Why the 'mad scramble' to fill hormone therapy prescriptions for menopause

"Over the past four to five years, demand has picked up as clinicians have familiarized themselves with current research and patients have become more interested. The shift is a turnaround from the early 2000s, when hormone therapy use plummeted following the FDA's black box warning on estrogen products, which incited grave concern among users and prescribers."

"Doctors who prescribe hormone therapy to manage menopausal symptoms report rolling shortages and delays, which are, in part, due to rising demand. Patients describe experiencing a monthly mad scramble to locate available patches, with pharmacies frequently out of stock or unable to provide consistent supplies."

Transdermal estrogen patches for menopause symptom management are experiencing widespread pharmacy shortages following the FDA's removal of the black-box warning on hormone therapy. Patients report difficulty obtaining consistent supplies, with pharmacies frequently out of stock. This shortage represents a significant reversal from the early 2000s when hormone therapy use declined sharply after the Women's Health Initiative study prompted the FDA to place a black-box warning on estrogen products due to increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, and pulmonary embolism. Recent years have seen steady growth in hormone therapy use as clinicians and patients have reviewed updated research demonstrating improved safety profiles. The FDA's removal of the black-box warning last year has accelerated this trend, driving increased demand that supply chains have struggled to meet.

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