If you cut up patches to get your dose, can you do it in advance?

[KatyMac]

Basically that's it

I'm on 1.5 patches twice a week - can I chop up a load in advance or do they need to be freshly cut

I dont really understand how patches work, do you get loads on day one and it trails off or does it some how eek it out over 3 or randomly 4 days

I feel I can really tell the 4 day times but am I imagining it

Cut up patches?

what do you mean? Mine are individually wrapped

So if your dose is 1.5 patches, you need to cut a patch in half

@KatyMac Patches are either reservoir or matrix.
Look on the leaflet/online and see which type yours are.

My understanding is you shouldn't cut reservoir as the hormones will leak/ be lost.

Why would you want to cut them in advance anyway?

Why cut them at all? Can't you use a lower dose?

I'm on evoral conti which only do 50s ( I think)
So if the go.wants me to take 75 it's 1.5 patches

It's a matrix patch (I googled)

What dose in total are you on? You can get patches at different doses - higher and lower - so there should be a combination available where you don't need to cut patches up. E.g. say your total dose needs to be 125mcg, then your GP can prescribe you both 75mcg patches and 50mcg patches.

Cross posted - sorry!

I open 2 and leave half in the packet for the next dose. I wouldn’t cut too many in advance because the pouch is sterile and moisture resistant.

@ForFunGoose I just don't like having scissors on my bedside table I guess, neither am I reliable enough to go find them every 3 days

So keep them in your knicker drawer

Maybe you need to consider something different altogether?

An estrogen only patch and the Mirena for example.

OR a 50mcg patch and 1 pump of gel

OR estrogen only patch and 1 tablet Norethisterone daily.

TBH this is a conversation to have with your GP if they want you to cut up a patch.

If you're not motivated to or forget to keep up with cutting patches, it would be far better to find another type of hrt.

My memory is pants, keeping meds by my bed works for me to remember, I just do t fancy keeping scissors them, but I guess I can

I've tried a few sorts - the progesterone is always a problem & evoral conti keeps me pretty even

My specialist said just cut the patch in half

Why don't you use your phone and the alarm for the days you need to change a patch? You don't need patches or scissors by your bed!

Definitely! I have phone reminders for absolutely everything, including which day to swap the patch.

I agree @JinglingSpringbells & @MoistVonL but even with reminders I'm useless - I used to be better

I got into a fab routine with my levothyroxine then forgot to not take it for a blood test

& next week I have to take a tablet at 11pm for a blood test in the morning - the whole family is remembering that one

But if your phone rings at say 10am and that's your new patch time, you can't forget if you change it there and then.

Going back to your first question, the risk is the hormones on the patch will evaporate if left exposed to the air.

Oestrogel is full of alcohol which is why it dries quickly when applied.

I'd assume the patch is similar and unless it's packaged again (airtight) you may find it's all gone when you need it.

I'd query with your specialist. Maybe they assume you will throw the unused half away.

If you are cutting them, do it diagonally as it is more accurate

Ooo that's a good idea @GeorgeTheFirst

My brain fog isnt co-operating atm, the extra estrogen might help with that

DD was all set to take me to see the GP for alzeimers a few months back

My doctor is happy for me to cut the patches in half so it must be ok to do so. Though recently I had to go up to 2/3 of a patch which is causing issues with my estimates and having 1/3 left over. Currently have 2 1/3rds of a patch stuck on me!

I’m now sure how the patches work but on the packet it says you get a certain amount of oestrogen every 24 hours. Seems very clever.