CLEVELAND, Ohio — More women than ever are using estrogen patches for relief from menopause symptoms, and demand is so high that manufacturers aren’t able to cope.
Pharmacies across the country and in Northeast Ohio have reported shortages of the popular twice-weekly patches, forcing some patients to search multiple drug store locations, switch brands or turn to other forms of relief.
The shortage began after federal agencies removed a long-standing black box warning on menopause hormone therapy in late 2025. With the warning gone, more physicians felt comfortable writing prescriptions for estrogen patches…