Changing patches in less than 48 hours?

It seems like I get a huge rush of estrogen the first 12-15 hours after application then it tapers off and I need to apply a new one around the 36 hour mark.

Anyone like this or does it even out eventually?

	Quote:
Originally Posted by gsb It seems like I get a huge rush of estrogen the first 12-15 hours after application then it tapers off and I need to apply a new one around the 36 hour mark. Anyone like this or does it even out eventually?

The vivelle dot prescribing information shows a graph depicting the spike you get when you first apply a patch. It peaks at about 12 hours and then remains fairly constant. Looks like the lower the dose the less you spike. This is consistent with my experience and I just expect it. At it's best - I feel energized and my eyesight improves. At it's worst, I feel a little edgy. It always levels out, though, and I get enough to get me through the following 3 days. I wonder - if you're feeling at 1.5 days that you need a new patch if your dose is optimal?
Here's a link to the prescribing information - http://www.vivelledot.com/Files/PDF/...nformation.pdf

IM with you, that is me. IM good for the day I use it. Then the next day im kinda ok, but by the 3rd day it's not good.

That seems like something I may want to think about...maybe I'm starving myself of estrogen. Hey J...my friend I told you about said the same thing about them...the third day she gets nothing from them.

I change my patch every 72 hours and I wear the highest dose. They definitely don't last 3 1/2 days for me. I get migraines so oral meds aren't as good for me.

They are not lasting me 3 days, Im getting yeast infections, and headaches and my joints are hurting, once I put the patch a new patch on all is well.

The 2nd day, Im starting to feel (not so good) I hang in there, and when I wake up on the 3rd day, Im hurting.

Im playing with them, tho..using gel with the patch to help things along, I don't believe Im absorbing the estrogen well with the transdermal method, but Im determined to wait.

Is there anyone else, I wish I could change them daily, Id be good if I could.

Hi Maria,

Maybe if you took estradiol sublingually on the 2nd and 3rd days, it would increase your levels enough so that you'd feel good. If it were me, I'd try taking 1/4 of an Estrace 1mg pill under my tongue or between the gum and cheek. That wouldn't be a high dose. It would get absorbed through the membranes in the mouth and go directly into the bloodstream. It would boost your levels for several hours, maybe half a day.

This is what I do and probably should not, but have felt a whole lot better doing so.

I leave my old one on for about 24 hours after applying the new one. I do not get any "dips" that way. A friend put me on to this and it has worked well.

sweat pea repeat that again from when you put the 1st one on to when you put the 2nd one on.

karen 200.. i suggested that to her, but she just said that it gives a burst and the levels of sublinguanl can be up and down.

but its worth a shot to me if this doesn't pan out. i didn't mind it before as long as it was lower doses.

thanks for the advice, it does help.

I too have had to formulate my own plan for climara patch use. My hyst was in 2003. Started right off with the climara patch 0.75. Found that I had headaches by day 3 and the darn things would just not stay stuck, crinkles in the middle let water in when showering etc. I was a bit of a mess with depression and symptoms of low estrogen. I wanted to try the vivelle dot but insurance would not pay. So after visiting my dear doc, she agreed to order patches to change on day 5, which was still not making me happy. By day three splitting HA and anxiety. SO then I covered the patch with tegaderm to keep it on which was better but not great still. Next I just decided to cut the patches in 2. I now wear one half a patch on the right hip and the other on the left hip. I change the first patch on day 1 and the other patch day 3. So that's 2 one half patches on all the time with every 3 day changes. I have had to devise a plan to remember which patch needs changing. I have been pretty darn good though look like a patchwork quilt at the fitness center. Do I care? no I am so grateful to find something that works. Hope this is not too confusing. I think this approach gives me a more constant level of estrogen and the tegaderm keeps them on. If the tegaderm gives an added boost I must have needed it, works for me.

Maybe this will be a help to someone. You all have been an amazing help to me. Love you for all your support and information and sister caring.

XO Heidi