Current status
Which HRT patches are in shortage?
| Patch | Status | Estimated return to supply |
|---|---|---|
| Estradot 25 / 50 / 75 / 100 | In shortage | 31 December 2026 |
| Estradot 37.5 | Resolved | Normal supply |
| Estraderm MX 50 / 100 | In shortage | 30 October 2026 |
| Estraderm MX 25 / 75 | Resolved | Normal supply |
| Estalis Sequi 50/140 and 50/250; Estalis Continuous 50/140 and 50/250 | Resolved | Normal supply |
Source: Therapeutic Goods Administration shortage information and PBS guidance for medicines subject to a Serious Scarcity Substitution Instrument. Checked 28 September 2026. Estimated supply dates and subsidy arrangements may change.
Patch changed brand or strength? Keep your prescription details together
During a shortage
What happens if my HRT patch is not available?
Until 28 February 2027, a Serious Scarcity Substitution Instrument allows your pharmacist to supply an alternative without you going back to your doctor for a new prescription, where the permitted circumstances are met.
They may supply a different brand of patch that releases the same amount of estradiol per day, or two packs of a half-strength patch to be used together to provide the prescribed daily amount. Your pharmacist can explain what applies to you.
This means three things can change without your prescription changing: the brand on the box, the strength printed on each patch, and how many patches are used together.
Brand can change
The box may show a different brand.
Strength can change
You may be supplied a half-strength patch under the permitted substitution rules.
Pack count can change
The number of patches supplied can differ.
PBS and repeats
Does substitution affect my PBS subsidy?
It can, and this is an important detail to check before a substitute is dispensed.
Estraderm MX 75 is not PBS-listed. If it is supplied as a substitute against a PBS prescription, you will not receive the PBS subsidy for it.
Estramon, an overseas-registered patch approved to help ease the shortage, is not PBS-subsidised when supplied under the SSSI. Its packs contain 24 patches rather than the 8 in the Australian products. A new prescription is needed for Estramon to be PBS-subsidised.
There is a further consequence: when a PBS prescription is dispensed privately, it can affect how the remaining repeats on that prescription are dispensed under the PBS later.
A substitution can change what you pay and what happens to your remaining repeats. Ask your pharmacist to explain the cost and repeat implications for the alternative being supplied.
MediRemind Scripts
Your patch changed. Keep the new prescription details organised.
Prescription · Repeats · Expiry · Schedule
During the shortage your pharmacy may supply a different brand, a different strength, or two patches instead of one. MediRemind helps keep your current prescription, repeats, expiry date and schedule together, so you can check the details you recorded and when you may need to arrange the next prescription.
30-day trial, then a subscription · iPhone and Android
Answers to common questions
Frequently asked questions
How long will the HRT patch shortage last in Australia?
Return-to-supply dates differ by product. Estradot 25, 50, 75 and 100 are listed to 31 December 2026, and Estraderm MX 50 and MX 100 to 30 October 2026. Estradot 37.5, Estraderm MX 25, Estraderm MX 75 and all Estalis patches are recorded as back in normal supply. Dates are estimates published by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and can change.
Can my pharmacist change my HRT patch without a new prescription?
The TGA's Serious Scarcity Substitution Instrument is in effect until 28 February 2027. Where the permitted circumstances are met, your pharmacist can supply an alternative brand or strength without a new prescription from your doctor. They should explain any differences between the products before you leave.
Why was I given two patches instead of one?
The substitution rules include permitted situations where two packs of a half-strength patch of the same brand and strength are supplied to be used together. Ask your pharmacist to confirm how many patches to apply and how often.
Can I cut an estradiol patch in half?
No. Do not cut an estradiol patch to make up a dose; cutting can affect how the medicine is absorbed through your skin. If your strength is unavailable, speak with your pharmacist about an approved alternative.
Will I pay more for a substitute HRT patch?
Sometimes. Estraderm MX 75 is not PBS-listed, so if it is supplied as a substitute against a PBS prescription, it will not receive the PBS subsidy. Estramon is not PBS-subsidised when supplied under the SSSI because its packs contain 24 patches rather than 8; a new prescription is needed for Estramon to be PBS-subsidised. Private dispensing of a PBS prescription can also affect how future repeats are dispensed under the PBS. Ask your pharmacist about any cost or repeat implications.
What if my usual HRT patch is unavailable?
Your pharmacist can explain whether an approved alternative brand or strength can be supplied under the substitution rules. If substitution is not suitable for you, they may refer you back to your prescriber. Other forms of hormone replacement therapy, including tablets, gels and pessaries, are options to discuss with your doctor.
Which HRT patches are back in normal supply?
Estradot 37.5, Estraderm MX 25, Estraderm MX 75, Estalis Sequi 50/140 and 50/250, and Estalis Continuous 50/140 and 50/250 are recorded as back in normal supply.
Keep your prescription details together
Managing a prescription through the shortage?
Keep your script, repeats, expiry date and schedule in one place.
This page summarises public TGA and PBS shortage guidance, not individual medical advice. Supply dates and PBS arrangements can change. Speak with your pharmacist or prescriber about your circumstances.