Generic Name: Yuvafem (estradiol-topical)
For Atrophic Vaginitis "Amneal had two companies producing their Yuvafem product. One company located in the USA (pink packaging) and the other in Denmark (blue packaging). I did not experience issues with the product manufactured in Denmark although the packaging was inferior to Vagifem. Amneal no longer uses the company in Denmark. The product in the pink packaging manufactured in the USA is as awful as the many negative reviews reflect. Burning and itching was the worse negative symptoms for me. Why is the FDA not aggressively addressing this? I have been battling with Amneal and it isn't a pleasant experience. I plan to escalate to the Attorney General of my state. Unfortunately, too many politicians take money from the pharmaceutical companies so they do nothing to help stop this abuse. I also take issue with the majority of insurance companies refusing to cover Vagifem or charge exorbitant copays for a medication women need to maintain good health, yet many have no problem with covering Viagra."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "I am a post-menopausal physician who began using Vagifem in 2011 after a total hysterectomy. I had absolutely no problems with Vagifem. It helped with my urogenital symptoms, such as dryness and urinary frequency. When Yuvafem came out, I was also changed to it via my mail-in pharmacy. I started experiencing a significant increase in vaginal irritation, vulvar dryness, and urinary frequency. I had been having vaginal discharge the day after I inserted the tablet with increased irritation and itching. I never had any significant discharge or irritation when using Vagifem. My symptoms got so bad that at the end of September I went back on brand-name Vagifem. My symptoms have been gradually improving. Given my experience, and the fact that so many others on this site and elsewhere have had similar issues, I contacted the FDA. I also complained to them regarding the poor packaging. I feel Yuvafem needs further investigation."
For Atrophic Urethritis "I used Vagifem for years, and the only issue was occasional yeast infections at the beginning, but the drug was effective for vaginal atrophy. Years later, in an HMO that will only prescribe generics, so forced to use Yuvafem. Initially, it seemed okay, but in the last 3 months, I noticed symptoms of burning, itching, and UTI returned. Simultaneously, I just read that Teva, the current generic manufacturer of Yuvafem that I'm using, has been indicted by U.S. Federal prosecutors for drug price-fixing along with other drug manufacturers. While they are only under investigation for price fixing, I hope the FDA is also investigating these companies to determine whether they are interfering with the drug formulation, i.e., cutting with fillers. Caveat emptor - while Vagifem is costly, we may be throwing money down the drain with generics that have filler instead of the drug."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "Update from my review dated November 7, 2018. I formally contacted the FDA in regards to what I felt was questionable efficacy of Yuvafem and its poor packaging (as compared to the brand-name Vagifem). The FDA contacted Amneal Pharmaceuticals and Amneal agreed to look into my complaint about Yuvafem's efficacy and its packaging. Amneal wanted me to provide them with the Yuvafem that I had leftover, which I did. It was to be sent back to them anonymously with just a brief history of my experience while on the medication. Since it was done anonymously, I won't have follow-up in regards to my complaint, but at least the FDA responded to it and contacted them. I hope this helps others who have noticed a difference after being changed to Yuvafem, or who were started on it initially and continue to have symptoms consistent with atrophic vaginitis. If you feel the drug is not therapeutically beneficial to you, please contact the FDA to let them know. It can be done online."
"The drug has helped my mild incontinence. The applicator and packaging are very bad for several reasons: 1. Plastic is overkill. Why plastic? I will throw away over 100 applicators and other plastic per year. I live near the ocean and cannot believe all the applicators for different female products that litter the ocean. Surely, packaged in paper and with paper applicators is the way to go. Please use your design brains to help us not ruin the environment anymore. If drinking straws are bad, then your applicators, with so much more rigid plastic, are 100 times worse."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "I don't understand all the negative comments. I have finished the two-week buildup phase and am now starting on the twice-a-week phase. No problem with the packaging. No problems with the pills falling out of the plunger. Pills do not 'come out' the next day partially dissolved. No adverse effects from the medication. No problems at all. Even though my doctor said it would take about three months to reach maximum benefit, I already see an improvement. Great medication as far as I'm concerned."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "Switched to this product, and it was horrible. I thought I could have sex again, and it was painful and I got an infection. I used this as prescribed. This product does not melt properly at all. This product should not be used, as I saw 3 doctors for UTI and the embarrassment of being accused it was my partner's fault. It was not. It was the product. No woman should have to go through this. Did not want this product, it is insurance trying to cut corners. It cost them more in the long run due to the number of doctor visits and 3 rounds of antibiotics and one emergency visit. Sex was painful and the vagina was dry after using. Gyno said tablets were not melting. Please get rid of this product."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "I was a regular user of Vagifem and was very pleased with the results. It made sex comfortable again. I saw there was a generic available and tried it to try to save some money. This product is terrible. Everything about it is ten notches below Vagifem. You can't separate the foil packages. The applicator is sharp on the end. One of my doses was empty, and I pay $15 each. The pill does not dissolve inside you. When showering the next day, I find the tablet just sitting up there undissolved. My vaginal dryness is back to where it was before beginning Vagifem. I am a 62-year-old woman with an active sex life, my insurance will no longer pay for the brand. I wish they would have more time before releasing. I hate everything about it."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "Yuvafem makes me spot, and it gets worse over several days. First yellow and dark brown, and then bloody discharge. My doctor checked me out. I’m fine, so it’s definitely this medication. I did not have this problem with Vagifem and will tell my doctor that Vagifem is what I want. I am 63 years old. When I use the Yuvafem, I have to wear a liner. Terrible medication and should be pulled from the market."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "I am so angry about this issue. Vagifem works, Yuvafem does not. Like many of the others, my insurance changed, and now Vagifem is not covered. Yuvafem was like using nothing. Everything went right back to the way it was before weeks of treatment with Vagifem (burning urination, dryness in vagina). I give up."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "I have used Vagifem for years without any issues whatsoever. It worked well and caused no problems. Then my insurance switched me to Yuvafem, and it's been a nightmare. If I could give this drug a zero, I would have. Burning, redness, the feeling of having a UTI, then actually getting a UTI for the first time in 20 years, painful intercourse. The drug is completely ineffective for what it is supposed to do, and it is causing plenty of problems. When I looked at the ingredients, I see that estradiol is the same, but the carrier ingredients are different, specifically, Yuvafem uses propylene glycol. So, I could deal with the awful packaging if the drug actually worked and didn't cause so many problems, but it doesn't work and had me thinking I had some terrible infection for the last 3 weeks till my doctor and I figured out it was the Yuvafem. I will be trying out the Estring, and if I can't deal with it, I will be paying the big bucks and going back to the Vagifem."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "First used Vagifem and seemed to work okay. Then like others, was switched to Yuvafem. Started having extreme itching, so washed regularly and applied moisturizer. Then burning started too and nothing helped to get over itchy, burning, and then burnt skin. I stopped yuvafem when spotting started. Skin began to clear up after two weeks. Then I used one tablet and extreme itching and skin was burnt again. I began to have pain in my joints, so bad that I entered a emergency room. I went off Yuvafem and 5 days later could walk again. After only one tablet, joint pain and burnt skin returned. My doctor could not find anything. He suggested that I was allergic to Yuvafem. So today decided to check reviews and found that Yuvafem is a dangerous drug."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "1. Tablets fall out of the applicator. Half the time, I can see the tablet rattling around inside the plastic packaging before I even attempt to open it. 2. Packaging is impossible to separate. I have to use scissors. I'm only 52 and don't have arthritis-I can only imagine the struggle older women must have to open the packaging. 3. It doesn't work as well as Vagifem! I've been using it for over a year now and find that my symptoms of dryness, burning, etc., fluctuate from package to package. I never had this problem on Vagifem."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "I used Vagifem for 4 years, beginning when I was 68 years old. It was highly effective. I no longer had vaginal dryness. Sexual intercourse was pain and irritation-free. About 4 months ago, my insurance company stopped covering this drug. I was switched to Yuvafem. I agree with others that the packaging is much inferior to Vagifem’s. I have the same problem opening, etc. But I could adjust to the inconvenience. However, I am going back on Vagifem because of how ineffective Yuvafem is. My labia and vagina are very dry again. Sexual intercourse is very painful. It is just like before I went on Vagifem. I feel Yuvafem is a waste of my money and has caused me pain and discomfort while promising to provide the same results as Vagifem. I plan to ask my physician to be my advocate with my insurance company about covering Vagifem again."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "Vagifem worked fine for years. Then insurance started sending Teva, which was horrible. The applicator didn't work right, and it was not effective, leaving me sore. Then insurance sent Uvafem. Applicators were better, but the medicine was not helping. In fact, everything was worse. I was sore all the time. Just recently, my doctor prescribed brand only (Vagifem), but the insurance wouldn't release it until I used up the other. I argued with them, and my doctor wouldn't get involved, saying they had no ability to overrule the insurance company. Why does the insurance control our health? Shouldn't the doctor's change in prescription be enough? Finally, a kindly pharmacist intervened and got me a prescription for Vagifem. I was so desperate I was willing to pay full price, but he was able to get it on my insurance. So glad to hear I am not alone, but wondering how we can get this changed. Insurance companies should not rule our health."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "Yuvafem is horrible. I was on Vagifem, but because of cost, I can’t afford Vagifem, but I won’t be using Yuvafem either. My symptoms of vaginal dryness and irritation came back full force using Yuvafem."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "No problems with Vagifem. After using Yuvafem for a couple of weeks, I started getting a discharge and feeling like I had an infection with burning and itching. It feels as if I am allergic to something in the drug. Going back to Vagifem."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "Awful product. Was on Vagifem for 25 years, great product. Got switched to Yuvafem when it came out. Within a week I had horrible dryness and itching, vaginal tissue tearing and pain. It's like it's a placebo. Like others, I've asked my doctor to make my prescription brand only for Vagifem at much higher cost since it works. They need to rework Yuvafem so it actually is a working generic version. I emailed the manufacturer... everyone should."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "Awful product! I was excited that a generic was offered. The price was unbelievable compared to Vagifem, but I am going back to the brand name. Price does not compare to comfort. I do not recommend this product."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "This drug contains polyethlene glycol which can be an irritant! Read the label! No wonder I had constant burning whenever I used this drug. FDA needs to be alerted so other women will not be harmed by it. I had three biopsies of my skin in the vaginal area, which all came back as precancerous. It required constant medication just to keep it from getting worse, but it never completely healed this area. When I finally discovered the glycol and quit using it, my skin has returned to almost normal!"
For Atrophic Vaginitis "This medicine is a waste of money. I pay $136.00 for 8 of these pills. I follow the directions, using them at bedtime. This is perfect since I don't generally get up during the night to use the bathroom. However, when I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is use the bathroom. Why is that ding-dong pill in the toilet? I have tried pushing it further back into the vaginal, and it's still the same results. I am skeptical of meds that lie in place for hours on end. It has not improved my condition at all, but emptied my purse. Not refilling the prescription. This morning, I found after not seeing the pill when I first went to the bathroom, I thought, well, it is finally working. WRONG! 9:00 bathroom break, what do I see? That stupid pill."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "As others have stated, the packaging is awful. Pills don't stay on the applicator or fall out after being inserted. Had to switch from Vagifem to Yuvafem in Jan because of insurance cost. Going to be 65 in Nov, so I want to make sure I'll be able to afford Vagifem. On the generic, I've had a strange discharge I never had before, vaginal tearing during intercourse, and more urgency. Thank you to all who have shared their experiences. I don't feel alone in this. Our doctors need to know there is a huge difference between the generic and original brand (Vagifem)."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "My pharmacy filled my usual Vagifem prescription with the new generic form. It is like using a placebo. I am asking my doctor to prescribe brand only from now on and will gladly pay the $275/month out of pocket until my insurance will cover it again. Terrible product!"
For Atrophic Vaginitis "Can only use brand name Vagifem. Generic does not work at all. Packaging is horrible and symptoms of burning, itching, dryness, and feeling of a UTI, and constantly having to urinate are what happens when using generic. Had to go back to using Vagifem. Unfortunately the copay is really high until I meet my deductible. Insurance needs to offer this medication at a more affordable cost."
For Atrophic Vaginitis "Just recently switched from Vagifem to Yuvafem and find the new generic Yuvafem ineffective and more difficult to use. The packaging alone is unacceptable. Individual applicators cannot be separated; perforations are useless, but the foil wrapping is sharp after opening, and I received a one-inch cut on one of my fingers!! The medication itself is different and does not seem to work. It causes more discharge and other unpleasant changes. No wonder it is cheaper. I am asking my doctor for a name brand only (Vagifem) prescription."
Vagifem, Estring, Estrace Vaginal Cream, Imvexxy
Estrace Vaginal Cream
