Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Melbury on April 01, 2012, 11:43:12 AM

Title: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: Melbury on April 01, 2012, 11:43:12 AM
I went to collect my prescription for Oestrogel and when I got home and opened the bag have been given something called Oestrodose instead ???  It seems to be manufactured by the same company - i.e. Besins - so hopefully it will be as good. 

Same thing has happened with my thyroxine, can't get Eltroxin at the moment >:(

Just wondered if anyone has heard anything...
Title: Re: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: Joyce on April 01, 2012, 12:55:33 PM
Not heard but I have been given this one in past too.  It's just the same.
Title: Re: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: Rivadan on April 01, 2012, 06:55:25 PM
Don't you just get whatever the pharmacy can buy the cheapest at the time? We do in my neck of the woods. I never get Eltroxin!
Title: Re: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: Rivadan on April 01, 2012, 08:48:49 PM
That's it - they dish out the cheap generics to us all the time - some are fine but some are lousy. I had one particular generic of an antihistamine I take regularly which gave me dreadful side effects. The only way you can find out is by using it unfortunately.
Title: Re: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: Rivadan on April 01, 2012, 09:08:34 PM
OK, so the antihistamine I prefer (and now demand) is Zirtek - active ingredient Cetirizine.

If the GP prescribes Zirtek, the pharmacist has to give that to me.

However if he prescribes Cetirizine, they can give me whatever brand of cetirizine they happen to have bought in for the cheapest price that week. So you could end up with Joe Bloggs Cetirizine instead of Zirtek.

My GP never prescribes a branded thyroxine for underactive thyroid and I must have used dozens of different brands over the years.
Title: Re: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: CLKD on April 01, 2012, 09:21:14 PM
One of the big manufacturers has been taken over so they are having to check all the Licences are up to date before releasing products into the surgeries.
Title: Re: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: Melbury on April 06, 2012, 10:02:21 AM
I always like to get Eltroxin if I can, just feel better on it - some people say it is the other things that are added that differ between brands.  The pharmacist always gets on her high horse and says it is exactly the same and I say no it isn't!!!!  They just try to get away with giving the cheaper version I am sure, but apparently there has been a problem with the supply of Eltroxin, so won't hassle them for a while yet.

Hopefully the Oestrodose will be OK!
Title: Re: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: Rivadan on April 06, 2012, 10:46:34 AM
They always say "its exactly the same" but I can say for certain the different fillers, coatings, whatever, can make a huge difference, especially when its a tablet you have to take on a regular basis.
Title: Re: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: Peony on May 21, 2018, 03:52:00 PM
My pharmacist told me on Saturday 19 May 2018 that she can't get oestrogel/oestrodose anywhere all the wholesalers are out. Searched and this old thread popped up so at least it was resolved last time. Is this the same all over the UK and does anyone know what is going on and when it is likely to resolve ?
Title: Re: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: Daisydot on May 21, 2018, 03:59:28 PM
No peony my pharmacist in bucks orders in oestrogel for me and I've not had any problems this last few months,they'll only give me one can at a time which is ridiculous.you could try another chemist I know they do vary with what they can source,I don't know why that is.good luck x
Title: Re: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: Maryjane on May 22, 2018, 05:54:01 AM
Put my order in yesterday for 3 tubes of estrogel , got two immediately and the other will be today after 11.00am.

Also 3 months of vagifem with no issues straight away.

Title: Re: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: Stephjkm on May 23, 2018, 06:57:40 AM
Yet again......none in stock and none at wholesaler......
Title: Re: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: Annie0710 on May 23, 2018, 07:14:30 AM
My epipens have been out of stock since March !

It's all getting ridiculous x
Title: Re: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: Daisydot on May 23, 2018, 07:35:21 AM
Can you not maybe try ringing your hospital pharmacy Annie,they may have some, then ask gp for a new script if necessary.x
Title: Re: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: Annie0710 on May 23, 2018, 02:38:48 PM
Luckily I still have 2 in date but this new pharmacy that I've moved near are useless so I've assigned my scripts to my old pharmacy 11 miles away.  They confirmed that there's a shortage of epipens but said they tell their customers to get gp to prescribe a generic one x
Title: Re: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: Daisydot on May 24, 2018, 05:29:12 PM
That's good Annie you sound as if your on the ball with it well done xx
Title: Re: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: Saffy on May 24, 2018, 05:43:02 PM
Hi all, I'm just coming out of lurk mode again :) .

I have been switched from Estradot to Oestrogel as I appear to have absorbed practically nothing from the patches over the last 18 months (including five months on 100mg patches). My practice pharmacy has informed me that neither Oestrogel or Oestrodose are in stock or being supplied by the manufacturers ATM. This is in the Exeter/Exmouth area. Looks like this might be widespread  :-\. Will be ringing around local pharmacies tomorrow...
Title: Re: OESTROGEL - is there a shortage?
Post by: Tinkerbell on May 24, 2018, 06:09:24 PM
When I have had supply problems with Vagifem or Estrogel I have always had more success tracking them down in independent chemists rather than chains like Boots, unfortunately they seem to be disappearing and Boots are taking over in our town.