Estrace Vaginal Cream - Why does tube of medicine run out before the end of 3 months?

I just went several rounds with my insurance company and male pharmacist, each telling me that this 42.5 gram tube of estradiol vaginal cream is supposed to last 90 days. "Just do the math," they helpfully told me. I started using this about 6 weeks ago and ran out. My (female) provider wrote a new prescription indicating that 42.5 grams was a 30-day supply. I was able to get the medication but had to pay out-of-pocket because insurance wouldn't cover it (they claimed I already had a 90-day supply, the 42.5 gram tube I ran out of). I just weighed the medication on my digital scale. THE MEDICATION IN THE APPLICATOR AT THE 1 GRAM MARK ACTUALLY WEIGHS 2 GRAMS. So I've been dosing myself with twice the amount my provider prescribed. Insane.

I am having the same issue. Doctor wrote the Rx for 1 gram per day of estradiol cream. The 42.5 gram tube that I began using January 5 is almost gone and is not refillable using my insurance until March. My insurance claims it is a 90-day supply which is ridiculous. Not sure who is at fault here, but I’m relieved to discover it’s not me. It does make a difference if you screw on the applicator to the tube before measuring the dose, but it will never make up a 45 dose difference.

It's 2025 and I just discovered the same problem with my generic Teva Estradiol Cream after I ran out two months before I could refill it. Unbelievable!

At least I know I’m not alone. I don’t use a lot at all but I am almost out of the tube and I can’t get more until Feb., it’s December. My insurance won’t pay for me to get more until February. I suffer with UTIs and other issues by not having the cream. when I called and talked to the nurse she said there was nothing she could do because the prescription couldn’t be refilled until February. That’s a long time to go without some thing that I need, I feel really frustrated. Why is it? My husband can go online and get Viagra without even actually talking to a doctor face-to-face but I went to a doctor and I can’t get enough estrogen cream to get me until February? That just doesn’t seem fair to me.

OMG I thought I was going crazy! I am having the exact same problem! I got 28 doses from my tube of Estradiol, and insurance will not pay. I spoke to the pharmacist at OptumRx, and was made to feel that I was incompetent of dosing correctly. I will go without it for nearly a month, because I will not pay well over $300 out of pocket to get the meds. Much earlier in this thread someone suggested that the applicator is incorrect, which, if true, is a major problem in that all of us are using twice what is prescribed. I am going to order new applicators from Amazon to check this out. Where do we go from here? I am furious about this issue that’s gone on for years without resolution!

I am having this exact issue as well. I have a Rx for 1 gram three times a week. I get a 42.5 gram tube every three months. I always run out after two months.

I showed the pharmacist how much I was drawing up in the tube and they say each tube should give 42 doses. It does not. I can get 26-28 one-gram doses if I am very conservative.

I've tried to explain this and everyone looks at the tube that says 42.5 grams and insist I am misdosing the med if it doesn't last 3 months.

I am very perplexed as to how our doctors are not hearing about this issue from all of their patients.

I have run out of this medicine many times. I never kept track of when I should have run out, but now that you have figured out the math, I can see why. Thank you for posting this. I always thought I was doing something wrong by using it too often or not measuring it correctly.

Should we contact the maker of Estrodol or the company that makes the generic. I have the generic and I’m wondering if the non-generic is marked correctly? Who has the non-generic that can confirm it’s the same?

Same with me. It'll typically last 2 months and then I go without the medication because my insurance won't cover it. When I go to the pharmacy they treat me like I'm abusing the medication. I use it twice per week and never go over the 1 gm line. The drug companies must not be filling the tubes properly.

Thank goodness I found this thread! I’m not crazy. April 2022 and I’m faced with the same issue. Insurance is refusing to pay for my refill bc they claim I should have another month of cream. The tube is totally empty. This is infuriating. I can’t believe this BS had not been addressed yet.

I too have been pursuing an answer to this problem for several months. So happy to have found this thread!! I use the estradiol cream 1 cc, three times a week and use the prescribed applicator. It definitely does not last for three months. So happy to show this thread to my doctor who was doubting me! Thank you, thank you!

I am so happy to find this conversation. I’ve had the same issue with estradiol. My 42.5 oz tube only lasts 2 months. I’ve been photographing it and today I’m at 28 days of 1 gram 3 x week and it is almost empty. I plan to contact the company and I will contact my doctor with reference to this discussion and my own experience. Thank you to everyone above for your comments. I have been very frustrated with my pharmacy and insurance company for refusing to listen to my previous complaints about this issue. And not being able to get the medicine I need.

I have been having the same problem with my prescription of Estradiol (generic Estrace). The prescription instructs to fill the applicator to the 2G mark and use it 2x/week. I seem to be getting around 14 doses. The pharmacy will not refill as they think I should have enough left to last a few more weeks. I've brought this up to my doctor and waiting for a response. Since this thread began 3.5 years ago, nothing seems to have changed in regards to the measurement problems with the applicator. Perhaps if more doctors hear about this issue, they will prescribe half the amount.

I have the same problem. I suspected that either the applicator is marked incorrectly or the tube is marked incorrectly, and it sounds from reading these posts that people have figured out that it's the latter. Glad to find this site because it proves I'm not crazy or bad at math, but sorry so many people are experiencing the same problem. The manufacturer needs to provide an accurately marked applicator.

The same thing just happened to me. My doctor prescribed Estradiol, 2 g every day for two weeks, then after that 2 g once or twice a week. It's the end of my first two weeks and I am almost out of it! I suspect that the applicator is not accurate. Fortunately I have an appointment with my gynecologist next week so will discuss this with her.