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Hormone replacement therapy
Tablets versus transdermal patches
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HRT: adopted guidelines of the Newcastle and North Tyneside
Health District Drug and Therapeutics Committee
Tablets should be oiffered in perference to patches as they
have advantages of
- Avoiding problems associated with patches becoming
detached from the skin
- Avoiding local side effects
- Significantly lower cost
Patches should be used in
- Patients where ther is a clinical need to avoid firstpass
metabolism of oestrogens eg patients with liver disease,
venous thromboembolism or diabetes
- Patients who cannot swallow/take tablets
- Patients who do not tolerate tablets (although some will
tolerate Femoston 2/10)
- Patients with poor symptomatic control on oral therapy
due to low oestrogen levels
- Patients who express a strong preference or where
compliance may be a problem
It is estimated that ideally patches should be used in about
10% of patients.