Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: jill610 on January 23, 2018, 01:34:27 PM

Title: Estradiol Valerate 20mg & 40mg discontinued?
Post by: jill610 on January 23, 2018, 01:34:27 PM
Anyone else get a similar message from their pharmacy?

Quote
Dear XYZ:

Thank you for contacting CVS Caremark. We strive to provide quality customer care to every one of our plan participants.

According to our records, Estradiol Valerate MDV 20MG/ML and Estradiol MDV Valerate 40MG/ML have been discontinued by the manufacturer.

CVS Caremark has Clinical Care Technicians available to assist with your questions regarding alternative medications covered under your plan. Due to the clinical nature of your inquiry, please contact Customer Care

etc
Title: Re: Estradiol Valerate 20mg & 40mg discontinued?
Post by: Dena on January 23, 2018, 05:10:38 PM
Other members have been reporting difficulty obtaining estrogen in the larger containers. The rumor is the FDA felt there were issues with medications remaining sterile for long periods of time so the container size was reduced to what could be used within a month. It's more expensive to purchase multiple smaller container but that may be the only way you can purchase it now.
Title: Re: Estradiol Valerate 20mg & 40mg discontinued?
Post by: rmaddy on January 23, 2018, 05:15:46 PM
Poop.
Title: Re: Estradiol Valerate 20mg & 40mg discontinued?
Post by: jill610 on January 23, 2018, 05:31:51 PM
Quote from: Dena on January 23, 2018, 05:10:38 PM
Other members have been reporting difficulty obtaining estrogen in the larger containers. The rumor is the FDA felt there were issues with medications remaining sterile for long periods of time so the container size was reduced to what could be used within a month. It's more expensive to purchase multiple smaller container but that may be the only way you can purchase it now.

I don't really care about the size of the container as I trash what's left after a month anyways when the new vial shows up. My pharmacy seems to only be able to get the brand name now which I got temporarily covered at the generic rate due to the back order situation but, well, ugh is all I can say.
Title: Re: Estradiol Valerate 20mg & 40mg discontinued?
Post by: Rachel on January 23, 2018, 06:42:11 PM
I just picked up EV from CVS 22 days ago. I guess there were people that did not follow proper procedures.
Title: Re: Estradiol Valerate 20mg & 40mg discontinued?
Post by: jill610 on January 23, 2018, 06:47:52 PM
Quote from: Rachel on January 23, 2018, 06:42:11 PM
I just picked up EV from CVS 22 days ago. I guess there were people that did not follow proper procedures.
Generic or brand? Which cvs? Both Caremark and all of my local ones are out of stock for a few months. They were able to fill with brand name.

I also checked the local wegmans, target, Walgreens and a few of the mom and pop places. This is in the western suburbs of philly.
Title: Re: Estradiol Valerate 20mg & 40mg discontinued?
Post by: SadieBlake on January 23, 2018, 07:34:11 PM
Refilled mine (Perrigo generic) at CVS 40mg/ml less than a week ago, there's no indication on FDA sites I can find about regulatory actions. Also the shelf life is a year, even at the higher concentrations, a 5 ml vial is not going to last that long at any dosage I've heard of.
Title: Re: Estradiol Valerate 20mg & 40mg discontinued?
Post by: Rachel on January 23, 2018, 07:44:51 PM
Cvs store Rx # 1394569 Bustleton and County Line. Estradiol Valerate 40 mg/ml. I was getting it at Mazzoni Walgreens Bainbridge and Broad Street. That is my primary care and one of my two groups I go to. Mazzoni Walgreens is not covered by insurance but I used the 430b federal  program and cvs is covered by my insurance.
Title: Re: Estradiol Valerate 20mg & 40mg discontinued?
Post by: jill610 on January 28, 2018, 09:14:03 AM
Quote from: Rachel on January 23, 2018, 07:44:51 PM
Cvs store Rx # 1394569 Bustleton and County Line. Estradiol Valerate 40 mg/ml. I was getting it at Mazzoni Walgreens Bainbridge and Broad Street. That is my primary care and one of my two groups I go to. Mazzoni Walgreens is not covered by insurance but I used the 430b federal  program and cvs is covered by my insurance.

I'm out west a bit closer to the KOP area and my local pharmacies between kop and Thorndale all are unable to get the generic in either 20 or 40. I am getting covered temporarily on the brand name at the generic price, but this email from Caremark was a bit concerning if it's actually true.
Title: Re: Estradiol Valerate 20mg & 40mg discontinued?
Post by: EndlessEden on April 21, 2018, 11:07:11 AM
Quote from: jill610 on January 28, 2018, 09:14:03 AM
I'm out west a bit closer to the KOP area and my local pharmacies between kop and Thorndale all are unable to get the generic in either 20 or 40. I am getting covered temporarily on the brand name at the generic price, but this email from Caremark was a bit concerning if it's actually true.
In the Fingerlake Area of NY, every pharmacy is telling me this for all concentrations. - i had to switch back to estrace for a while.

Its not just you, i was getting 20 then 40. but, i cant get anything, including the name brand.
Title: Re: Estradiol Valerate 20mg & 40mg discontinued?
Post by: Barb99 on April 22, 2018, 11:53:49 PM
I just picked up the 40mg generic 3 days ago from Walgreens. I'm in the Chicago northwest burbs.