As the title asks, have certain dosages been discontinued? I've been told by several different pharmacies that the 10mg/ml and 20mg/ml have been discontinued....has anyone else run into this problem?
It looks like they did discontinue those concentrations. They do offer the 40 but reports are that it is more expensive.
In that case, i'll probably call my endo and request the 40. I'd just prefer to stay with injections instead of going to patches.
From what I have heard through the grapevine all injectable oestrogens have been discontinued except those made by compounding pharmacies, as to why my guess is as good as yours.
Well, if that's true, it definitely sucks :/
We'll that defiantly sucks
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My prescription is for 40mg/mL, but I'm not due for a refill till the end of March. Last I heard it was only the 10mg/mL that was discontinued, and they were still making the 20 and 40mg/mL
There have been rumors abounding as to why this is happening.
One that makes sense, is a bad batch was made for some of the biggest pharmacies in the US and it will take some time for a replacement batch.
There is a great compounding pharmacy in Oregon that makes it for a great price. You do need a doctor to send the prescription in though, before you can order. Stroheckers is their name, I believe. My doc gets his stuff from them, and wrote me a script when I moved.
Is this for the entire US? I was wanting to start injections next week, so is that really true for ALL pharmacies? And why doesn't the 40 mg/ml work? Can't it just be halved or quartered and have the same effect as 20/10?
Quote from: Hideyoshi on January 30, 2015, 06:55:23 AM
Is this for the entire US? I was wanting to start injections next week, so is that really true for ALL pharmacies? And why doesn't the 40 mg/ml work? Can't it just be halved or quartered and have the same effect as 20/10?
Yes, the amount can be adjusted, and works just fine. 40mg/ml is what I use, and I have not had any problem getting mine. In fact, once finding out about this a couple months ago, I began reordering a new vial through my phamacy only 1/5 into the last so now I'm 3 vials ahead. Check your pharmacies policies as opposed to your insurance coverage. Dani
Yes I tried and first it was 10mg/ml way back around December... We switched to 20mg/ml, all was good but I liked the 10mg/ml better... Then we couldn't get 20mg/ml >:( I was told 10 and 20mg/ml are back ordered march 2015 :'(
Im not sure about the 40mg/ml they said they "might" be able to order it... We didnt try it because I take my shots every 5 days and it would have been a TINY shot...
I ended up with a 20mg/ml 5ml vial compounded by Stroheckers, it was $111.95 shipped with injection supplies... They can do 10mg/ml as well but I have no idea what that would cost... If you use 40mg/ml they say they do a 10ml vial for $59.95... Thats a good deal but Im thinking it would expire before I ever used it all... http://www.stroheckersrx.com/estradiol-valerate-compound.php
It was easy to get started with them, my docs nurse just called it in and then they called me for payment and they shipped it.... I had to file the claim myself with my insurance and Im still waiting to see what they say... It does seem to work just fine though ;D
The lowest two strengths of the generic except through compounding pharmacies were discontinued. The name brand just isn't available. I was switched to depo estradiol as a result.
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Thanks everyone. I agreed to start on patches, vivelle dot, but they only come in 0.1mg patches. Does anyone know what this compares to in oral/injection terms? I'm so confused.
I asked that same question of my provider and the answer was a bit equivocal; "what really matters is your blood levels and individual response" Dosages are usually titrated from lower to higher while watching your laboratory results. You know the rest of the answer "Your Mileage May Vary" YMMV.
I am considering switching from the patches to sublingual. Perhaps a tiny bit more risky but the patches are a nuisance and challenge, coming off or bubbling after a hot tub or shower. I sometimes find them stuck to the sheets after a restless night.
Quote from: Eva on January 30, 2015, 11:42:29 AM
Yes I tried and first it was 10mg/ml way back around December... We switched to 20mg/ml, all was good but I liked the 10mg/ml better... Then we couldn't get 20mg/ml >:( I was told 10 and 20mg/ml are back ordered march 2015 :'(
Im not sure about the 40mg/ml they said they "might" be able to order it... We didnt try it because I take my shots every 5 days and it would have been a TINY shot...
I ended up with a 20mg/ml 5ml vial compounded by Stroheckers, it was $111.95 shipped with injection supplies... They can do 10mg/ml as well but I have no idea what that would cost... If you use 40mg/ml they say they do a 10ml vial for $59.95... Thats a good deal but Im thinking it would expire before I ever used it all... http://www.stroheckersrx.com/estradiol-valerate-compound.php
It was easy to get started with them, my docs nurse just called it in and then they called me for payment and they shipped it.... I had to file the claim myself with my insurance and Im still waiting to see what they say... It does seem to work just fine though ;D
I'm on weekly shots and I'm using the 40mg/ml. Why is the 20mg/ml more expensive? I think I'm supposed to be getting the 20mg/ml for my next prescription.
My endo assures me that .1 mg patch = 4mg 17b estradiol but I just don't buy that. And he has a track record of being wonky with strengths/dosages.
I haven't heard of my pharmacy being unable to get mine, is this supposedly only effecting valerate? Or all forms of injectable estrogen? I'm currently taking depo-estradiol (cypionate)
Just came back from town and my pharmacist already had my next vial waiting for me. The info I posted above still seems to be holding well. Eva, you should be fine as far as expiration dates, even my third vial does not expire until 12/2015. Dani
Quote from: antonia on January 29, 2015, 09:27:52 PM
From what I have heard through the grapevine all injectable oestrogens have been discontinued except those made by compounding pharmacies, as to why my guess is as good as yours.
I get mine from a compounding pharmacy, because my regular pharmacy can't get any of the generic estradiol Valerate from their supplier (since they are out of stock), and the brand name medicine is so expensive that my insurance company won't cover it.
:police:
Any more mention of dosage and this thread is gone.
You all know the rules, if not you need too.
I went "In Search Of" a refill of 10mg/ml of EV back in the beginning of December. I wanted to get that out of the way before my company changed insurance carriers and dealing with that "Unknown". Three months earlier, no prob. Just the typical 2-3 day delay. Well, one week delay became another, became another. THe pharmacy checked 20mg/ml, same story, "Supply Unavailability".
When I started digging deeply into the FDA data-base, apparently for 10mg/ml there is now only one "Real" (approved) manufacturer, PAR. JSP was the they brand of my last refill but they were purchased by PAR last year. For 20 & 40 concentrations there is a second source.
When I posited the issue to my TG group site, everyone else is on 40 mg/ml and have no problems.
The pharmacy was finally able to get in 40 mg/ml after a few more weeks of checking. (WalGreens. Didn't even need me pestering them. Always on top of it). Got the doc to change the script over, and..... BCBS comes back with denied. a) I am a male; b) I need pre-approval.
Que two weeks of anxiety attacks. :( Then the idiots at BCBS had no idea that 40mg/ml of EV is really EV mixed with oil, in other words, also sold under the name of Delestrogen! Yet on their own mail-order pharmacy list it is EV! ??? (BTW - Even there they list only 20 & 40, no 10)
The part that sucks now is I need a MUCH lower volume syringe. Just one drop loss is a major total doseage loss. I get sick enough seeing that occassional drible of the elixir of life out of the injection site.
Well, I guess I can always talk to the doc about upping the dose ;D
Yea thats why I wont go 40mg/ml, it seems it would be too hard get my dosage right.... 20mg/ml is manageable with a 1ml syringe... I really liked the 10mg/ml but I really cant tell a difference between 10mg and 20mg/ml... I was started on The EC (Depo-Estrogen) Those were BIG shots (by volume) because its only available in 5mg/ml... It was more expensive than EV though and my old insurance wouldn't pay much for either form of injections >:( Im not sure how my new insurance is gonna be but I wont do anything else after trying shots :)
We have dialed my dosage in, Ive found no matter what the dose of my shot is I still crash after 5 days... Increasing dosage for me just while just fine with me really does nothing for me as far as how long I can go between shots :-\ A reduced dosage with more frequent shots is really nice though ;D
Not sure if this will help but Acuderm makes a 'no waste' luer-lock 1cc syringe. The plunger has an elongated tip allowing injection of medication that would normally remain in the syringe hub. I researched this many months ago and at one time had a thread on it, but at that time this item never popped up (then BD was the only one, an experiment to lessen the possibility of HIV transmission) so it may be a new product. Something that you may be interested in checking on. Dani
Quote from: Newgirl Dani on January 31, 2015, 02:41:39 PM
Not sure if this will help but Acuderm makes a 'no waste' luer-lock 1cc syringe. The plunger has an elongated tip allowing injection of medication that would normally remain in the syringe hub. I researched this many months ago and at one time had a thread on it, but at that time this item never popped up (then BD was the only one, an experiment to lessen the possibility of HIV transmission) so it may be a new product. Something that you may be interested in checking on. Dani
Thank you for this tidbit Danni. I just started looking for 1ml or less syringes. They seem rare with 1", 22 ish gauge needles.
How small of a needle bore can I comfortably go with 40mg/ml? 22 is NP drawing and injecting 10mg/ml so I figure 24 would still be OK. But I hear 40mg/ml is a lot more viscus.
just a question as I am not sure and wonder if anyone in this convo would know but, what is the difference between valerate and cypionate?
I believe that the difference is the base oil used in the mix. Back in November my doctor, after a short discussion on patch vs Shot prescribed EV 20mg. After calling every compounding pharmacy from LA to San Diego I gave up. There is no 20mg around at a reasonable price. I found Stroheckers (I think that's the name). They have 40mg at a great price. My doc said to just half the dose. It works well.
Quote from: JoanneB on January 31, 2015, 02:51:28 PM
Thank you for this tidbit Danni. I just started looking for 1ml or less syringes. They seem rare with 1", 22 ish gauge needles.
How small of a needle bore can I comfortably go with 40mg/ml? 22 is NP drawing and injecting 10mg/ml so I figure 24 would still be OK. But I hear 40mg/ml is a lot more viscus.
For the 40mg/ml a 1 1/2" 22g works just fine, and I inject in the thigh. I use an old prescription bottle with about an inch of warm water in the bottom and put the vial in it about 5 minutes prior. This thinner nature does two things, allows for easy plunger action and second, it seems to distribute the oil into the muscle better (probably directly related). I tried a 1" and I did not feel secure that it was reaching deep enough, I tried a 23g and it had a slight sting whereas the 22g has zero sensation at all, but thats just my opinion. I alternate to the other leg every 7 days, and for the last 7 months I have not experienced a single problem. Dani
P.S. I draw up with what's called a 'blunt fill' (made for this one purpose) 20g then switch to the 22g. Just make sure you do not inject more air into the vial than you use or the extra pressure inside the vial will send a teeny tiny drop out through the rubber septum. I dont like 'any' waste :( at all. I've found the BD 1cc luer lock works best, I can then buy the boxes of needles separate, have not tried this Acuderm, it looks promising. Hope that helps Joanne
I am contacting you for more information about the shortage of your generic Estradiol Valerate product. Please provide as much detail as you are able about the cause of this shortage, what precipitated it, what the solution entails, when the product will be available on the market again, as well as any steps Perrigo is putting in place to prevent a recurrence the shortage in the future.
from: ★ Brad Joseph <Bradley...@perrigo.com>
Brad Joseph Bradley....@perrigo.com
to: Susan Larson
Susan Larson sptrnews@gmail.com
date: Tue, 27 Feb 2018 18:08:22 +0000
subject: RE: Estradiol Valerate
Susan,
Thank you for reaching out. We do not have a comment to provide at this time, thanks.
-Brad
I just got a letter from my insurance company saying they are discontinuing it I don't know whats going on.
Quote from: stephaniec on February 28, 2018, 10:08:57 PM
I just got a letter from my insurance company saying they are discontinuing it I don't know whats going on.
I know... last month I suddenly found that nobody in the Seattle/Tacoma area had any of the 20mg/ml Estradiol Valerate..... in the generic... Although it would be no problem getting the name brand Delesragon, I just need to get the pre-auth done for my ins provider.... so here we go round and round.....
Quote from: TransParkie on March 01, 2018, 04:22:07 AM
I know... last month I suddenly found that nobody in the Seattle/Tacoma area had any of the 20mg/ml Estradiol Valerate..... in the generic... Although it would be no problem getting the name brand Delesragon, I just need to get the pre-auth done for my ins provider.... so here we go round and round.....
See if they will write you for 40mg. I had my Doctor change mine and then got her to fill monthly as the protocol is to discard an open vial after 28 days... So amazing to have a 36 month stock pile.
Ahhh The yearly shortage. Seems to happen a lot around this time >:( I just checked the FDA drug shortage database and nothing is popping up for either EV or Delestrogen.
I am still in good supply. My last refill was just before the new year in NJ
I was just informed that Perrigo was discontinuing manufacture of generic Estradiol Valerate of any kind.
The non-generic EV (Delestrogen) from Parr, costs 10x as much. Depo-Estradiol (Estradiol Cypionate) is available through my insurance.
Stroheckers (now NewEra) no longer compounds EV
Quote from: calico on January 31, 2015, 02:55:15 PM
just a question as I am not sure and wonder if anyone in this convo would know but, what is the difference between valerate and cypionate?
They are different esters of estradiol...
Estradiol is linked through an ester bond to a carboxylic acid (either Valeric acid or Cypionic acid) so technically they are different molecules, but in each case in vivo the ester bond is hydrolyzed to give estradiol.
- karen