estradiol transdermal patch - lifesaving but why is it never available?

[Anonymous]

This Estradiol HRT patch (Sandoz brand, 2 times per week) has saved my life over the last few years, but I am so tired of the many hours I need to spend trying to track down the medicine every time I need a refill because it is always backordered/not available. I keep calling different pharmacies, navigating the phone systems, leaving messages... just trying to find some in stock. I've resorted to waiting several days to put on a new patch so that I can stretch out the number of patches I have left (which yes, I know isn't great or advised, but I'm getting desperate). When I tried a different brand last year during a shortage, I had a bad reaction and it took months to regulate my body back with this original brand once I found it. If anyone has ideas on DMV pharmacies to try... I'd appreciate the leads!

[Anonymous]

No problem with Express Scripts ever.

[Anonymous]

I'm going through this for the first time today. I logged onto the CVS website to check on my script and it said it is "out of stock" and has been ordered and is expected next Monday. I'm supposed to change my patch today. Frustrating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No problem with Express Scripts ever.

thanks, that's good to know. I'll check it out. My doctor advised not to get it through an online source that is not temperature-controlled. I'm not sure if Express Scripts is or not? That said, I'm getting desperate so I might take my chances with degraded patches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm going through this for the first time today. I logged onto the CVS website to check on my script and it said it is "out of stock" and has been ordered and is expected next Monday. I'm supposed to change my patch today. Frustrating.

OP here - my original refill was in CVS and was in that status for a few weeks until it just canceled. I have saved up a few patches because I am regularly just delaying putting on the new one to save up some for these shortages that happen so often.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No problem with Express Scripts ever.

thanks, that's good to know. I'll check it out. My doctor advised not to get it through an online source that is not temperature-controlled. I'm not sure if Express Scripts is or not? That said, I'm getting desperate so I might take my chances with degraded patches.

Wait -- does temp matter for estradiol patches? I did not know this. I keep it on my counter in the kitchen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going through this for the first time today. I logged onto the CVS website to check on my script and it said it is "out of stock" and has been ordered and is expected next Monday. I'm supposed to change my patch today. Frustrating.

OP here - my original refill was in CVS and was in that status for a few weeks until it just canceled. I have saved up a few patches because I am regularly just delaying putting on the new one to save up some for these shortages that happen so often.

Oh no. Not good. I am pretty sure it was in this same status when I looked at it a few days ago, but had an earlier date of expecting to have it. I've never had this happen before though.

[Anonymous]

I keep seeing the issue being specific to CVS and maybe another chain? I've never had an issue with my independent pharmacy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No problem with Express Scripts ever.

thanks, that's good to know. I'll check it out. My doctor advised not to get it through an online source that is not temperature-controlled. I'm not sure if Express Scripts is or not? That said, I'm getting desperate so I might take my chances with degraded patches.

Wait -- does temp matter for estradiol patches? I did not know this. I keep it on my counter in the kitchen?

Same here. I don't think that matters re: room temperature. I assume that there's a concern if there are high temps like in the summer, but I don't know about freezing winter conditions. I'd honestly never heard this and wouldn't have thought of it had my doctor not mentioned it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm going through this for the first time today. I logged onto the CVS website to check on my script and it said it is "out of stock" and has been ordered and is expected next Monday. I'm supposed to change my patch today. Frustrating.

OP here - my original refill was in CVS and was in that status for a few weeks until it just canceled. I have saved up a few patches because I am regularly just delaying putting on the new one to save up some for these shortages that happen so often.

Oh no. Not good. I am pretty sure it was in this same status when I looked at it a few days ago, but had an earlier date of expecting to have it. I've never had this happen before though.

I've sadly had it happen intermittently for the last year with CVS. Today I have called CVS, Target, Walgreens, and my local small independent pharmacy with no luck.

[Anonymous]

I've given up on the patches and have gone to the pills for this reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No problem with Express Scripts ever.

thanks, that's good to know. I'll check it out. My doctor advised not to get it through an online source that is not temperature-controlled. I'm not sure if Express Scripts is or not? That said, I'm getting desperate so I might take my chances with degraded patches.

Wait -- does temp matter for estradiol patches? I did not know this. I keep it on my counter in the kitchen?

Read the box insert.
Hopefully not next to a toaster oven lol.

[Anonymous]

Pay cash and get a stash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pay cash and get a stash.

Yeah, I've had a stash of about 6 weeks extra which I thought would be enough but it's taking even longer to find it this time so I've started rationing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've given up on the patches and have gone to the pills for this reason.

Tell me more about the pills.

My doctor told me about the gel, but the package insert that said you put it on your arm and then couldn't hug small children or pets without a shirt on gave me pause (I still have little kids in my house). Maybe that's crazy, but I just felt like that caution was too much for my already menopausal anxious brain to handle.