Estrogen Patch brand comparison

Hi Guys. Just Googling information and your post popped up! I have used every HRT known to man, I think. I was first put on the Etraderm patch, but it just didn't stick for me. Next, I tried the Vivelle Dot. It seemed to make my BP go up and make me light headed. I called the Dr.'s office back and asked for a pill. He put me on Activella. Was on that for about 5-6 months. It worked like a charm, but I was in such pain. It caused me to feel like I was in my 80's with arthritic pain. I went off of it cold turkey and was fine for about a week. I am also taking Neurontin, which has been studied for the relief of hot flashes. If I take it at night, I experience no hot flashes or night sweats, but I can't take the same dose during the day because it makes me tired. So, back to trying another patch. Right now, I am on the generic Climara, or Estradiol patch. From reading, I found I could put Transpore tape over the top. This is great. It's lasted through two showers now. Also, I found that you could cover it with Tegaderm dressing, which is kind of expensive, but well worth it to me. I will do that next week. Anyway, I've been on the generic Estradiol for three days now, it has diminished the hot flashes but not 100% like my Activella did. I was researched the Estradiol in a pill form (Walmart has it for $4.00 on their list), but it seems like it might cause the same side effects as the Activella. Anyone know?

Ginger wrote:

Hi Guys. Just Googling information and your post popped up! I have used every HRT known to man, I think. I was first put on the Etraderm patch, but it just didn't stick for me. Next, I tried the Vivelle Dot. It seemed to make my BP go up and make me light headed. I called the Dr.'s office back and asked for a pill. He put me on Activella. Was on that for about 5-6 months. It worked like a charm, but I was in such pain. It caused me to feel like I was in my 80's with arthritic pain. I went off of it cold turkey and was fine for about a week. I am also taking Neurontin, which has been studied for the relief of hot flashes. If I take it at night, I experience no hot flashes or night sweats, but I can't take the same dose during the day because it makes me tired. So, back to trying another patch. Right now, I am on the generic Climara, or Estradiol patch. From reading, I found I could put Transpore tape over the top. This is great. It's lasted through two showers now. Also, I found that you could cover it with Tegaderm dressing, which is kind of expensive, but well worth it to me. I will do that next week. Anyway, I've been on the generic Estradiol for three days now, it has diminished the hot flashes but not 100% like my Activella did. I was researched the Estradiol in a pill form (Walmart has it for $4.00 on their list), but it seems like it might cause the same side effects as the Activella. Anyone know?

HI THERE : I don't know about anyone else, but the Estradiol pill made me feel like I was completely PMS'ing every single day, with weepiness and sadness and the everything you feel when you have bad PMS. I think any of this hormone stuff you take orally is going to have more side effects because it is going through your digestive track. For me it was better to stick to the patch. As to the differences in the patches - I researched and it said that the adhesives that one company makes versus another can be the reason why some patches affect some and not others. Regards, Elaine

Thanks Elaine. After posting this afternoon, the body aches and pains got so severe that I have taken my patch off. I am done with HRT. I will stick to the Neurontin now and see how that goes. Thanks for answering my question about the Estradiol pill. There has to be a reason why I am not experiencing hot flashes or night sweats when I take the Neurontin at night. I'll try to increase my dosage to see how it goes during the day. I'd rather be tired than hurting.

Today I stuck with only the Neurontin. It worked really good for me. Keep ya posted.

Ginger wrote:

Today I stuck with only the Neurontin. It worked really good for me. Keep ya posted.

Good Luck! Regards, Elaine

Hello~I just wanted to mention that I've been applying .025 Estradiol patches for the last 7-8 yrs. Have worked great...every now & then patches may have come off due to clothing rubbing on them. Lately they've been a nightmare!!! They have left burnt, blistering and oozing areas to my abdominal area (front & backside). I'm wondering if there has been a change with manufacturing the product?

Donna Peoria IL wrote:

Hello~I just wanted to mention that I've been applying .025 Estradiol patches for the last 7-8 yrs. Have worked great...every now & then patches may have come off due to clothing rubbing on them. Lately they've been a nightmare!!! They have left burnt, blistering and oozing areas to my abdominal area (front & backside). I'm wondering if there has been a change with manufacturing the product?

Hi, sounds like there was a change in the adhesive used for the patches. I would check with the manufacturer of those patches. The adhesive is blended with the estrogen. Most reactions are due to the adhesive agent. Maybe you can try another patch of the same strength if the manufacturer did change the formula?

I've been using the Mylan brand times two days and it started to come off the first day. I too do not want pills. I have not experienced any skin irritation (as of yet) but I would like to know... Can you put another one on if one falls off? Will it harm anything?

Dannie wrote:

I've been using the Mylan brand times two days and it started to come off the first day. I too do not want pills. I have not experienced any skin irritation (as of yet) but I would like to know... Can you put another one on if one falls off? Will it harm anything?

I don't think it will harm anything. If one falls off and you try to re-attach it and you can't re-attach it at all, then I guess you could throw it out and apply a new one. When that happened to me, I just tried to re-attach it to another spot on me somewhere, like on my lower belly, and usually it would re-stick.
It'll only hurt your pocket book spending more money to keep replacing the ones that fall off :-(

Ann wrote:

I tried the Vivelle dot after my insurance company stopped covering the bioidentical cream I was using. It was okay, I did not sleep quite as well or have as much energy as I did with the bioidentcals. Then my insurance co. doubled the price of Vivelle so I tried the Climera patch so I could save some money using one patch instead of two perscriptions ( estrogen and progesterin) It is not as good as the Vivelle dot and completely inferior to bioidenticals.

The vivelle dot IS Bioidentical.

also, want to concur with the others. vivelle worked fine but had problem with it coming off. climara brand works fine but it's the size of rhode island; it does stay on much better than vivelle for me. my doctor would not order the climara generic for all the reasons discussed here. too many problems. fyi, you can get vivelle much cheaper thru Canadian pharmacy but no discount on climara compared with US pharmacies. the 1x week climara is much more convenient but the Canadian price on vivelle is hard to resist.

Just now going thru the hormone patch/pill search.
I had been on Estraderm Patch .05 (twice a week)since about 1983. No problems with it except for the occasional falling off and some irritation. Mfg. stopped making it recently so was substituted with Estradiol patch. I freaked out with change so thought I would try to go off hormones. After about a week started having sweats especially at nite. Because I had some samples given to me by dr. tried EstroGel which you put on daily but after a week or so not that much improvement. Broke down and got prescription for Mylan Estradiol patch. The cost is more than what I had paid for name brand. My insurance initially paid for a box of 4 patches but that would have only lasted two weeks. Got ok from dr. to put 8 patches in prescription but the end cost is around $90.00 or so a month. Sadly that is with insurance. So I am thinking about maybe an oral generic but not sure and wanted to hear and read others experience.

Thanks in advance for any imput.

Mary wrote:

I started using the Estradiol patch manufactored by Mylan, which is the generic for Climara. When I remove the patch, I have a huge red mark, the same size as the patch, that stays where the patch was for a couple of weeks. Also, the skin underneath the patch starts itching shortly after I put it on. I used the Climara patch for years and never had a problem. Does anyone else have this problem? If so, did you find a cause or a solution?

I have the same problem. Did you find a solution I love how I feel on this patch so I continue to try to use it with the itching burning and all

I have used Estradiol by Mylan for years. When I apply the patch, I always give a rub (friction)sets it in place. As long as I replace it every week on time it does not turn red or itch. As for the adhesive coming off, I always remove the patch while showering, adhesive comes off with minor scratching of a finger nail. I also like applying the patch to the upper buttocks near the hip bone, I can't stand to put place on my abdomen.

Started using the Mylan version of the estradiol patch. The first one came off on day 2. I was told by the pharmacist that for other medical patches they recommend a waterproof transparent dressing placed over the patch. You can get them at the drug store in the first aid aisle. It works perfect, doesn't look great but I need the patch and can't afford the vivelle dot.

Novartis quit making the Estraderm patch so I started researching options and found this thread. All the comments are so very helpful! I nearly went to the ER with Climera. Used Vivelle .05 patch for years.. until they quite making it. Tried the Vivelle Dot - but had flu like symptoms. Went back to the old Novartis Estraderm patch until they quit making it.
Now I have to find yet another suitable replacement! My problem is that many patches are available in .10 but not .05. My body seems to rapidly absorb the weekly patches so I wind up with the serious side effects.
I have been reading the Mylan comments and am wondering if I should waste the money (no insurance) to try it? I NEED my estrogen! Even willing to suffer the mild rash and itching in order to sleep at all! But I cannot afford yet another near death experience from a patch.

I rotate the discrete spots where I adhere the dot to avoid the temporary redness. I also dry the area with rubbing alcohol and my hair dryer, seems to adhere better, and I have no problems.

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this is the 1st day of week 5 for me and to celebrate I have a 2 inch red burning irritated badge on my abdoman. I've invested in another month so I must use them, but I'm so afraid this will continue. I have applied these all as directed on dry, clean skin rotating once weekly with a new patch. I'll spend this month looking for another option. I can't imagine the pain I'll incur in the hot summer months if I continued with these horrible Mylan Estradiol patches. Thanks but no thanks hot flashes have never brought me to tears from the pain or embrassment from a rash. ps the rash IS NOT on the adhesive line. and HOW do you remove THAT ring?