Dotti and Hot Flashes: What Users Say

• Pit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2023

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "This experience has been extremely unpleasant. All of my cardiac, vaginal, urinary, sleep, agitation, and hot flash symptoms have returned. I strongly believe that this medication should not have been approved by the FDA for use in the United States. The prescribing information says that 'No studies were conducted,' yet the medication uses a different adhesive to hold the micronized estrogen and has smaller dimensions than Vivelle Dot. As a retired pharmacist, I am angry that I am having to go through this situation again. It is frustrating that despite the ratio of surface area, mg's in the 'glue,' and dose being a 1:1 relationship, this medication was still allowed on the market with all of these differences. I have already made a formal complaint to the FDA, and I encourage others to do the same. Please call 1-800-FDA-1088 or report online at accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/. The struggle is real, and action needs to be taken."

• Iha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2021

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "At the start of this year, my pharmacy began sending me Dotti patches instead of the ones I had been using. Gradually, my symptoms reappeared: unprovoked bouts of anger and irritability, mood instability, hair loss, and extreme skin dryness. Then came bouts of darker depression. I wondered if it was the change in patch manufacturer, but brushed it off. Then came the hot flashes and the night sweats; these progressed to full-on night drenching. Finally, I knew this wasn’t normal, began researching, and that led me to this review site. I am so grateful other women are reporting this because I was starting to think I was crazy! Thank you to the women who took the time to post experiences here. I just picked up patches from my old manufacturer, thankfully, and slapped one on. For years, the other manufacturer gave me relief. I’m so happy to be back on that. Dotti was completely ineffective for me."

• Kim...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 25, 2025

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "I'm 56, been postmenopausal since I was 46. I'd suffered such terrible hot flashes since I was 42. I just figured it was par for the course...but the hot flashes were so bad that I'd never had a full night's sleep since they started. Lack of sleep snowballs into a myriad of bad symptoms, brain fog, crappy memory, mood swings, zero libido...etc. I even lost my job because my memory was that bad! This went on and on until I seriously couldn't live like that anymore. So almost 2 years ago, I gave in and talked to my gyno, who immediately started me on the lowest dose Estradiol patch along with a progesterone gel cap. I felt relief after the first week! Hot flashes went away, and I felt like I had my life back. My dosages had to be tweaked along the way. Now the patches aren't strong enough, and I'm starting on a 2 mg estrogen pill. HRT is NOT the horrible drug they assumed back in the 70s. It's a lifesaver! And it's covered 100% by Wellpoint Insurance (NJ Medicaid), so there's no excuse!"

• Suz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2023

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "My pharmacy changed to Dotti brand manufacturer at the end of November 2022. I loved how the estrogen patch was smaller and less visible. However, my postmenopausal symptoms started back within three weeks of beginning the Dotti patch. I had increasing hot flashes, dry skin, brain fog, and fatigue. I scheduled an appointment with my OB/GYN in February to have my hormone levels rechecked. She discovered I had almost NO estrogen in my system. NONE. She said my body was not absorbing the medication. However, I have not had problems absorbing any other brand over the last 4 1/2 years. The Dotti brand estrogen patch was useless for me. I had to switch pharmacies to use a different manufacturer."

• Hot...
• September 2, 2020

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "Been having major hot flashes, lack of sleep for 2 years. Just was given Dotti 0.25 mg patch. On my 7th day and I notice a difference. Not flashing as often, and I have actually slept the past couple of nights. I go see my doctor tomorrow for a follow-up. My only concern is the risk of cancer. I will discuss this tomorrow. My mood has also improved! So far, very happy with this."

• KPa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2021

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "I was so relieved to find these reviews. My doctor uses another pharmacy for 'ease' and, as a result, I got the Dotti Estradiol patch. I used it for four days. It does not work. I got hot flashes, red patches, mood swings -- the works. It felt like life was so bleak. Less than 10 hours back on Sandoz and things are looking up again. Red patches gone. No hot flashes... Why do they even make this patch?!"

• Pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2021

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "I had a terrible vasomotor reaction. First and last time I used it, after 18 hours, the patch bottomed out, and I started having hot flashes. I was shaking, had a brain-buster headache, and severe nausea. Fortunately, I still had some of my generic Noven patches left over. I ripped off the Dotti and put on the one I usually used, and within 30 minutes, I was fine. Dotti is garbage, yet pharmacies are pushing it right now. Must be getting paid to do so."

• Ann...
• August 21, 2020

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "This patch was forced on me by my pharmacy, saying it worked the same as my other brand patches, but that was not true. After a week of using them, I started having horrible hot flashes and could not sleep. A waste of money. I went back to my regular ones and lost the money I paid for the Dotti."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 1, 2019

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "This Dotti patch doesn’t work! Provided no relief. Went from a stable estrogen level on another brand to 43 by the time I quit it. It doesn’t work. Went back to the other brand and instantly got relief from hot flashes and mood instability."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2023

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "This patch is horrible. I have scar marks from where the patch was placed on my inner thighs. My allergies are out of control. My irritability and hot flashes are back. I’m so angry that my pharmacy switched from Vivelle Dot to this patch when I found out I switched to another pharmacy, and they also sent me the Dotti patch. My insurance pays for name-brand medication, so this is completely unacceptable. I’ve asked the pharmacist in the past if this is the same medication, and they say they use the exact same quantities of the drug as the name-brand. I do not recommend this product."

• Not...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 10, 2022

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "Was on the Vivelle patch for many years and then Estradiol when it was available as a generic. Last fall, my med insurance changed and so did my mail-order prescription plan. Was automatically sent the Dotti patch. Started having symptoms I didn't relate to the patch until I made a connection and found this site - vivid, odd dreams, hot flashes, night sweats, and general irritability (hadn't had this for years on the other patches). Finally got my doctor to request the generic patch only. Of course, suddenly, it's not available through mail order, and I have to get it at a local pharmacy for more than twice the cost, and it's generic. But it's worth it."

• Jad...
• June 24, 2021

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "My pharmacy replaced my Mylan estradiol patch with Dotti. Within 2 days, I had spotting and then hot flashes. Within a week, I was waking nightly at 4 a.m. and unable to sleep with constant temperature changes during the day. I had two remaining patches of the old brand that I had in my travel bag. I used them, and the symptoms abated. I've had to switch pharmacies, but my ob-gyn was able to help find a provider and specified the brand."

• bev...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2023

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "I came to this site because I was searching for reviews of this estradiol patch. I felt it was reducing the severity of my hot flashes, but not as much as I expected. Reading these reviews has confirmed my belief that this patch is not very effective. I'm going to search for an alternative."