Pharmacist issues warning for anyone using estradiol and levonorgestrel patches

A pharmacist has urged women using common HRT patches to contact their supplier as soon as possible after a November alert was issued. Pharmacist Sobia Qasim said women using the patches should avoid making a mistake after the warning from the Department of Health and Social Care.

Women using FemSeven Conti HRT patches are being urged to contact their pharmacist before their supply runs out, after a medicine supply notification confirmed the product is out of stock until late November 2026. The notification, issued by the Department of Health and Social Care and published by Community Pharmacy England, affects FemSeven Conti patches containing estradiol 50 micrograms and levonorgestrel 7 micrograms per 24 hours.

Sobia Qasim, pharmacist at Curely , says women concerned about their next prescription should seek advice early, adding: “When you have found an HRT treatment that helps you sleep, manage hot flushes and feel more like yourself, being told it is unavailable can be unsettling.

The first step is to speak to your pharmacist while you still have some treatment left. Tell them exactly which product you use and when you will run out, so there is time to check supplies and arrange a suitable alternative if needed.”

Sobia advises having the packaging, a photograph of the dispensing label or a current repeat prescription available when contacting a pharmacy. “Give the full product name and strength, how often you change your patch and how many patches you have left. Mention any other hormones you take separately, including progesterone capsules.

"Similar-sounding names can refer to different treatments. Knowing precisely what you use helps the pharmacist check the right product and give useful advice.”

The supply notification identifies other combined patches that remain available, including Evorel Conti and certain Estradot Conti preparations. However, choosing a replacement requires consideration of the individual’s treatment and medical history.

Sobia explains: “Your pharmacist can check availability and help you understand the next step. A change may need to be agreed with your GP or HRT prescriber and require a new prescription. FemSeven Conti contains both oestrogen and a progestogen. An oestrogen-only patch is not a straightforward replacement. For most women who still have a womb, the progestogen is needed to protect the womb lining.

If you are given a different product, check when to start it, how often to change it and whether you need any separate medication. Do not assume the instructions will be the same.”

Sobia says women should avoid changing their treatment schedule themselves because they are worried about running out. “Leaving a patch on for longer than prescribed, cutting patches or skipping changes is not a reliable way to manage a shortage. Speak to your pharmacist or prescriber about a plan instead.

"If you have already run out, tell them that clearly. Do not borrow someone else’s HRT or try to work out an equivalent dose yourself.”

Stopping HRT can allow menopause symptoms to return.