Question about patches pleased

[Sageda]

Hello. I am on weekly oestrogen patches 50mcg however it does t last so good for a week. I can t reach my doctor to ask so l will ask you. Can l change this patch twice a week or does it need to be lower dose? Because l was told to change it once a week l don t know if l can just go ahead and change it twice a week from now on ? Perhaps l can cut it in half and change each half twice a week. I don t know. Anyone with real knowledge please?

What brand is it and what does the information leaflet say?

Hi. Thank you for responding. It s called Climara .T.he plaster is 12.5cm with 50microgram oestrogen daily which is 3.8mg estradiol. It says that l should change it weekly.

I don't understand. If the patch lasts for a week, why do you want to remove it after half a week?

If you are having symptoms on 50mcg you might need a higher dose.
Changing it twice a week won't make any difference. The amount you absorb is surely the same on any day- it won't give you less over the week- that wouldn't make sense would it? (If that WAS the case, you'd get a slightly different amount every day and your estrogen levels would be all over the place.)

OP are you saying that the patch physically doesn’t last a week for example because it comes unstuck, rather than its effects don’t last a week ?

yes it doesn't last physically for a week! it is good let s say the first 3 days then crumbles, and does t stick good after the first 3 days or so. if l change it twice a week it would be perfect for me just did t know if l could do that. thank you all.

You would get the same amount of medication, but go through the patches at twice the prescription rate. GP might refuse the repeat prescription request. Much better to contact them and ask for a different, smaller patch to be prescribed.

Mine have always been twice-weekly patches, never larger than about 3.5cm. I really dislike the larger makes, as they do not stick well. I certainly find that the smaller the patch the better it stays in place. And I'm more likely to react to the adhesive.

@Dilbertian Thank you so much for your response. Yes my plaster is quite big its very uncomfortable. I think till the Covid crisis are over l can t get sth smaller. So just to make it clear, if l change my 12.5 plaster twice a week, l would not get more oestrogen ( this was what was l curious about at first place) and would get the same amount as l would change it once a week?

I have never used patches but know of some women who use a hairdryer to 'set' the glue and make them stick.

I can't believe there is a patch that big! It sounds horrible.

I use estrogen gel so no patch at all.

Where do you put the patch? I prefer to place mine between hip and buttock, but I find that larger patches stay attached for longer on the thigh.

Are you in the uk?

There are loads of other options if so. Ask your GP for a different patch. Evorel are back in stock now but harder to get hold of I heard

Rather than changing your patch more often, and wasting the medication, you cut one patch into four pieces and stick them all on at the same time, but not touching? That way one patch might last the week. Four smaller patches will certainly be more comfortable and more stable than one huge one.

Thank you all. So just to clarify, l will not get more oestrogen if they change it twice a week right? I am not in UK and at the moment l can t meet my doctor to get sth else.

You will not get more oestrogen by changing more frequently. But it will be a waste of a medicine that is in short supply. Please consider trying my suggestion about wearing the patch for one week but cutting it up into more manageable pieces.

Thank you @Dilbertian Yes you are right, l can t waste it. So l will cut it in half wear one half for 3 days then wear the other half the next four days. Sorry for too many questions but won t wearing a half patch give me less oestrogen?

@Dilbertian So sorry l just saw your previous message about cutting the medicine into 4 pieces. Ok that sounds like a great idea. Thank you.

I am not sure about cutting up patches from what I have read.

I understood that they had a matrix and a reservoir and if they were cut some of the hormone would leak from the patch if it was cut.

Your dr ought to still do phone consultations - even outside the UK.

l emailed him and he has t responded yet. He is working at the hospital could not reach him the line was very busy. I will just wait and try to get gels.

No, don't wear them consecutively, wear the cut patches at the same time. Exposure to the air reduces their sickness and their effectiveness.

Stickiness

@JinglingHellsBells Sorry out of the topic but l ve watched a video by a doctor who is specialised in menopause in UK and she says that because vaginal progesterone is absorbed much better, although it is not licensed, it can be taken ( internally) one capsule for 14 days instead of two capsules which is 100mg x 14 days instead of 200mg for 14 days.

@Dilbertian yes l understood about wearing the cut pieces all at the same time.

You shouldn't cut patches as pp has said, the hormone is in the midde of the patch and it mucks it up in someway.
I use Everol 50 and it's very sticky, I had generic ones during the shortage and they were rubbish.
I put mine in the middle of my bum cheek.

@Cocolapew thank you. Do you also change it weekly? l find mine mostly crumbling after couple of days even folded in the middle sometimes. I have a 3 years old toddler so can not always be careful with things.

I had a batch that wouldn't stick, I put a plaster over them to keep them on.