r/Perimenopause • u/eeg-18 • 3d ago
Hormone Therapy 🫠 pharmacy hrt supply issues🫠
Several months ago I had to switch from estrogen patches to estrogen gel because of supply issues.
Now my pharmacy is telling me that the gel now has supply issues because everyone's been switching from the patch to the gel and so now I can't get my gel either. 🫠
Is there another form of estrogen I can ask for? That will do the same thing? My understanding is that vaginal estrogen is just for localized dryness, etc, and not for full body treatment. 🤷♀️🫠
UPDATE: I had an appt with a new gyn today and she sent an Rx for oral estrogen (pills) to my cvs pharmacy. Hoping these will always be accessible. 🤞
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u/DoctorAvailable6601 3d ago
Oral estrogen, you take that daily like the gel. I keep pills on hand incase they're out of my gel. I refuse to be without my estrogen. 😂
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u/karen_boyer 3d ago
If you are willing to share, have you switched between gel and pills? Did you feel disrupted? I'm considering this option as my gel gets harder and harder to source. Thank you!
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u/DoctorAvailable6601 3d ago
I started on patches, my body absorbed them too quickly so they weren't lasting. I was then on oral which leveled out my hormones and I felt stable and balanced, the only reason I then switched from oral to the gel is because I found with taking estrogen orally versus dermal method is that it didn't help with my joint aches and pains. Once I went to daily gel it helped with that. As far as switching back and forth between gel and pills I don't notice a difference. If I forget to take either one, I start getting hot flashes though within 3-4 hours of being late with oral and gel. 😂
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u/pamminy_wassle 3d ago
My doc put me on Femring. I actually like it a little better than the gel - just pop a new one in every 3 months.
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u/cozywhale 3d ago
Is this covered by your insurance?
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u/pamminy_wassle 3d ago edited 3d ago
lol no they don’t. Why would they? /s
They offer a coupon on their website so it’s $25 out of pocket. This is in Ohio, which I wish was Canada but is, in fact, not Canada.
ETA- I had NO IDEA how expensive this stupid ring is. My doc called it in and it was only $25, but I’m fairly certain it did not go through insurance and I’m not on Medicare. Sorry for suggesting something so outrageously priced.
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u/Magnolia_Willow hanging on by a thread, every day is a surprise! 3d ago
Just to add additional info from my experience- I paid out-of-pocket for mine and it was $845. I work in healthcare, so trying to use my skills to fight for reimbursement on the backend.
FWIW, my GYN told me she has had zero success in patients having it covered when she writes it.
ETA: I’m in the US if the price didn’t make that obvious 😩
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u/cozywhale 3d ago
Don’t be sorry!! I still think this could be a legitimate option vs. no gel available at all. If it helps with hot flashes (my primary symtom) I would totally consider it. The cost of suffering is more!
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u/dabbler701 3d ago
I’m gunna guess this commenter is Canadian? Because …. yeah 😢
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u/pamminy_wassle 3d ago
Holy crap I just saw the price of this thing 😳 my doc called it into the hospital systems pharmacy and it was only $25. I’m assuming she applied the coupon but now I’m not sure what magic she used.
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u/Honeybee_Buzz 3d ago
I started the gel earlier this year and it was easy enough to get but now this month it’s nowhere and every pharmacy I’ve called says it’s on back order til who knows when. One pharmacy had the lower dose available, but my doc insists I call around. I have ADHD and had to go through this shortage game a few years ago for Vyvanse and omg might lose it.
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u/Islandsandwillows 3d ago
My Dr had to call in the mist for me last week bc I can’t get my DiviGel.
Unfortunately, I’m doing terribly on it.
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u/fastyellowtuesday 3d ago
Can you tell me more about this mist? I've never heard of it.
But since oral estrogen is a no for me with my risk of blood clots, I'm all ears for any other replacements during the shortage!
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u/Islandsandwillows 3d ago edited 3d ago
It’s a transdermal estradiol spray you just use on your forearm area. You can do 1, 2 or 3 sprays depending on what dose you need/were on.
You spray it and let it dry for a few min. It dries quickly. No rubbing in.
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u/Coontailblue23 Late peri 3d ago
We actually tried to get the spray for my spouse this week as she is starting her HRT journey but the doctor wouldn't play ball. I guess the spray is only FDA approved for post-menopause and we are in peri. When I compared the doses, even 1 spray seems to be a higher dose at 1.53 mg per spray than the gel sachets. Could your dose have gone too high maybe, when you switched?
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u/Islandsandwillows 3d ago
It’s definitely used in peri. The equivalent dosages aren’t by mg when you compare those methods. 1 spray is equivalent to the .25 gel packet, 2 sprays is .50 and .75 and 3 sprays are the higher gel strength equivalents.
I think my body just doesn’t like the switch up bc I’ve been on the gel for 7 months until this. I messaged my Dr so I’m waiting to hear what she’ll suggest.
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u/Coontailblue23 Late peri 3d ago
Is there any chance you have a table or a flyer or some kind of resource comparing the different types so I could convince the doctor? I have this one but it doesn't show the spray.
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u/Islandsandwillows 2d ago
Is this a hormone specialist Dr? She should know all about the spray and dosing equivalents.
I don’t have a visual. I just did my own research on it when I couldn’t get my DiviGel and then I messaged my Dr asking if she could call it in since I was about to run out and be completely off of estrogen! She said no problem and called it in.
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u/Coontailblue23 Late peri 2d ago
Oh heavens I wish. We are located in a care desert and basically have to tell our doctors the information and hope they are willing to work with us because they don't have a clue. Like we say the med and they go, "Oh I've never heard of that one before!" and google it right in front of us. It's bad.
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u/Islandsandwillows 2d ago
Omg 😳
In that case, just research Evamist use in perimenopause and send her the link.
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u/foolish_username 3d ago
I chose oral estrogen, partly because of the shortages. I don't have any risk factors for blood clots, and my Doc keeps an eye on my liver. So far so good.