Evorel 50 Patch: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Evorel 50 Patch contains estradiol, a natural form of oestrogen, delivered through the skin via a transdermal patch. It is used as part of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women who have gone through menopause or had their ovaries removed. It relieves menopause symptoms and helps prevent thinning bones, and women who still have a womb need to take a progestogen alongside it.

What is Evorel 50 Patch

Evorel 50 is a transdermal patch that delivers estradiol, a natural form of oestrogen, through the skin. It is used as part of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women who have gone through the menopause or had their ovaries removed.

Evorel 50 Patch uses

• Relieves menopause symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, sleep problems, mood changes, reduced sex drive, and vaginal dryness
• Helps prevent weak, thinning bones (osteoporosis) after menopause
• Used for oestrogen deficiency symptoms after natural or surgical menopause (removal of ovaries)
• Used for early menopause (premature ovarian insufficiency) in women under 40
• Women with a womb need to take a progestogen alongside Evorel to protect the lining of the womb

Benefits of Evorel 50 Patch

• Relieves many menopause symptoms
• Supports bone health and reduces risk of osteoporosis
• Gives a steady release of oestrogen, helping keep hormone levels stable
• Bypasses the digestive system, which may be gentler on the stomach
• Lower risk of blood clots compared with oestrogen taken by mouth
• Lower risk of gallbladder problems compared with oral oestrogen

How Evorel 50 Patch works

The oestrogen in the patch passes through the skin straight into the bloodstream, avoiding the liver. It then attaches to oestrogen receptors in tissues like the brain, womb, bone, and blood vessels. This helps control hot flushes, keeps the vaginal and urinary tissues healthy, and slows down bone loss.

Evorel 50 Patch dosage

Apply the patch to clean, dry, healthy skin on the lower abdomen or buttock, below the waistline. Do not apply the patch on or near the breasts, on the waistline, or on irritated, damaged, or broken skin. Avoid areas with recent shaving, sunscreen, or body lotion, as these can affect how well the patch sticks.

Change the patch twice a week, on the same two days each week, to keep hormone levels steady. Rotate where you place each new patch, and wait at least a week before reusing the same spot. Press the patch firmly in place for about 10 seconds so all the edges stick properly.

You do not need to remove the patch for bathing or showering, but it is best to take it off before a sauna and apply a new one straight after. If a patch falls off, put on a new one straight away but keep your usual patch-change day. If you forget to change your patch, do it as soon as you remember, unless it is nearly time for your next change, in which case skip the missed one and continue your normal schedule.

Only wear one patch at a time. This medicine is not meant for children. There is not enough information on using this medicine in people over 65.

Available forms and strengths

• Transdermal patch — 50 mcg/24 hours

Side effects of Evorel 50 Patch

Common

• Itching, redness, or rash where the patch is applied
• Breast tenderness or swelling
• Headaches
• Bloating or mild stomach upset
• Nausea
• Mood changes or low mood/anxiety
• Fluid retention
• Breakthrough bleeding or spotting, especially in the first 3 to 6 months

Serious

• Blood clots in the legs or lungs (venous thromboembolism) – watch for leg swelling, calf pain, or breathlessness
• Breast cancer risk increases with long-term combined use
• Thickening or cancer of the womb lining if progestogen is not used correctly in women with a womb
• Stroke or heart problems, particularly in older women or those starting HRT many years after menopause
• Liver problems, including jaundice
• New or worsening migraine-type headaches
• A marked rise in blood pressure

Warnings and precautions

• Evorel must not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant while using it, stop the patch straight away. Evorel is not meant to be used while breastfeeding.
• Kidney: No specific renal dose adjustment is established. Patients with kidney impairment require careful assessment because estrogen may cause fluid retention.
• Liver: Evorel should not be used if you have acute liver disease or a history of liver disease where liver function has not returned to normal. Tell your doctor if you have any liver problems, as these need monitoring during treatment.
• Alcohol: The extra risk of breast cancer from combined HRT use is similar in size to the risk from drinking 1 to 2 alcoholic drinks a day.
• Driving: Evorel is not expected to affect your ability to drive or use machinery when used normally.
• If you have a womb, you must use Evorel together with a progestogen, otherwise there is a higher risk of abnormal thickening or cancer of the womb lining.
• Do not use Evorel if you have, or have had, breast cancer, cancers that are sensitive to oestrogen, unexplained vaginal bleeding, current or past blood clots, certain liver conditions, a known blood clotting disorder, or porphyria, or if you are pregnant.
• Combined oestrogen-progestogen HRT is linked to a small increase in breast cancer risk that becomes noticeable after about 5 years of use.
• Starting HRT more than 10 to 20 years after menopause, or in older women, may slightly raise the risk of heart problems, while starting closer to menopause tends to be safer or even protective.
• Smoking increases the risk of blood clots, so you are advised not to smoke while using Evorel.
• There is some evidence of a higher risk of probable dementia in women who start continuous combined or oestrogen-only HRT after age 65.

Storage

• Do not store above 25°C
• Keep Evorel away from children and pets
• Use the patch immediately after opening its sachet

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help straight away if you notice painful swelling in a leg, sudden chest pain, or shortness of breath, as these can be signs of a blood clot.
• Seek immediate care for one-sided leg swelling, calf pain, or breathlessness, which can be signs of a blood clot.
• Stop treatment and see your doctor if you develop yellowing of the skin or eyes, a big rise in blood pressure, new migraine-type headaches, or if you become pregnant.
• Tell your doctor about any unusual vaginal bleeding or spotting that happens after your first few months of treatment, or that continues after stopping treatment, as it needs to be checked.

Alternatives

• Oestrogel
• Estradot
• Evorel 25 Patch