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Climara (Estradiol) - Reviews, Ratings, Comments by Patients

 
 



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Below are Climara (Estradiol) reviews, ratings, comments submitted by patients and caregivers. Based on a total of 10 ratings/reviews, Climara has an overall score of 6.80. The effectiveness score is 7.60 and the side effect score is 7.20. The scores are on ten point scale: 10 - best, 1 - worst. This information is not vetted and should not be cosidered as clinical evidence.
 

Climara review by 37 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   surgical menopause
Dosage & duration:   .025 (dosage frequency: one patch per week) for the period of 2 years continually and currently
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Immediately after a complete hysterectomy, menopause set in. Night sweats and insomnia were making life difficult. Immediately after starting the Climara patch, all menopausal symptoms were relieved.
Side effects:   I have not experienced any side effects except when dosage was increased. Side effects then were acne and headaches. Upon reducing the dosage to the current .025, all side effects were relieved.
Comments:   Treatment entails applying one patch per week.

 

Climara review by 53 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   menopausal
Dosage & duration:   .06 mg/day taken once weekly for the period of 1 year+
Other conditions:   IBS, arthritis
Other drugs taken:   Prometrium (progesterone)
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Climara patch almost completely stopped the severe hot flashes and severe vaginal dryness. It also has improved skin tone and elasticity, moderated mood, improved sleep (by decreasing hot flash frequency). The side-effect of pain in liver area from estradiol by mouth has gone away using a dermal patch.
Side effects:   The only side effect from the Climara is mild itching after removing the patch. Another side effect is actually produced by the progesterone I have to take to balance the estrogen, and that is an aggravation of my IBS - abdominal pain, gas, bloating. So I take the progesterone only 7 days/month now and the side effects are minimal.
Comments:   After being miserable with frequent (20+ times/day, 7-10 times/night) and severe hot flashes (sometimes like a sudden sunburn, skin turning red and burning) for a number of years, I went on hormone replacement therapy. Estrogen by mouth had more side effects, so I went on the patch, which I have to change only once a week. The recommended accompanying treatment of progesterone caused more problems than the estrogen: a combination patch which is available is more convenient, but I found by trying it that progesterone really aggravates my IBS symptoms. To lessen that effect, I went on an estrogen-only patch and use a separate progesterone only 7 days/month. This is currently making me have periods again, not a fun thing, but I feel much better overall because my IBS symptoms are much less severe and less frequent.

 

Climara review by 53 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   menopausal
Dosage & duration:   .06 mg/day taken once weekly for the period of 1 year+
Other conditions:   IBS, arthritis
Other drugs taken:   Prometrium (progesterone)
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Climara patch almost completely stopped the severe hot flashes and severe vaginal dryness. It also has improved skin tone and elasticity, moderated mood, improved sleep (by decreasing hot flash frequency). The side-effect of pain in liver area from estradiol by mouth has gone away using a dermal patch.
Side effects:   The only side effect from the Climara is mild itching after removing the patch. Another side effect is actually produced by the progesterone I have to take to balance the estrogen, and that is an aggravation of my IBS - abdominal pain, gas, bloating. So I take the progesterone only 7 days/month now and the side effects are minimal.
Comments:   After being miserable with frequent (20+ times/day, 7-10 times/night) and severe hot flashes (sometimes like a sudden sunburn, skin turning red and burning) for a number of years, I went on hormone replacement therapy. Estrogen by mouth had more side effects, so I went on the patch, which I have to change only once a week. The recommended accompanying treatment of progesterone caused more problems than the estrogen: a combination patch which is available is more convenient, but I found by trying it that progesterone really aggravates my IBS symptoms. To lessen that effect, I went on an estrogen-only patch and use a separate progesterone only 7 days/month. This is currently making me have periods again, not a fun thing, but I feel much better overall because my IBS symptoms are much less severe and less frequent.

 

Climara review by 51 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Ineffective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   hormone replacement therapy
Dosage & duration:   .075mg/day taken one patch per week for the period of one week
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   no positive benefits
Side effects:   mood changes, weight gain (4 pounds in 3 days!) extremely emotional. depression
Comments:   I had been using the trade brand of this patch, Climara for several months with positive results. One month my local pharmacy was out of the trade brand and offered to fill the prescription with the generic brand and because I was in a hurry to catch a plane to go on a vacation, I agreed, thinking they had to be similar. Wrong! To begin with, the generic patch is twice the size and thickness of the trade brand - don't even think of wearing tight clothes while sporting one of these! (I laughlingly told my husband we could always use one to patch a flat tire if needed, but soon it wasn't so funny.) Within a day or two I knew something was wrong, but hadn't yet identified the problem. I couldn't stop crying about nothing in particular. It seemed as if overnight, my world had become very sad and depressing. I immediately began to gain weight, despite no change in my dietary habits. After finally putting two and two together, I ripped it off and contacted my local pharmacist to see if anyone else had complained of similar experiences. After rechecking my prescription, the pharmacist noticed my physician had marked "no generics". Apparently, he had a good reason for this choice as this was not his usual stance on generics. The pharmacist refilled my prescription with the trade brand and all was quickly back to normal. I usually have no problem with genereic brands, but unfortunately, no more generic estradiol for me!

 

Climara review by 52 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Marginally Effective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   menopause, memory loss, night sweats, low libido
Dosage & duration:   1 patch weekly (dosage frequency: 1 patch every 7 days) for the period of week 3
Other conditions:   high blood pressure
Other drugs taken:   adalat 30 MG, daily vitamin, vitamin E
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   nothing noticeable really, night sweats improved (slightly), memory, not as fuzzy
Side effects:   Weight gain 4 lbs, my weight has always been stable, bloatiness/gas (uncomfortable) hair loss (more than usual and thinner), depression (crying for no reason)
Comments:   Change patch every 7 days. Very difficult keeping the patch on. I'm going to ask the Dr. for different type of patch. Heard Vivelle is smaller and stays on bettetr.

 

Climara review by 36 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Marginally Effective
Side effects:   Moderate Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Total Hysterctomy
Dosage & duration:   .05 mg/day taken patch applied once/week for the period of 3 months
Other conditions:   None
Other drugs taken:   None
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   ---
Side effects:   Constant issues with the patch not staying on. I called the manufacture (Bayer), they took down the lot number and said we are sorry. They said they were going to send a new box to my local pharmacy at no charge. I have checked every week for the last three weeks and NOTHING! Yeah, great way to follow through. Throughout being on the patch I noticed large acne on my face, lack of energy, no libido, vaginal dryness, daily hot flashes and extreme moodiness (so sorry to my husband, even though he has been great through all of this). I know it has only been three months and my body is trying to adjust, but I just could not take it anymore. I contacted my GYN and he prescribed Estratest. Cross your fingers I hope it works!!!!
Comments:   ---

 

Climara review by 51 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   hot flash sleep problems
Dosage & duration:   .05 mg. taken patch changed weekly for the period of 3 years
Other conditions:   hypothyroidism
Other drugs taken:   synthroid
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   My moods have improved dramatically. I would wake at least 3 times a night and have difficulty going back to sleep (sleep was always a problem), but now sleep is much better. Hot flashes were intense and distracting, and have since stopped. I originally took Premarin which gave me headaches. The patch and it's consistent delivery has helped immensely to reduce number and severity of headaches.
Side effects:   The only drawback to using the patch is a mild allergy to the adhesive. Sometimes the patch slips and has come off several times in the bath, so I've had to pull out a new one. I do not like having to take progesterone separately in pill form, or at all, but with a uterus it is necessary. I'm also concerned about long-term effects.
Comments:   I originally began using HRT 5 years ago to help with very severe menopausal symptoms. I had tried all the natural remedies as I was very concerned about taking a medication: herbs, soy, etc. I walked 30 miles a week and did yoga, none of which helped. In desperation I visited my OB GYN who suggested I go on HRT, stating that quality of life needed to be considered. Shortly, thereafter, the reports initial study was released, and again I spoke to my doctor who said that she thought the results were over inflated. I switched to estradiol because it's considered more effective, and the patch bypasses the liver with delivery directly through the skin. I've since weaned myself off several times, only to have the symptoms return. I'm concerned about latest studies and have thought about weaning myself off again, and then think, "quality of life".

 

Climara review by 53 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   Mild Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   complete hysterectomy
Dosage & duration:   .025 (dosage frequency: change patch weekley) for the period of continious since 1989
Other conditions:   none
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   decreased hot flashes
Side effects:   Wondering if changing generic could cause all of the swelling?
Comments:   After all these years on climara patch the pharmacy changed my patch to the generic brand and I'm having extreme swelling over my entire body, legs, feet, hand, face. It is awful. I will contact my doc today. Could the change from Climara to the generic cause this?

 

Climara review by 52 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Highly Effective
Side effects:   No Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   Perimenopause
Dosage & duration:   0.025 (dosage frequency: 1 patch weekly) for the period of I have been taking it for one month
Other conditions:   Epilepsy
Other drugs taken:   Lamitrogine (anti-seizure medication)
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   Immediate relief of hot flashes (from 10-12 per day to 2-4 per week),sleep disruption, moodiness/agitation, depression (or periodic unexplained "dark days"), lack of libido.
Side effects:   None. This is not a side effect per se, but it is something to be aware of--the patch leaves a dirty/darkened ring around it on the skin due to normal body oils. Even though I am a heavy shower-taker (but also work out a lot, therefore I produce above average perspiration), no one mentions this but it is unsightly.
Comments:   Application of one patch in abdomen or upper buttock area weekly.

 

Climara review by 47 year old female patient

  Rating
Overall rating:  
Effectiveness:   Moderately Effective
Side effects:   Severe Side Effects
  
Treatment Info
Condition / reason:   perimenopause
Dosage & duration:   1 patch (dosage frequency: once weekly) for the period of continuously
Other conditions:   fibromyalgia
Other drugs taken:   none
  
Reported Results
Benefits:   I began taking Climara for perimenopause issues-- insomnia, horrible PMS, moodiness, night sweats. It helped for these issues.
Side effects:   The main side effects I experienced with Climara were bloating, weight gain and indigestion/gas. I gained 8 pounds in two months! As soon as I stopped the drug, the bloating and gas disappeared, and my weight gain is returning to normal.
Comments:   Climara is meant to be used with a complementary progesterone subscription. I took it in pill form. Now I am planning to try Amberen, a natural supplement which is supposed to balance the endocrine system. Got my fingers crossed!
 


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