The Independent Pharmacy

How to use Evorel Sequi patches

Andy Boysan
Andy BoysanBPharmGPhC 2047716Director & Superintendent Pharmacist

If you've been prescribed Evorel Sequi to treat symptoms of the menopause (like mood swings, hot flushes, osteoporosis and vaginal dryness) then you’ll want to know more about this HRT (hormone replacement therapy) and learn how to use Evorel Sequi patches.

That’s why we’ve created this guide — so that you have a clear idea of how to take the HRT correctly to alleviate menopausal symptoms and what to expect when using it, such as how long it takes to work.

Read on for some useful information on how to use Evorel Sequi and any other considerations before buying.

What is Evorel Sequi?

Evorel Sequi is a type of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that is used to treat symptoms of the menopause by replacing the hormones oestrogen and progesterone that naturally decrease during the menopause.

Evorel Sequi comes in the form of a patch that is placed on the skin, where it steadily releases hormones throughout the day which are absorbed into your bloodstream through the skin.

Evorel Sequi is a sequential hormone replacement therapy (sometimes referred to as cyclical HRT) made up of two different types of patches. One type of patch releases estradiol only (a form of oestrogen), and the other patch releases both estradiol and norethisterone (a synthetic form of progesterone).

You will use the oestrogen-only patches for the first two weeks of a treatment cycle and then switch to the combined patches for the second half of a cycle. Each patch contains enough medicine for three to four days, so they are worn for this time and then replaced with a new patch.

By alternating between these two types of patches, the hormonal changes over the menstrual cycle are closely mimicked, which eases the symptoms of the menopause.

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How do you use Evorel Sequi?

For the first two weeks, you will use the Evorel Sequi patch which only releases estradiol (a form of oestrogen). After this — for weeks 3 and 4 — you will switch to the combined hormone patch, which releases both estradiol and norethisterone (a form of progesterone).

Simply apply the patch to an area of skin that is dry, clean and hairless, and press down firmly to ensure that the patch is fully in place.

Many women choose to place the patch on the thighs or bottom, but you can also put it on your stomach. Evorel patches should not be used on or around the breasts or under elasticated parts of clothing (such as waistbands).

Each patch contains enough medicine for three to four days, so you will need to change patches twice a week. You should do this on the same two days each week. For example, you could change your Evorel patch every Monday and Thursday.

If your patch comes off at any point before it is due to be changed (it might fall off if you sweat excessively), you should replace the patch with a new one straight away. Then, when you come to your normal patch-changing day, you should change to a new patch as usual. You can — and should — leave the patch on when in the shower, bath or during exercise.

When it comes to changing patches, do not place the new patch on the exact same section of skin. Apply your new patch in a slightly different area to the last one (this will help avoid irritating the skin).

Make sure you do not leave an interval between each patch — as soon as you remove one, you should apply another one straight away.

Always use Evorel Sequi patches exactly how your doctor or pharmacist has advised you, and speak to a medical professional if you are not sure or have any questions.

Does Evorel Sequi work?

In short, yes. Evorel Sequi can be very effective and works well to treat a range of menopausal symptoms, from severe physical symptoms like hot flushes, insomnia, night sweats, osteoporosis and vaginal dryness, to distressing psychological symptoms such as mood swings, irritability and depression. Your doctor will only prescribe Evorel Sequi for you if they believe it is the best option to treat your symptoms.

Don’t just take our word for it — head over to our Evorel Sequi customer reviews page, where you can read all about the experiences of real users and discover whether they think that these HRT patches help them.

If you’ve been using Evorel Sequi for at least three months and your menopausal symptoms don’t seem to be improving (or you think they might be getting worse), then you should speak to your GP. Women using any form of HRT should have regular check-ups and review their use of HRT with a doctor at least once a year.

How long does Evorel Sequi take to work?

Evorel Sequi works very quickly to relieve symptoms of the menopause. You will generally notice significant improvement within a few weeks of using the HRT patches.

However, it can sometimes take a few months of use to feel the full effects of Evorel Sequi patches.

During this time, you may experience some side effects from using the patches as your body gets used to the medication. These don’t affect most Evorel Sequi users, and if they do occur, they are usually mild and should subside as your body gets used to the new hormone levels. You can find out more about these possible side effects on our Evorel Sequi side effects page.

If you don’t think that Evorel Sequi is working to improve your menopausal symptoms and you haven’t noticed an improvement within three months of use, you should speak to your GP. They may suggest trying an alternative HRT or a different dosage.

Can you cut Evorel Sequi patches in half?

It is not recommended by medical professionals that you cut Evorel Sequi patches in half — or any other HRT patches for that matter.

Some users cut up HRT to reduce the dose of hormones that are released into their body, particularly when they are trying to wean themselves off the patches before stopping use completely.

However, cutting up HRT patches is risky. An HRT patch contains a fixed hormone dosage that is stored in a matrix system. These hormones are released gradually throughout the day to be absorbed into your bloodstream. If you cut up the patch, you are damaging this layer and potentially damaging the patch.

This means that although it might look like you have cut your patch exactly in half, the two halves may not contain equal dosages — so the hormone levels released into your body are different every few days, which could upset the balance of hormones in your body and exacerbate menopausal symptoms.

Evorel Sequi alternatives

It can be difficult to decide between different HRTs and knowing which may be the best for you. If you are unsure which may be suitable for you, you can either speak to your GP or one of our qualified pharmacists for advice or visit our menopause treatments page for further advice.

These are the three different types of HRT treatments available:

  • Sequential or cyclical HRT (like Evorel Sequi): this form of HRT is recommended for those suffering from menopausal symptoms but still experiencing some type of menstrual cycle. These are usually monthly, but there are some three-monthly cyclical HRTs that may be recommended for those who experience irregular periods.
  • Continuous combined HRT: this form of HRT is recommended for post-menopausal women (those who haven’t had a period for over a year) and involves taking both oestrogen and progestogen every day without a break.
  • Oestrogen-only HRT: this type of HRT is only recommended for women who have had a hysterectomy as taking oestrogen on its own increases the risk of developing endometrial cancer (cancer of the womb or uterus). However, if the womb has been removed, this is no longer a concern.

The HRT treatments available from The Independent Pharmacy are:

Summary

Evorel Sequi is a sequential HRT (hormone replacement therapy) that comes in the form of patches and is used to treat menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, low libido, osteoporosis and mood swings. They are used in women who still have a womb and want a monthly bleed.

Evorel Sequi patches are easy to use and very effective at treating these severe and distressing symptoms of the menopause, with a significant improvement usually noticed within a few weeks of starting treatment.

If you have been prescribed this menopause treatment before by your GP or consultant, you can buy Evorel Sequi here from The Independent Pharmacy. All you need to do is fill in our free online consultation form; it’s quick and easy to do, and once you do, we can issue your medication for delivery the very next day.

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