Compounding pharmacy quit carrying Estradiol

[Jessica Lynne]

Hi guys,
      any help you have is really appreciated. My compounding pharmacy quit making estradiols. Can anyone tell me where you get your Delestrogen or Depo-estradiol and how much you pay for it? I was paying  $50 for 10 ml. Vials off depo and the cheapest I can find generics is $200. Ouch!!!! A 400 percent increase and out of my budget. If anyone knows anything that helps me I would be mega appreciative! Hugs, Jess

[TinaVane]

Have u tried the app GOODRX I love it


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[Jessica Lynne]

Hi Tina. Thanks, that's where I got my 200 dollar number 

[LShipley]

The walgreens discount card took more off than GoodRX for me but not the same med, I am on estradiol valerate

Even so, GoodRX was like $250 and the Walgreens discount card was $170

[Lisa_K]

With a coupon from GoodRX, a 5ml vial of 40mg/ml of estradiol valerate was $85.60 from Walgreens. Coupon also got my progesterone down to about a buck a pill. (100 mg)

Considering years ago I was paying $100 for a 10ml vial of 100mg/ml from a compounding pharmacy, it seems incredible it costs so much.

[Jessica Lynne]

With a coupon from GoodRX, a 5ml vial of 40mg/ml of estradiol valerate was $85.60 from Walgreens. Coupon also got my progesterone down to about a buck a pill. (100 mg)

Considering years ago I was paying $100 for a 10ml vial of 100mg/ml from a compounding pharmacy, it seems incredible it costs so much.

I know, right? So depressing. I guess I should have appreciated how good I had it. I've contacted my Doc, but I haven't heard back from her.
I'm really going to have to rearrange finances if this is what I'm stuck with.

[Dena]

I typed in compounding lab in google and I ended up with about a dozen in the phoenix area on a map. I am not sure what the pricing would be however if your search is anything like mine, you should have several to chose from.

[Jessica Lynne]

Hmmmmm. I pulled up a place in New Jersey and one in Arkansas. I left detailed notes to receive a quote back so we'll see as they're nationwide. I called some of the smaller places today and the ones I called don't compound estradiols. They were more for mixing all your drugs together to make all your meds be one pill. Anyways, if I get anything of value back, I'll post back up so others can use the info. Thanks for your help, Dena, your always there for us. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Have a lovely day tomorrow.

[AnonyMs]

Maybe you could ask College Pharmacy. They do hormone implants, so perhaps they can do injectables also. Or just get the implants since its better.

http://www.collegepharmacy.com/

[Jessica Lynne]

Maybe you could ask College Pharmacy. They do hormone implants, so perhaps they can do injectables also. Or just get the implants since its better.

http://www.collegepharmacy.com/

Thank you so much for your suggestion. It looks very promising and I've contacted them with my requirements. That's the best lead I've gotten yet!

[Dani]

Estradiol can be taken by many routes. Injectable, topical (both gel and patches), pellet implants under the skin, and of course tablets that can be taken under the tongue or swallowed. Each product has its own advantages and disadvantages, but they all work safely and effectively.

If cost is a concern, tablets are the cheapest by far.

[Jessica Lynne]

Estradiol can be taken by many routes. Injectable, topical (both gel and patches), pellet implants under the skin, and of course tablets that can be taken under the tongue or swallowed. Each product has its own advantages and disadvantages, but they all work safely and effectively.

If cost is a concern, tablets are the cheapest by far.

Thank you. Unfortunately, the volume of Estrace oral that I had to take to get my Levels correct raised my estrone to an unacceptable level. Too much liver stress as well given the amount I was prescribed so it's really not an option for me. Need to go with pellets (prohibitively expensive without Insurance) or IM are pretty much my options.

[Jessica Lynne]

So fwiw, not one of the compounders even bothered to answer me back. Apparently no one wants to deal with it. Interestingly enough, the majority of compounders I found seem more interested in Pet medication than Human meds. Anyways, I had to order generics. There goes 200 bucks a month...ouch! 

[Lisa_K]

Anyways, I had to order generics. There goes 200 bucks a month...ouch!

Why? What? Delestrogen if that's what you were on was simply a brand name. Currently, injectible estradiol is only being produced by one company, Perrigo, and it is valerate. What's the difference between cypionate and valerate anyway?

I'm using valerate at 40mg/ml and am paying $85.60 for 5 ml from Walgreens with a GoodRX coupon.

At my last doctor visit, they gave me a price list for a compounding pharmacy in Scottsdale that shows 10 ml of 5mg/ml cypionate in sesame oil for $60.00. I'm sure they'll mix in higher concentrations. Their number is 480-949-6033

[SadieBlake]

I just checked goodrx, $60 for 20mg/ml at CVS, $44 at Walmart.

I wouldn't use a compounding pharmacy for anything injected, I've worked in biomedical industry and the controls you can get in a production line are simply better.

[Dani]

I wouldn't use a compounding pharmacy for anything injected, I've worked in biomedical industry and the controls you can get in a production line are simply better.

Compounding pharmacies do have a spotty reputation. Most are good if they know what they are doing and a few have let quality control down with contaminated products and I know of one who was a fraud, charging huge amounts of money for anti-cancer drugs with little or no active ingredients. 

With the safety and effectiveness of today's manufactured drugs, there is little reason to compound. There are still a few doctors who have their special formulas, mostly for topical creams and ointments.

I graduated from Pharmacy school in 1977 and the licencing requirements back then required a test on compounding ability. Today this is no longer required. Very few newly graduated pharmacists even know the first thing about compounding.

Buyer beware and to each their own.

[Jessica Lynne]

Well, I was going through the compounding pharmacy of America and I was getting 10 ml of cypionate for 50 dollars delivered. Then, they simply let me know when I re ordered they weren't dealing with any estradiols at all and basically gave me the boot with "we don't make that any more". Okay, ouch. It's true valarate is substantially cheaper. basically 80 dollars for 40 mg / 5 ml. that will do the same thing as the cypionate I'm on that I'm paying 200 dollars. The reason I'm not switching now is I have SRS scheduled in Feb. and don't feel like messing with level fluctuations this close to surgery. After I'm done with the SRS and get some baseline tests, I'll be on the valerate (delestrogen)

[Sydney_NYC]

I've been getting my Estradiol Valerate through Anazao Health. They use a non-standard dosage of 30mg/mL. So your doctor will have to adjust your dosage appropriately. The cost is $67 per 5mL vile plus shipping. (They do not take insurance)

Here is their information

Anazao Health
5710 Hoover Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33634-5339
Customer Service: (800) 723-7455
FAX (to FAX prescription to): (800) 238-8239

After your first order you can order refills online.

[Jessica Lynne]

Thanks Sydney! That's great back up info. I really appreciate it!