Female Hormone Premarin

[tiger99]

I'm an American women in Thailand looking for premarin, which is a female hormone, been buying it here for 9 years OTC. but suddenly they stopped importing this medication to Thailand...does anyone know a reputable online pharmacy in another country that I could order from safely?

[Bantex]

First find out why they stopped importing it suddenly in case you have problems ordering it online and shipping to Thailand.

[Sheryl]

Are you referring to premarin vaginal cream or tablets?

The cream really is off market, and so is Vagi-Fem, the bioidentical alternative. The only brand of vaginal estrogen now available is Gynoflor and it's very expensive. Personally I get Ovestin from Cambodia.

If the tablets, AFAIK still available but I never buy it so not sure. There is a locally made generic equivalent called Estromon. Much better than either is Oestrogel, a gel form - better because (1) it is bioidentical to human estrogen (premarin is horse estrogen) and (2) it is absorbed through the skin, avoiding metabolism in the liver, so on both counts comes much closer to mimicking natural human estrogen. Oestrogel is readily available in most pharmacies.

[tiger99]

Premarin pills, red football shaped dosage 0.625mg, yes I'm aware how it's made and how many different estrogens are in premarin, been taking for 15 years so my body is pretty used to it. Having severe withdrawals from going cold turkey. Do you order meds from cambodia online? If so maybe you could send me the website so that I could check to see if they have the premarin...about the oestrogel is it a patch and can you get OTC in Bangkok?

Kind regards

Teresa

[Sheryl]

No, I actually buyin Cambodia as I have occasion to go there anyhow.

But as you are looking for systemic and not local estrogen, no need.

Oestrogel is a gel, not a patch. There is a patch available though, called Climara. Both can be gotten OTC in Bangkok.

The Oestrogel is very easy to find, it comes with an application thing that helps measure out the dose, but I would suggest taking that as a maximum and seeing if you can control symptoms with less. Another advantage to the gel is that it allows more fine-tuning of dosage; as I expect you know, with any estrogen should use the smallest dosage that controls symptoms. I used Oestrogel for about 7 years post menopause and found that really tiny amounts were enough, and also that I could slowly reduce the amount over time.

Climara can be found but less readily, and in this hot climate you may find it hard to keep a patch on.

As you don't mention progesterone I assume you've had a hysterectomy? And also assume you are having regular mammograms etc. 15 years is rather long to be on HRT.

If you would like to have a doctor to oversee this, I suggest Dr. Donna Robinson at MedConsult Asia http://www.medconsultasia.com/

[petfriendly]

Thank you so much for helping me with my awkward situation, I know that it's a long time on premarin, but it really does have great benefits for me, I'm a retired Registered Nurse , so know all the in's and out's....If you don't mind, since I am quite desperate to find this hormone because of severe withdrawal symptoms, next time you go to Cambodia could you please check to see if they have the premarin...oral....I would greatly appreciate it, I feel like I have no options at all here...

Kind Regards

Teresa

PS; was posting before on husband's email, now have my own account....

[Sheryl]

it will be quite a while before I next go to Cambodia and also I am not sure if premarin tablets are available there.

Have you tried to source Estromon? (local brand of conjugated estrogens, same as premarin).

Otherwise as suggested before use Oestrogel. It will definitely relieve your symptoms and is available in virtually all large pharmacies in Bangkok. Since you are severely symptomatic now, start with the full dose (as indicated on the applicator) and once you are comfortable again, can experiment with less til you find the right balance.

[petfriendly]

Thanks for you help. My pharmacist called all over Bangkok until he found 4 packs for me 28 pills each....picked up 1 pack yesterday with the hope that the other 3 will be delivered to my pharmacy next week. The estromon they say is generic premarin I took for 3 days with absolutely no relief, I then went to the local hospital near my home in Minburi, got a pap smear and the female Dr. said she did have Premarin in stock so i was elated until I opened the dark brown plastic bag which btw was labeled on the front with the brand name Premarin, a generic was never discussed, I just assumed when she said she had Premarin, that it was indeed Premarin. When I opened the bag on the way to the mall to pick up the real brand name Premarin, I discovered she had given me 2 months worth of estrabon.

Premarin has up to 50 known estrogens, in the states the Pharmaceutical Giants have presented to the FDA many hopeful generics for premarin but all failed. There is to my knoledge no generic Premarin period according to the FDA In the United States. Of course other developing countries can make and call their medicine generic

and equal to if they so wish, no rules against it I would presume, just did not work for me, not even coming close to ending any of the side effects I was having from withdrawals from Premarin....Next step long term would be for me and other women out there who cannot tolerate anything other than Premarin, is to just stay on the hunt and maybe someone will pop up on Thai Visa Forum with a magic find....lol

Will keep the Oestrogel In mind in case of another emergency, so thanks for the suggestion...also as a last resort Bumrungrad Hospital has a menopause ctr. where they will compound individual dosages of bio-Identical hormones, but would imagine this is very expensive....I know it is in the states...

Kind Regards,

Teresa

[petfriendly]

Thanks for the info on Dr. Robinson, will try and make an appointment with her..

[Kambili]

Hello Sheryl, could you let me know where exactly is it possible to get Ovestin in Cambodia (which pharmacy in Phnom Penh/Siem Reap). I have been asking around in Bangkok but it doesnt seem they resumed importing it...

Thanks a lot! 

[Sheryl]

Ovestin is not currently available in PP. I was recently able to buy Vagifem from Medico (pharm import company there).

In Thailand the only brand of natural estrogen for vaginal use currently on the market is Gyneflor and very expensive. However I think many of the anti-aging clinics compound their own. you could try vita Life etc.

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[Kambili]

Oh thats a pity, as I'm rather used to Ovestin...thanks a lot for info ? i might try to get the compound one

Edited July 15, 2018 by Kambili

[Misty]

On 5/20/2016 at 10:56 PM, Sheryl said:

 Much better than either is Oestrogel, a gel form - better because (1) it is bioidentical to human estrogen (premarin is horse estrogen) and (2) it is absorbed through the skin, avoiding metabolism in the liver, so on both counts comes much closer to mimicking natural human estrogen. Oestrogel is readily available in most pharmacies.

Hi Sheryl or anyone else who may know, have you found that Oestogel is now getting hard to find?  It used to be available OTC from many places in Bangkok, but now supplies seem to have stopped for some reason.  Any idea why? Is there any similar substitute that you know of?

[Sheryl]

It is off market in Thailand. Ditto Vagifem. I have to get mine in Cambodia and even there needs a special order.

Thai women are presumably all suffering in silence.....I asked a very well informed pharmacist here what on earth women were supposed to do/use, answer was ky jelly.

!!!

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[Misty]

13 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

It is off market in Thailand. Ditto Vagifem. I have to get mine in Cambodia and even there needs a special order.

Thai women are presumably all suffering in silence.....I asked a very well informed pharmacist here what on earth women were supposed to do/use, answer was ky jelly.

!!!

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Yikes, that is bad news, I really wonder why this has happened.  Any suggestions?  I don't go to Cambodia, but can it be ordered online somehow? Or is there anyway to get it via prescription?  Thank you for any insight!

[Sheryl]

Not by prescription as it is simply off market. I think the various anti aging clinics may compond something of their own (they'd have to!) but will cost the earth. Ordering online is probably your best recourse if you can find a source. Make sure it comes by normal post, not courier and don't order too large a quantity at once.

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[Misty]

Thank you Sheryl, I will give this a try.