Evorel patches

[tigertummy]

I've been on these for almost a year and it feels a bit like they've stopped working. I was on 50, then went up to 75 but recently all my worst symptoms have come back and I was wondering if it's possible they've stopped working

I started on 50s, after a few months went to 75s when my symptoms started coming back, and then pretty quickly went up to 100s. I’d try 100s before giving up. If that doesn’t work, you could try switching to gel - I think different methods work better for different people because of how we absorb estrogen.

@CortadoPlease thanks! Yep my feeling was to go for higher patches but my GP said no. She did suggest the gel though but I'm reluctant as I have small children who are always all over me

Do you know why your GP said no? Maybe they’d let you try for three months to see if it controls your symptoms, and then review? It’s so inconsistent isn’t it 😏 Good luck.

I’ve changed the dose myself on a few occasions by cutting up patches, so you could stick on one and a third to give yourself a dose of 100 and see if it improves things. Obviously if you have existing contraindications then you should listen to your GP, but I’d want to know why the GP refused.

BTW, I went from Evorel to Estrodot patches with no problems. They are about a quarter of the size and you don’t get so much of the black sticky residue. They haven’t been available reliably recently but are now back in stock. My GP prefers them too.

Strange your GP won't go to 100. Mine wouldn't go above 100 (I'm in Ireland, not UK) but I understood 100 to be a licensed dose so most GPs should be OK with it.

I had to go to a menopause specialist to go higher.

Have you tracked symptoms to your cycle?

She wants to investigate my symptoms with more blood tests etc. She said my hormones levels were fine at my last round of bloods. Although I had a look and they were lower than a previous blood test. It took me years for her to take me seriously in the first place as I'm under 40. I'm tempted to up the dose myself. That's interesting about the different patches. Maybe that's another thing to talk to her about

Your own hormones do fluctuate and have an effect on things and it is worth tracking symptoms to see if they are cyclical. I recently had a horrendous month of disturbed sleep and night sweats which my (wonderful) GP reassured me about.

If your GP has never taken you seriously then I’d be looking for another GP to see for meno issues. Is there a menopause specialist at your practice?

@MagpiePi she is the specialist. Yep I have been tracking everything possible to track but she's not convinced. It's frustrating

That’s annoying then if she’s the specialist. I’d have a go at upping the dose myself tbh. I’ve found that I get sore boobs and feel kind of jittery if the dose is too high.

@MagpiePi thanks! That's good to know

...just to add, I upped my dose when I was using Oestrogel when I had not long been on HRT. When I made an online request for a repeat prescription I explained that I had increased the dose and would need more bottles of gel and the GP signed it off with no comment. I coudn't see the point of going to the hassle of getting an appointment if the GP is likely to just say 'Yeah, give it a go'.

Good luck!

Thanks @MagpiePi I have a few spare 25 patches which I might give a go and if they help I'll do what you did and see what happens. I really appreciate your help!

No problem!
I think I have been really fortunate with HRT working for me without any significant issues, and having a fabulous, clued up GP. It seems a constant uphill battle for some women to find a suitable regimen and I really feel for them.