Oestradiol (Estradot) patches: Supply issue

Resupplied 

The supplier has advised that Estradot transdermal

• 25 mcg (pharmacode 2358840) patches are now available
• 50 mcg (pharmacode 2358867) patches are now available.

The 75 and 100 mcg patches are not affected by this supply issue.

Alternative product 

Estradiol TDP Mylan brand patches were available for supply as an alternative. They will be delisted from the Schedule on 1 May 2022.

Pharmacodes:

• 25 mcg patches 2601583
• 50 mcg patches 2601591 

Check the listing in the Schedule(external link)

The patches are not Medsafe approved, as such they need to be supplied in line with section 29 of the Medicines Act. 

Prescribing and supplying a medicine under section 29

Section 29 of the Medicines Act allows for medicines that are not Medsafe approved to be prescribed and 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 oestradiol patches. 

We apologise for any inconvenience this causes. 

Prescriber and pharmacist requirements for section 29 medicines – Medsafe website(external link)

What patients need to know about section 29 medicines – Health Navigator website(external link)

In February 2021, we advised that the Estradot brand 75 mcg patches were out of stock. We listed an alternative product from 1 March 2021. 

The alternative was Estradiol TDP Mylan patches (75 mcg per day). The pharmacode is 2605317.

This product was not Medsafe approved. It had to be supplied in line with s 29 of the Medicines Act. 

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