Oestradiol patches: Supply issue

Last Updated: 25 February 2021

Supply issue Active

Estradot transdermal 75 mcg patches are in short supply.

Alternative supply of 75 mcg patches

We are listing Estradiol TDP Mylan patches (75 mcg per day) on the Pharmaceutical Schedule from 1 March 2021. The pharmacode is 2605317.

Check the listing in the Schedule(external link)

The supplier, Mylan, has advised that stock is now available for supply.

This product is not Medsafe approved. It will need to be supplied in line with s 29 of the Medicines Act.

Supplying a medicine under section 29

Section 29 of the Medicines Act allows for medicines that are not Medsafe approved to be supplied to people. The medicine must be prescribed by someone registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand – e.g., doctors.

We know supplying a medicine under section 29 is not ideal. In this case, however, the alternative would be for patients to have no 75 mcg oestradiol patches.

We apologise for any inconvenience this causes.

Information for your patients about what section 29 means – Health Navigator website(external link)

"Oestradiol patches: What is their place in the treatment of menopausal symptoms?" BPACnz website

Estradiol in the NZ Formulary

Who to contact

If you are a prescriber or pharmacist with questions about this supply issue:

phone the supplier Novartis on 0800 354 335
email enquiry@pharmac.govt.nz
phone PHARMAC on 0800 660 050

If you use the oestradiol patches, contact your health professional. PHARMAC cannot give clinical advice about the best treatments for you.

Previous supply issue

In August 2020, the 25 mcg and 50 mcg Estradot patches ran out. Both patches were available again by January 2021.

What we did to address the issue

We listed 2 alternatives to ensure people can continue to access the medicine they need. One patch was not approved by Medsafe and one patch had a different dosing regime.

25 mcg patches

Estradiol TDP Mylan 25 mcg per day patches (pharmacode 2601583) were listed on the Schedule from 1 November 2020 to cover the out of stock. They had to be supplied under section 29.

50 mcg patches

To cover the out of stock, we listed:

Climara 50 mcg per day (pharmacode 371114)
Estradiol 50 mcg per day patches (pharmacode 2601591)

Estradiol is an unapproved brand of oestradiol and needs to supplied in line with section 29 of the Medicines Act 1981.

There was a dosing regimen change for Climara.

Dosing regimen difference for Climara

Note that there is a difference in dosing regimen for Climara. It should be applied every 7 days (i.e. once weekly). The other oestradiol patches should be applied twice a week.

Quantity restriction for Climara: 1 patch per week

Due to the dosing difference, we restricted Climara patches to no more than 1 patch per week in the Schedule from 1 July 2020