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BHRT transdermal patch shortage: are there alternatives?
Osteoporosis & Bone Health | Last Active: Mar 25 1:31am | Replies (16)Comment receiving replies
@gargoy I found some bits of possible help.
I am on 2x weekly HRT transdermal patches in which one alternates taking 3 days then 4 days. This keeps you changing patches on the same days of the week, which is easier to remember. I asked my doctor if I could I take every patch 4 days apart. My doctor approved that.
I use a "token" in my pill organizer (e.g. cut the word "Estrodiol" from one of the packets) and move it 4 days ahead each time I apply a patch. This only gets me 1 extra day at the end of 2 patches. But I will take what I can 🙂
I also asked my doctor about cutting a higher dose patch in half and provided the below reference. My doctor was good with it but my pharmacy is also out of 2x my dose patches, but maybe your pharmacy has 2x of your dose patches. Read the articles
https://www.medicinesinformation.co.nz/bulletins/can-transdermal-patches-be-halved/
Replies to "@gargoy I found some bits of possible help. I am on 2x weekly HRT transdermal patches..."
@kfhoz I was given a higher dose patch and told to cut it in half and still change patch twice a week. I got a new prescription. I get HRT through OBGYN not endocrinologist. I messaged them about the shortage and asked what to do.
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@kfhoz Oh, very good, kfhoz! Thank you! I think every 4 days is a great idea. I'll ask my pharmacist about the 2x patches that I can then cut in half...but wouldn't you need a new prescription for that? Maybe not, if the net worth of the patches are the same as the uncut patches (half the number of 2x patches). I have been on BHRT since late January, and had fairly extreme breast tenderness for almost 3 weeks in the beginning, but now only slight tenderness. Is this a bad sign that the tenderness has not gone away completely? Should I reduce the dosage of BHRT?