Patch adhesive?

[Lauren5]

This is the third time in three days that my patch is starting to come off. The first time it was 6 days into the 7 day cycle. The second one didn't even last 12 hours, and fell off in the shower. This one is having issues and it's been on probably about 18-20 hours or so now. Is it OK to use medical tape to hold it in place? or is this something I should bring up with my doctor?

[Cindy]

I have implants, but I would tape the buggas on!

[TaoRaven]

Huh....never had that problem. I would just tape it on though.
The ones I use stay on a little TOO well....it is a royal pain to get them off every Friday morning to put a new one on.

[Veronica M]

I had the same issue with the nicotine patch. I just threw some medical tape on it.

[Missy~rmdlm]

I know an individual that gets the namebrand stuff(vivelle?) simply because the generic won't stay stuck for her. That's all there is to it.

[allisonsteph]

My doctor advised against using medical tape and offered to prescribe a different patch that may stick better. He also recommended (as did the pharmacist) wearing them on the back of the shoulder because they are more likely to stick there than on the abdomen or buttocks.

[Lauren5]

I shall ask my doctor about it, perhaps a different brand is in order. I'll also ask her if it's OK to wear it elsewhere. Back of the shoulder is not ideal for me due to hair and acne/eczema/rash/whatever, and I can't reach it very well.
Currently I have it on my lower back, as it wasn't sticking so great on the lower abdomen.
In the meantime though, I'm going to have to tape it down so it doesn't fall off and I go onto my fourth patch in just over a week when the box was supposed to last me a whole month. Would also have to move up my reeval and blood test up nearly another month (shiver)

[Flan]

Slap some tegaderm on it and it'll be good assuming the skin is hair free and clean otherwise.

[FrancisAnn]

Little dot patches stick like glue & last thru anything.

[Lauren5]

Well, the medical tape didn't help. And now, assuming this next patch lasts me a whole week, I'm still be halt two weeks early picking up the next box. This is very frustrating to both me and my bank account.
Going to call my doctor once her office opens and ask how to proceed.

[JLT1]

Tape and tagaderm. may hold it on but it needs to be fully in contact over the entire surface, not just the edges.  Contact both DR an pharmaceutical company.   Request replacement.   Send mail to FDA. or rother national regulatory body. complaining about problem.   They should replace for free.

Hugs,

Jen

[Jenna Marie]

I used surgical tape, and I've also heard a lot of recs for Tegaderm.

But I'm one of those who switched to Vivelle Dot b/c the adhesive is so much better. Even with insurance Vivelle is more expensive, but it was worth it to me; they're super tiny and stay stuck, plus they're intended to be changed every 3.5 days so the boxes are packaged with that in mind.

[Lauren5]

The response from the doctor's office was to try Tegaderm for now, and the doctor would check on other solutions.
It could be that my skin doesn't sit right with the adhesive.
The patch is approxamently 4in in diameter, so I'll have to get the 4*4 Tegaderm squares at CVS for $15 for a box of 4. If it's what's required, I have to spend for it.

[FrancisAnn]

Estradot patches are very small, less than an inch wide, stick like glue, lasts for 3 & one half days.

[Jenna Marie]

(incidentally, Estradot and Vivelle Dot are both made by Novartis - Estradot is the Canadian brand name, but they're both the same patch using the same adhesive.)

[Constance]

I found these large band-aid type things that would fit over the patch and would protect it from water. They did a really good job holding the patches in place.

Eventually I switched to oral HRT as the adhesive on the patches (even though it didn't seem to hold all that well) gave me a nasty rash.