I fully expected shortages of HRT once the turkeys who voted for their Brexit Christmas got their way – but I didn’t expect them just yet.
But that’s what’s happened. Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the past few weeks, you’ve probably read the news reports about crippling shortages of HRT drugs, which is affecting trans women, and cis women taking them to deal with the menopause.
I’d not experienced any issues with getting my patches before now, so I just buried my head in the sand and hoped all would be fine.
Evorel 75
But no, when I ordered my last prescription of Evorel 75 patches, I was told by the pharmacist that I could only have half of the amount I was entitled to – and would need to wait for the rest.
So I waited for almost two weeks – and was then told that, despite the chemist’s best efforts, they had been unable to source any more. The makers of Evorel, Jansen, has explained the shortages – and what’s being done to address them – here.
The pharmacist said that I might need to switch to estrogen pills – but I explained I couldn’t because of my DVT history (patches are by far the safer option).
So she said she’d see what I could she do. I was down to my last two patches and was beginning to get very worried that I’d have to come off HRT altogether.
This would be absolutely unthinkable. I’ve been on HRT for well over a year now – and the thought of undoing all that hard work is, frankly, terrifying.
But all’s well that ends well. The pharmacist spoke to my GP and managed to source an alternative. Not only that, but they’ve got a massive stash which should see them through the next few months.
So I’m now on Estraderm MX 75 patches. They’re the same size as the Evorel 75 patches, so we’ll see how we go.
Estraderm MX 75
Brexit isn’t being blamed for this current shortage – the makers of HRT products are instead blaming unprecedented demand.
But surely demand is only going to rise in the future as record numbers of trans people get referred to gender clinics and begin their transitions.
This, combined with the Government’s own advisers and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society warning of shortages of all kinds of medication once the Brexit axe falls, is making me very nervous indeed.
Shortage of food is one thing – we can all buy a few extra bags of pasta and tins of beans to tide us over the bad times. We can even bang some seeds in the ground and grow some veg.
But shortage of medication is something we can do absolutely nothing about.
Great work, Brexiteers, you’re about to destroy the country – and medicine shortage is only one of the terrible effects which are in the post, particularly if Boris gets his dream of a no-deal.
How that’s “taking back control” is quite beyond me. And we all know that you gammon idiots will be the first to whinge when things go tits up. These are the good old days – and you’ll be yearning for them before too long, you’ll see.
Andie xxx
Am dreading asking for mine. I have not worked out how many I have left yet…head in sand here too.
The whole GP Prescription/Chemist experience is rarely a pleasant one at the best of times 😶
Don’t worry too much, angel. I ended up OK, and I’m sure you will, too. You also get the option of pills, which I don’t really have anymore. xxx
I will confess that I voted leave but PLEASE don’t get angry yet!
I expected a huge remain majority that would have given little support for future negotiations within the EU. So I voted leave to narrow the gap. You can only imagine my horror when Sunderland declared leave, what followed was the worst night of my life – so far. I’m truly truly sorry.
Having worked in pharmaceutical manufacturing all I can say is that sending manufacturing halfway around the world to increase the profit on the less attractive lines is coming home to roost. Having sorted themselves out these overseas companies are now producing the more profitable lines at the expense of local manufacturing. Brexit has simply accelerated the shortages. However if a licence has lapsed getting it again takes a fair while.
Best advice is to vote Labour in December, then we get a second referendum on the deal offered or remain. Anything else will see us all in deep doo-doo. Having finally got my first appointment in February (3 years and 1 month after referral) I’m hoping that this can be cleared up quickly. Insulin is another badly affected item but I’d bet Theresa May’s supply is assured.
As a cyclist who is myself strongly considering starting HRT, I’m wondering if you might comment on if you still ride, how it’s changed, if you can still keep up with any guys, etc. Much appreciated.
Hi Emily, thanks for the message. I’m afraid that, since starting my new job in February, I’ve let the cycling lapse as I don’t have the free time anymore. That and being lazy! Hoping to get back in the saddle next year, though, so I’ll see how I go. xxx