Availability of hormone replacement therapy products in Canada.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the availability in Canada of different types of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products, and to compare the availability of HRT products in Canada to their availability in other countries.


METHODS
A systematic review was conducted of the availability of products indicated for treatment of menopausal symptoms in Canada, the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), Sweden, and Australia. Products indicated for the treatment of menopausal symptoms were determined for each country by using on-line drug product databases. Products administered by injection and androgen products, unless combined with estrogens, were excluded from the analysis.


RESULTS
There were 111 different brands identified in the 5 countries examined, with Canada having the lowest number of brands and active ingredients (28 and 22, respectively) compared to the other countries (Sweden and UK at 67 and 47 brands and 39 and 40 active ingredients, respectively). Not available in Canada are 34 active ingredients (either alone or in combination products) and 5 different types of formulations of HRT. There was a significant difference between the number of combination brand products available in Canada and in the UK (5 versus 29, P <.001, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Canadian women have comparatively few options available to them for the management of menopausal symptoms. The wide range of HRT products available in other developed countries provides alternatives for managing side
Brown
Thomas E R
TE
Lesley Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto ON.
Lalonde
André B
AB
Fortin
Claude
C
Lea
Robert
R
Azzarello
Dianne
D
D001315:Australia; D002170:Canada; D017277:Drug Approval; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D013548:Sweden; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations