Patch coming off

[Aprilcherry04]

I applied my first patch ever on Thursday, due to change on Sunday. It fell off today so I put a new one on. Do I change tomorrow again or do I leave it on and change on Wednesday?

Change on your normal change day. Where did you stick it? I stick mine to my bum and don’t have problems with it sticking x

I'm having the same problem with them not staying put, doesn't seem to matter where they go either.
And top tips would be very welcome!

I have morphine patches which also fall off. I now use Kiniesology tape to keep them on. Works brilliantly. Amazon has packs of it pre-cut into strips. Just make sure each end is curved or else the tape will peel at the corners.

Also, if the patches are making you itch or causing irritation to your skin, pop some steroid cream in the area a few hours before you apply your patch (or in my case as I'm already prescribed it for my scalp, steroid liquid. As it's not a cream I just apply that 5 mins before applying my patch)

I find if you put the patch on then place your hand over it for about 30 seconds, it heats up and then sticks firmly. I always use my bum cheek or high thigh. Never comes off! Use baby oil to remove residue when you remove it and always rotate patch sites!

This is the stuff I use (select 'Pre-Cut I')
I cut each strip into 2 then curve each of ends, like I said above. Just an FYI though - when it comes to removing the tape, do NOT rip it off quickly like a plaster!! It will take a layer of skin with it! It's got stronger adhesive than plasters. This is something I learnt the hard way....

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09481RJVG/ref=ppxyoodtbbsearchasinn_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I was informed to NEVER do this as the heat releases all of the medication into the skin at once and not only overdoses you but essentially 'empties' your patch

Wow I've been doing this for the last year!

Surely if this was the case though they'd also tell you not to bath in the patch, sunbathe in it, have sex with it on etc.

OP try putting it on after you've used a body brush on your skin to get dry patches off, then a shower so your skin is warm.

That works for me. The only patch I had that came off was Estraderm, the plastic was like cellophane. Everol are brilliant.

ive just read instructions again on my evorel patches and there’s nothing to say you can’t put pressure on patch as I’ve been doing. Nor are there any warnings. I’m fairly sure that’s an urban myth. The patch is going to get warm under underwear etc.

I use Opsite Flexifit tape over the top of mine.

But ultimately I'll be changing brand. If you are oestrogen only patches, Estrodot never falls off.

I warm mine up too, I always place it on my upper thigh, sort of in the middle. As a nurse I have never heard that you cannot temporarily warm the patch, it doesn't make sense that the patch would release all of the medication in one go, this is not how transdermal medication works.
I have been doing this for years and rarely have one fall off.
If you are placing after a shower make sure to let the area dry properly and don't apply body lotion. I rub off the residue with a flannel no problem.

Use a hairdryer - this is what I always do. Blast your skin on hot setting to warm it up then whack on patch.

DO NOT DO THIS!!!!! Heat empties the patch in one go, causes you to overdose and then leaves you with no medication going into your system until the next patch! If I did this with my Transtec patches it would kill me! Bloody hell. Dangerous advice

It's not a bloody urban myth! It's not about the pressure it's about the HEAT!

Here

Also here on .gov.uk! Yes this is talking about Fentanyl but the basic premise of slow release transdermal patches is the same - DO NOT LET THEM HEAT UP!

This is one of the contributing factors to Matthew Perry's death. Yes he had leftover historic traces of Ketamine in his system but his death was primarily caused by a Buprenorphine transdermal patch on his arm whilst in a hot tub. The heat released all of the meds at once and he overdosed. Him being new to the medication didn't help either

I stuck it on my thigh. I will try some different places in case that makes a difference.

I think there’s a difference from heating with a heat pad or hairdryer then there is from holding the patch for 30 seconds! I’ve done it for past 2 years. The guidance you’ve posted above is for fentanyl not an oestrogen patch. There’s a bit of a difference. I’m also a nurse!

@DogLover24 I was informed to NEVER do this as the heat releases all of the medication into the skin at once and not only overdoses you but essentially 'empties' your patch
Nah. It's totally fine. You can bath in them in water WAY hotter than the heat from your hand. It's just long exposure to a heat source like a sun bed that's not good.

Long very hot baths, sun lamps, hair driers, hot skin immediately post bath. These things are not good. A hand for 30 seconds is fine. How do you think the think copes with body temps

I use transparent 'second skin' over mine, cut slightly larger than the patch. It's almost invisible. It did hugely increase the amount I was absorbing from the patch though because it holds it in place so well.

@DogLover24

I'm new to this journey too. Not even 2 months in. It was advice I read on a menopause group as a tip to warm up your skin to help the adhesive stick better. I wouldn't give advice if it was dangerous so unnecessary to be so shouty.

Using your hand to press into the skin is certainly not going to cause the patch to dump. It's your own body heat and your core is hotter than peripheral hands so advising people to not press for 30 seconds is also misadvise. That is perfectly safe.

I was about to post for advice about stopping the bloody things falling off!! I've just had to place another as I realised laying in bed (no sleep again for me!) that it had fallen off without me realising. I have no idea now long it's been missing.

Regarding heat, I often put my heated car seat on, I didn't even think about it 🫣

I have just had patches prescribed for the first time. On opening the box of Femsem seven, the first thing I saw was a printed instruction to press them on the the palm of the hand for 30 seconds to ensure maximum adhesion.

I'm getting on so much better now. I have been putting them on to the fattiest bit of my thigh and they seem to be staying put. At the start I put them on the front so the muscles must have been stretching them but my wobbliest bits don't 😂