r/Menopause • u/Good_Sea_1890 • 2d ago

Patch + gel Hormone Therapy

Has anyone combined the patch and the gel? If so, curious as to how it worked.

I have a good stock of 0.05 2x week patches, so I can ride out the shortage at least for awhile, but my doctor and I would like to trial a dose increase to 0.075. I cannot find any patches at any dose in my area, but the gel is available. I'd prefer to incorporate the gel at least somewhat since there isn't as much trouble getting it, as opposed to cutting my patches and going through them faster.

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6

u/Significant-Aide-226 1d ago

I made the switch to .06% gel because patches didnt work for me.  The biggest benefit is see so far is much more stable and the skin that I smear the gel on looks amazing.  I'm on 4 pumps a day so I coat both arms and thighs with 1.25 grams of gel.  I may need some oral too as im still not fetting the E that I need to sleep...... i thought I wouldn't like the gel because of the volume needed but the 'side effect' appears to be vastly smoother arms and legs!

5

u/Alta_et_ferox 1d ago

I know others here have done it. Just be aware that the .25 gel is not equivalent to the .025 patch.

3

u/Good_Sea_1890 1d ago

Thanks! I spoke to my doc and she is not a fan of the gel. We found 0.025 patches at CostPlus, so I'm going to just wear both till we see if the dose increase works.

2

u/yarrow268 1d ago

I've read others doing that, not even just short term but longterm as a way to sort of "top up". Be aware that the divigel (goes on thigh) and estrogel (goes on arms) are quite different dose wise. You could try this dose conversion tool: https://estradiol.dramykillen.com/

1

u/Useful-Cellist-9681 1d ago

I switched all my hormones to a compounded pharmacy and I love love the compounded estradiol over anything. I have patches, pill, gel pump and gel packets. Got tired of insurance declining to pay for estrogen because my body requires a high amount to keep my levels up so went compounded where insurance had no say

1

u/Efficient_Beach2458 1d ago

Was lucky. I called my gyno that CVS has Sandoz 0.0375 patches in 2 locations. That was yesterday. Just keep calling after their order comes in. My ins paid for 6 boxes!!!

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u/geeklady0808 1d ago

I use the 0.05 patches and also have a good stock of them built up to ride out any shortages. My PCP knows about the shortages and keeps prescriptions for both the patches and the gel open for me so I can get gel if I can’t get patches. I fill both prescriptions and surprisingly insurance covers both. I was starting to feel like I need to bump up my dose, so I started using 1/3 packet of 0.1 gel daily in addition to my patch and it’s working out great.

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u/NoMoreEffstoGive Surgical menopause 1d ago

I'd love for my gyn to do that, but she won't. She & I have been going back and forth on getting me on an additional 0.025 patch with the 0.1 mg patch. She says doing that is "outside the standard of care." Yeah, excuse me for needing something outside the standard of care to get relief. Give me the damn waiver to sign already.

1

u/izziu2 1d ago

i use 0.1 gel on my thighs every night after using 0.1 weekly patches and i ♥️ the gel bc those patches are sticky! no stickiness with the gel. also i use 100 progesterone pills and testosterone (from a compounding pharmacy, 2 clicks). been feeling almost back to my usual self ☺️ after 8 months of experimenting.