that i prefer Oestrogel and i have got it every single time i put repeat in, so i now support them for all our scripts and potions!
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Thanks Tinkerbell :) xx