Menopause experts say compounded HRT is unsafe

[helvella]

This post is simply to bring the issue to your attention. I make no judgement whatsoever regarding its quality, significance, etc.

Menopause experts say compounded HRT is unsafe

Women told not to use cBHRT because of concerns over ‘purity, potency and safety’

Amelia Hill

Women are being warned not to use a form of hormone replacement therapy marketed as being “more natural” than that available from NHS doctors, with experts saying it is unsafe, expensive and could increase the risk of developing cancer.

Compounded bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (cBHRT) is tailor-made for each person, using hormones identical to those produced in a woman’s body. The hormone combinations are put together, usually as creams or gels, by pharmacists working in private clinics. The dose of the different hormones used varies from one woman to the next.

Rest of article freely available here:

theguardian.com/society/201...

[Hidden]

Hmmm, or is the NHS just manipulating us, or being used to manipulate?

I am really suspicious about the recent news of a drastic shortage of HRT. It is as if women are being driven to try and source their own, but at the same time being persuaded to trust only the officially authorised variety, even when it can't be got.

Rather like getting T3 in fact.

Maybe I have a nasty suspicious mind, but ….

[greygoose]

I'm confused. cBHRT is the one the NHS uses? And is tailor-made for each individual woman? And, it's unsafe due to potency? How can that be if it's tailor-made? Or, is that the one that is recommended and the NHS use a different one?

I cannot for the life of me imagine the NHS tailor-making anything for anyone. They consider everyone to be shaped in the shape mould, and treatments are one-size-fits-all - because it's cheaper that way. Are these so-called 'menopause experts' actually NHS minions, trying to cut away even more expensive corners at the expense of patient health?

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

You have a nasty suspicious mind too?

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Of course I have! It's the only way to survive.

[helvella in reply to greygoose]

No - the compounded is the one available from private establishments.

[greygoose in reply to helvella]

OK… And, that's the one they're saying is unsafe? I'm still confused.

[helvella in reply to greygoose]

Yes - because it is whipped up to order, no testing on things like rate of absorption. So one batch could be different to another.

[greygoose in reply to helvella]

Ah, OK! I get it now. Thank you. Just a little bit thick, today. lol

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to helvella]

But if blood and saliva testing are not good enough methods of testing hormone levels, what is? And what do the NHS use?

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to greygoose]

Yeah, right. The NHS tends to prescribe far too much oestrogen and nasty fake progesterone - if you are "lucky" (having talked to women on HRT from GP) and ignore side effects, If anything it's non-compounded stuff that's dangerous. After all, it's not the compounded stuff that's ever been implicated in any of the studies that have been done associating HRT with cancer. Guardian wants everyone treated like ants in the nest for the good of the collective - so we shouldn't be allowed to go private

[greygoose in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

HRT is not something I know much about. I don't even know when I went through the menopause. I had a hysterectomy at 41 but still had my ovaries. I didn't get any menopausal symptoms, so never looked into the possibility of HRT. But, I would, on the face of it, be inclined to agree with you, that it's more likely to be the stuff prescribed by the NHS that is dangerous, rather than something that is tailored to fit each individual woman.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to greygoose]

I had horrendous symptoms as did my maternal cousin (mother's elder sister's daughter), so perhaps it's genetic to some extent. Don't know about my mother as I was away at the relevant time as she didn't talk about that sort of thing

[greygoose in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

I think it is genetic, because my mother also slipped into menopause with no symptoms. My grandmother, unfortunately, didn't live long enough for that. I don't know about other female members of the family, but I've never heard them complain.

[TSH110 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Ha ha ha I love the 🐜 analogy

[TSH110 in reply to greygoose]

A bunch of box ticking robots who are fast at typing I’ve no doubt

[greygoose in reply to TSH110]

[Jacs]

Interesting article helvella, but i’m a little sceptical - sounds similar to the arguments used against NDTs which as we know are a lifeline for many people suffering thyroid problems who can’t/don’t want to use synthetic T4 and T3 🤔

[Greekchick in reply to Jacs]

Hi Jacs,

I would not agree with that exactly - here in Canada when we have shortages of NDT , which happens sometimes, people report that the compounded product is not the same and they react differently. Even the pharmacist has told me that. They can’t seem to duplicate the exact composition of the manufactured NDT. I would also agree with helvella about HRT - I was on it for 5 years and I had asked my pharmacist if he could make it up for me - he said the effects would be different. Just my two cents here ...

[Hidden in reply to Greekchick]

I have never used HRT (am still in my - very late - perimenopause and it's fantastic...) but for many years I've been on compounded NDT. As far as I know it is the only option available here. It has advantages - precision in dosing. I wonder if the compounded versions use different fillers etc compared to the tablet versions?

[Greekchick in reply to Hidden]

That could certainly be the case - also, some pharmacies may not be as precise in their measurements.

[Hidden in reply to Greekchick]

I use the best compounding pharmacy in my town - and drive 15 minutes - and I only ever get these meds from there so I get consistent.

[Greekchick in reply to Hidden]

So glad you have found what works for you! It is so important for your health. Wishing you all the best.

[Hidden in reply to Greekchick]

Yes, it's all important to find what works for us.

[TSH110 in reply to Greekchick]

Why not?

[Greekchick in reply to TSH110]

Sorry, I’ve lost the thread here, not sure what you are asking me.

[TSH110 in reply to Greekchick]

I wondered why they might be less accurate in their measurements - are machines used by big pharmaceutical so it is a case of human error and less reliable measuring systems. I was just curious. It is a pain when the thread becomes so hard to follow !

[Greekchick in reply to TSH110]

I'm not sure - I guess it has to do with what measuring equipment they use, and the skill of the pharmacist as well. Not all of them are good at compounding - we have one pharmacy in my neighborhood that specializes in doing that, and they are quite good. I know others who are on NDT here, and they always complain when the commercial variety goes out of stock that they don't feel well on the compounded version. I don't use NDT, so I cannot say personally - but just fron those I know. Hope this info is helpful. I was not trying to say that there are no good compounding pharmacies - just saying that it's a bit of art, measurement, and probably, steady hands! All the best.

[TSH110 in reply to Greekchick]

Yes it is an art my uncle was a chemist in the days when all medicines were compounded which he regarded as a great skill and something he enjoyed doing. He found the joy went out of his work when it became little more than counting out pills. He retrained as an optician. When my mum had her glasses checked at the hospital when she had thyroid cancer they remarked that she had an excellent optician! So we know for sure he was really skilful. He got so much “stuff” from pharmaceutical companies when he ran the pharmacy it was obscene. He was impervious to it.

[Angel_of_the_North]

Usual not invented here syndrome - women should be treated as one size fits all. I've been using compounded biohrt for over 10 years and I'm not dead. It seems like the same attitude that stated that eating flaxseeds would give you cyanide poisoning. Well, in theory someone might make a mistake in compounding (or you might have a faulty gene and get cyanide poisoning), and, of course, pharmaceutical companies and GPs never make mistakes, but how many people have definitely been affected/killed/injured.

[SilverAvocado in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

This is one of those things I get angry about - articles like this go in with the assumption that zero people get injured or killed by conventional doctors!

[Booblet in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Hi,

Your post just got my full attention - bhrt compounded hormones.

Just wondering if you could help me:

I had a private test (at a private Menopause clinic) results came back as very short in:, ACTH, Progesterone and Testosterone.

To cut a long story short.. The clinic advertisement of their prices.. In really were far, far more expensive than I could afford. (Apparently they arrange with a London base Compounding Pharmacists).

Can you please tell me if 1) There are any cheaper ways to do this? And 2) is it worth getting a prescription from my GP (if possible) and going to a local compounding chemist's?

Thank you so much,

Kind Regards,

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Booblet]

I doubt your GP would give you a prescription for testosterone unless you are male. Might give you one for bioidentical progesterone. If you have low ACTH you could try to get your GP to refer you for tests for pituitary problems

[TSH110]

This sounds remarkably like the lies put out about NDT.