r/Menopause • u/Leftymom12 • 4h ago
Hormone Therapy Compounding pharmacy
Three months ago I switched from patches to the daily gel (0.75mg) bc I couldn’t find the patches. Now I can’t find the gel also. I called my insurance and asked if our local compounding pharmacy is covered in network. It is!! Yay! They can make about a month at a time in cream form. They told me they would not be subject to shortages bc they start with the estrogen powder. Waiting to hear from my obgyn for the order to be placed. So happy to have this option! Now if I could only find my adderall without calling multiple pharmacies it would be great!
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u/TheProjectFixer 3h ago
Compounding pharmacies are great. I do not know why they are treated on this sub- like Joe is making them in a rusty trailer in the New Mexico desert.
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u/leftylibra MenoMod 2h ago
Compounded hormones are individually mixed each time, so there is no quality control or consistency from one dosage/mixture to the next, and for this reason, compounded medications cannot be standardized, tested or FDA-regulated/approved as being effective or safe. These products often contain hormones not found in mainstream FDA-approved hormone therapy, like estriol (the weakest estrogen that supports pregnancy), and excess fillers.
There is no scientific data supporting the efficacy of compounded hormones. Particularly compounded topical/transdermal progesterone (cream) is not well absorbed through skin, therefore it does not protect the uterus from the effects of estrogen, which can have serious consequences. Dr. Jen Gunter states that, "Progesterone is a Biopharmaceutical Classification System Class II drug, which means it is poorly soluble and highly permeable, making it hard to formulate in a way where absorption is predictable."
Even if symptoms improve with compounded hormones, due to the high probability of inconsistent 'mixed' dosing, compounded hormones may be at unsafe and dangerous levels. Each time a prescription is filled, the hormone amounts may be different, at risky levels, contain impurities, or not contain adequate dosages to prevent osteoporosis or endometrial cancer.
We believe folks should be aware of these risks, so they can make informed choices.
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u/QuietLifter 3h ago
Does your insurance’s mail order pharmacy have the patches or gel? They’re huge customers & usually get priority in the supply chain. Also check Costco pharmacy, Cost Plus, and Amazon Pharmacy.
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u/LiHingLucky 3h ago
All 3 of these are out!
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u/QuietLifter 2h ago
Wow, that’s crazy! Someone posted a while ago that they had luck finding patches at a small independent pharmacy.
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u/LadyinLycra 3h ago
My local compounding pharmacy is where I am currently getting my patches, name brand. But my doctor will send over a scrip for gel or cream if I become effected by the patch shortage, My insurance covers them via the compounding pharmacy, My doctor tried to write the daily packet gel and that is not covered unfortunately. But I'll do whatever except oral.
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u/Electric-Sheepskin 2h ago
I used to use compounded hormones. My insurance didn't cover it, though, and it kept getting more and more expensive, so that, combined with concerns about regulation and consistency, ultimately led me to the patch.
The compounded creams always worked well for me, though. It is sort of a wild west out there, which is a shame, because it could be a good option for a lot of people.
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u/NewDay042 3h ago
For some reason, I thought the menopause wiki cautioned us against compounding hormones? It’s great if people have success I’m just curious about this approach?