Hormonal Medication Shortages: Having Trouble Finding Estradiol Patches or Progesterone?

If you have been calling around trying to find estradiol patches, progesterone capsules, or other hormone medications, you are not alone.

We have been hearing from more and more patients dealing with the same issue, and we know how frustrating it can be to spend time calling different pharmacies just trying to find your medication.

Right now, some hormonal medications have been harder to find depending on the product, strength, and manufacturer. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) currently lists shortages affecting some estradiol transdermal systems and progesterone capsules.

Why is this happening?

Drug shortages can happen for a few different reasons.

Sometimes demand increases faster than supply. In other cases, manufacturers may be dealing with production, supply, or distribution issues. For estradiol patches, ASHP notes that at least one manufacturer has reported increased demand as a reason for the shortage.

The important thing to know is that this does not always mean every version of the medication is unavailable everywhere. In many cases, one strength or brand may be difficult to find while another may still be available.

Which medications have been harder to find?

Some of the biggest issues right now seem to involve certain estradiol patches and progesterone capsules.

Availability can vary based on the exact product your prescription is written for, which is one reason some patients have had to call multiple pharmacies looking for the same medication.

What should patients know?

First, if you are having trouble finding your medication, you are not doing anything wrong. This has been a challenge for many patients across the country.

Second, it is important not to make changes to your medication on your own without speaking with your healthcare provider. Hormone therapy is not one-size-fits-all, and even a medication that sounds similar may not be the right substitute for you.

How Skippack Pharmacy may be able to help

At Skippack Pharmacy, we know how stressful it can be when you cannot find a medication you rely on.

That is why we created a simple process to help patients looking for estradiol patches, progesterone capsules, and certain other hormone medications.

If you are having trouble finding your medication, you can fill out our interest form and a member of our team will review your information and follow up with next steps.

If your prescription is already at another pharmacy, we may be able to help transfer it over. If you do not already have a prescription on file elsewhere, we can let you know the best next step for having your prescriber send one to us.

Please do not have your prescriber send a prescription until a member of our team has confirmed next steps.

Resources:

• ASHP Drug Shortage Detail: Estradiol Transdermal System
• ASHP Drug Shortage Detail: Progesterone Capsules
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Drug Shortages
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Frequently Asked Questions About Drug Shortages
• Office on Women’s Health, Menopause Treatment
• The Menopause Society, Hormone Therapy

The information contained in this article is intended for educational and promotional purposes only. It is not intended as specific medical advice. Call us or visit us in person and speak with a pharmacist for specific medication queries and consult with your physician or provider for your specific medical condition or health goals.