Estrogen patches are currently in short supply due to a dramatic 162% increase in prescriptions over the past two years, as reported by HealthVerity. This surge in demand was exacerbated last fall when the FDA lifted a long-standing black box warning against hormone replacement therapy, prompting more women to seek these treatments for menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and cognitive issues.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists has identified three types of estradiol patches facing shortages, while the FDA has not officially declared a shortage, citing that all manufacturers report operating at full capacity. The complexity of manufacturing transdermal patches contributes to the challenges in scaling production to meet the heightened demand.
Companies like Amneal are working to increase output, but the process is slow and complicated. Additionally, the shortage is affecting other hormone replacement therapies, leading some patients to seek alternatives like estrogen gels or compounded creams, which may not be covered by insurance.
Experts predict it could take one to two years for supply to stabilize, leaving many women struggling to access necessary treatments