Evorel issues - alternatives?

[KassandraOfSparta]

Have been on Evorel since January, started on the 25 mcg patches which were fine, moved up to the 50 mcg patches a few weeks ago and OMG they are driving me nuts. They are 4 times the size of the 25mcg patches and have the texture of a crisp packet. They crunch and rustle. Wherever I put them, they itch and irritate me. Just awful. The oestrogen bit is fine, it's just the actual patch.

Are there alternatives and what other brands should i be asking for? I take oestrogen only - have had a hysterectomy so do not need progesterone.

I was offered these as an alternative to my hrt when mine were difficult to get hold of. I agree - I hated them - it was like having a bin bag stuck on to me - rustling. I use Estradot which is much much smaller but they are hard to source in some chemists so might be worth asking you local chemists if they have them in stock before asking for them via your doctors

Sorry if this is a stupid question but have you tried gel / tried to a hold of gel?

(Having said that, I have Evorel patches at the moment because my pharmacy says that gel is hard to get hold of in my area, but you may have more luck.)

I used Sandrena sachets a while back which were good. I know other posters use Oestrogel pumps.

Would be open to trying a gel. I am quite happy with the concept of a patch, but really struggling with these. I am quite sensitive to lots of types of glues, always come out in a rash after I give blood and they put a plaster on. The smaller Evorel were fine but these are making me very itchy.

Evorel make me itch too but the replacement I got (Estraderm MX) are worse. Massive and crinkly and keep falling off. Though I don't itch. I love Estradot but can't get hold of them. I don't want a gel as it's so messy and I don't have time for all that so I'll just stick with these until Estradot are back in stock. Sympathies.

I don't know why they bother making Estraderm MX. As you say, it feels horrible and them drops off. Mine were dropping off sometimes after a few hours.

I think that maybe the issue with Evorel is that the manufacturers have gone the other way with the adhesive.

i will say that for the evorel, once they are on, they are going nowhere. The boots by me appears to have estradot so it’s worth asking the gp .

I started on Evorel and then Estraderm (huge patches). I stopped when I started developing a red itchy rash on day 2 of changing them. I’m now on oestrogel, which is much better to manage. I don’t find it a bother at all to apply and it dries on the skin very quickly indeed.

Like everything with women's health - no attempts to engineer a better solution. I just looked online -

Evorel 25 is 8 sq cm
Evorel 50 is 16sq cm
Evorel 75 is 24 sq cm
Evorel 100 is 32 sq cm - that is ENORMOUS.

Sounds like it's worth having a chat with the GP about alternatives and for once, this is something i'm happy enough to do on the phone.