Estradiol Patch: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Estradiol Patch is a transdermal patch containing estradiol, a form of estrogen, used mainly as hormone replacement therapy for menopause symptoms. It is applied to the skin and releases the hormone steadily into the bloodstream. It is used to treat hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness, to help prevent osteoporosis, and to provide estrogen for women whose bodies do not make enough naturally.

What is Estradiol Patch

Estradiol patch is a small adhesive patch worn on the skin that releases estradiol, a form of estrogen, into the bloodstream. It is a type of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) used mainly for menopause symptoms.

Estradiol Patch uses

• Treating hot flashes and night sweats caused by menopause
• Treating vaginal dryness, itching, and burning caused by menopause
• Preventing osteoporosis (thin, weak bones) in women going through or who have gone through menopause
• Providing estrogen for women who have not yet reached menopause but whose bodies do not make enough estrogen naturally

Benefits of Estradiol Patch

• Reduces hot flashes and night sweats
• Improves sleep
• Helps with vaginal dryness and discomfort
• Helps slow bone loss
• May lower risk of blood clots compared with estrogen pills

How Estradiol Patch works

Estradiol replaces the estrogen hormone that the body normally makes. It releases the hormone through the skin into the bloodstream steadily, which means a lower dose may be needed compared to a pill form, and it skips processing by the liver and stomach.

Estradiol Patch dosage

Apply the patch on the same day or days of the week every time, following a regular schedule. Apply to clean, dry, cool skin on the lower stomach area below the waistline, or the upper buttocks depending on the brand. Do not apply to the breasts or to skin that is oily, damaged, cut, or irritated. Avoid the waistline where tight clothing might rub the patch off, and avoid the lower buttocks where sitting might rub it off. Make sure the skin is free of lotion, powder, or cream before applying. Wait at least one week before applying a new patch to the same spot.

Tear open the pouch with your fingers, not scissors, and apply the patch right after opening it. Press the patch firmly with your fingers or palm for about 10 seconds, especially around the edges. Wear the patch continuously until it is time to remove it, then peel it off slowly and fold it in half so the sticky sides stick together before throwing it away.

If the patch loosens, try pressing it back with your fingers without touching the sticky side; if it will not stay, fold it and throw it away safely, then apply a new patch to a different spot and continue your regular schedule. If you forget to apply a patch, apply the missed one as soon as you remember, then continue your regular schedule; do not apply extra patches to make up for a missed one. Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether you need to take special care while swimming, bathing, showering, or using a sauna, since some patch brands may loosen during these activities.

Available forms and strengths

• Transdermal patch — 0.025 mg/day

Side effects of Estradiol Patch

Common

• Headache
• Breast pain or tenderness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Gas
• Heartburn
• Weight gain or loss
• Hair loss
• Redness or irritation of the skin under the patch
• Swelling, redness, burning, irritation or itching of the vagina
• Vaginal discharge
• Painful menstrual periods
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Changes in mood
• Change in sexual desire
• Back, neck, or muscle pain
• Runny nose or congestion
• Darkening of skin on the face
• Unwanted hair growth
• Difficulty wearing contact lenses
• Joint pain

Serious

• Yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Stomach tenderness, pain, or swelling
• Itching
• Hives
• Rash, blisters on skin, or other skin changes
• Swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, throat, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• Hoarseness
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Sudden, severe headache
• Sudden, severe vomiting
• Speech problems
• Dizziness or faintness
• Sudden complete or partial loss of vision
• Double vision
• Weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
• Crushing chest pain or chest heaviness
• Coughing up blood
• Sudden shortness of breath
• Difficulty thinking clearly, remembering, or learning new things
• Breast lumps or other breast changes
• Discharge from nipples
• Pain, tenderness, or redness in one leg

Warnings and precautions

• Do not use this medicine if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant while using the patch, tell your doctor right away. Do not breastfeed while using this medicine, as it may affect your baby.
• Tell your doctor if you have or have had kidney disease before starting this medicine. Do not use this medicine if you have severe liver problems. Tell your doctor about any liver disease you have had.
• Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects you.
• Estradiol increases the risk of endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus). The longer you use it, the greater the risk. If you still have a uterus, you should also take a progestin medicine to help lower this risk.
• Women who use estrogen, with or without a progestin, may have a higher risk of heart attacks, strokes, blood clots in the lungs or legs, breast cancer, and dementia.
• Do not use this medicine to try to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, or dementia; use only the lowest dose that controls your symptoms for the shortest time needed.
• This medicine may increase the risk of ovary cancer and gallbladder disease that might need surgery.
• Tell your doctor if you are having surgery or will be on bedrest, since you may need to stop the patch several weeks beforehand to lower the risk of blood clots.
• Do not use this medicine if you have ever had cancer of the breast or uterus, blood clots in the veins or lungs, or unexplained vaginal bleeding that has not been checked by a doctor.

Storage

• Keep estradiol patches sealed in their original pouches and out of reach of children.
• Store the patches at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).
• Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Use a medicine take-back program.

When to see a doctor

• Call your doctor right away if you have unusual or abnormal vaginal bleeding while using this medicine.
• Call your doctor immediately if you notice sudden severe headache, sudden severe vomiting, trouble speaking, dizziness or fainting, sudden loss of vision, double vision, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, crushing chest pain, coughing up blood, sudden shortness of breath, trouble thinking or remembering, breast lumps or changes, nipple discharge, or pain, tenderness, or redness in one leg.
• Call your doctor right away if you notice yellowing of the skin or eyes, loss of appetite, fever, stomach tenderness or swelling, itching, hives, rash, blisters, swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, throat, hands, feet, or ankles, hoarseness, or difficulty breathing or swallowing.
• If you use too much medicine or wear patches too long, remove the patches and call your local poison control center right away. If the person has collapsed, had a seizure, is having trouble breathing, or cannot be woken up, call emergency services immediately.

Alternatives

• Conjugated Estrogens
• Estradiol Gel
• Estradiol Tablet