Estradiol and Mood Swings: What Users Say

• Jay...
• October 14, 2020

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "First of all, I think I live in a lucky country, Australia, and only pay $22 for a 1-month supply, and that’s without insurance. I found clear adhesive surgical patches and whack 'em over the top, and it does the job. Mine stays on all week. I do find by day 5 and 6 it’s wearing off, I’m an emotional wreck. I’m on 50 so might have to change it by day 4 or get a higher dose. Only been on the patches for 8 weeks, and if I don’t get this dosage right, I might end up doing time, lol. All I know is in my next life I want to come back as a man!"

• Tho...
• November 8, 2020

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I would not recommend generic estradiol patch by Mylan. It is a total waste of money. I was given Vivelle-Dot after surgery. It worked great, the brain fog and the mood swings disappeared. I could tolerate myself and my family. My husband and kids would tell me that I seemed happier. I really felt like a brand new person. Over the years, the cost, even with insurance, just gradually went up and now my insurance doesn't pay at all. So the pharmacy switched me to Mylan, the generic. This patch wouldn't stay on for more than a couple of hours before I had to tape it on. The feelings of being on edge, anxiety, mood swings, anger, fatigue, and hot flashes were unbearable. Vivelle-Dot by Novartis is the only one I have found that I can take. I'm now having to have my doctor put brand name only so the pharmacy will fill it, and I have to pay out of pocket for them at $206 a box. The pharmacist keeps trying to switch me back to generic. I keep telling them it's like throwing money away if it doesn't work."

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

Estradiol 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

Estradiol 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!"

• Lda...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2016

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "I have been on this 1 mg pill a day for 1 month. I could not stand my mood swings, irritable, my husband said I was a completely different person, just after a month. My insurance does pay. I only have to pay 8 dollars a month for it my husband said he would pay 100.00 dollars for it lol plus I have lost weight on it also very happy with it saved my marriage."

• Ter...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 27, 2022

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I am 65 yo. I have no uterus but both ovaries. Menopause began around 55. Severe mood swings, disabling hot flashes all day and night, unable to sleep, severe brain fog (I couldn't put two sentences together), dry skin. I was miserable. My poor husband. I went to 6 female doctors (I figured a male doc would be clueless), always asking the front desk if the doctor treated menopause...they usually have no idea and just say yes. I actually had one ob/gyn tell me she doesn't do menopause, she just delivers babies. Finally, with some luck and persistence, I found one. I began Vivelle-Dot estradiol transdermal patch system 2 times a week. .025, no effect. .050, no effect. .075...boom. Within 3 days no hot flashes, within a week no mood swings & fog cleared. Dry skin gone. Went on Medicare. Medicare wouldn't cover it. I appealed. My doctor appealed. I went back to miserable for 4 months. They wanted me to pay $580 for 3 months supply. Generic off-brand labels want me to pay $68 per month."

• Noo...
• August 16, 2015

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I have tried all the Sequi and Conti HRT tablets, and the best was Femoston Conti, which I was on for a year before it started giving me bad side effects such as painful breasts and mood swings. Now on Estradot 50 patch with Utrogestan capsules 200 per day for 2 weeks of the cycle. Feel fantastic and know I will be on these for a long time. I am 54."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2016

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "I have been using estradiol for a week now, and I only wish I would have gone and seen my doctor sooner. After one day, I could tell a difference with my moods. I don't feel so wired or on edge anymore. I did not notice my mood swings, but I'm sure my family did...lol My hot flashes are gone. Thank you!"

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

Estradiol 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?!"

• Lit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2021

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "One week using Dotti, experienced marked increase in vasomotor symptoms, mood swings only relieved by switching to another manufacturer. Amneal representative stated to me it's not in their policy to replace. Let the buyer beware!"

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

Estradiol 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."

• LKa...
• November 12, 2020

Estradiol "I am taking estradiol for Turner syndrome. The pharmacy OscoDrug switched from Mylan 0.025 generic estradiol patch to Dotti with terrible side effects including local redness and itching, as well as systemic ones: increased migraine frequency, depression, mood swings, fatigue, generalized malaise, and body aches. Mylan had some of these but to a lesser extent. The insurance will not cover Vivelle-Dot brand name, it seems that's the best on the market so far. We'll go through the appeal process. Generally, insurance and the pharmacy both want to push a cheap variation like Dotti. You need to fight for Vivelle-Dot like for everything that's right, don't give up, it's all worth it!"

• Mz ...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 1, 2015

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I started using Eva Mist after a hysterectomy. I saw results after a week of using one spray each morning. No more hot flashes, the night sweats are minimal, the vaginal dryness is much better, and the mood swings are improved. I'm no longer suffering from insomnia. After about a year, some of my symptoms started to recur, so my doctor increased my dosage to 2 sprays each morning. I was worried about taking HRT, but my doctor evaluates my continued use, and I keep up on my yearly well-woman exam. The benefits from such a small dose have been amazing."

• Dif...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 10, 2024

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I have gone through multiple Mylan generics as well as Lyllana, and none of them work for me. The only thing that keeps me from raging, horrible smells, horrible body aches, and loss of memory is Dotti. I don't have hot flashes, though I have night sweats periodically (Get the BedJet, never slept better!) My symptoms are more along the odder ones: itchy ears, a burning chemical smell that burns my nose, skin sensations like being itchy when nothing is there, hearing sounds that no one else does, weakness, severe fatigue, mood swings, rages, irritability, just overall malaise. If I change from Dotti, it all comes back. I had rashes under some of the other brands of patches, others didn't stick. I am a person who can't take any generic or store brand medications. I usually take 4-5 different generics before I find one that works and doesn't make me suicidal, so I know I'm not like most people. But I would lose my life if they take Dotti away, I can't survive without my Dotti estradiol."

• Lot...
• October 6, 2020

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "No problems with Climara .01 mg weekly patch, cut in thirds, so I pay less and it lasts longer. Remarkable improvements in stabilizing my mood. Have used it for over a decade. I tried a Climara Pro Combi-Patch, had severe mood swings. I tried the Mylan generic estradiol patch substitute for Climara, and it fell off after 2-3 days. Label says 'don't get it wet.' -- are people not supposed to shower? Terrible company, they are the ones who hiked the price on the EpiPen. I swim, the only way to keep the Mylan patch on was to put an adhesive bandage/tape over the entire thing. It does not have adhesive over the entire surface, only in a ring around the edge. (I bet Climara has a patent on the adhesive system; estradiol is a cheap natural hormone, so the profits are derived from the 'delivery system.') I have to go through HOURS of time on the phone with my insurance to get this approved every time."

• jon...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 29, 2022

For Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy "I take two 0.1 mg estradiol patches changed bi-weekly. It is equivalent to 4-6 mg of estradiol. My skin is softer, and I am more emotional. Lint gathers around the edges of the patch, but that is a necessary evil in order to get estrogen through the skin. I have tried many areas on my body. The only spot that clothing does not rub against or that people can see is my pubic area. Each side is shaved before applying the patch. I alternate sides every 3 days. Any questions, please contact me:"

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2021

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "I am only one month in with Dottie, however, the difference for me has been nothing short of incredible! Within one hour of applying the patch, it was almost like the world seemed brighter. I was changing sheets in the middle of the night from night sweats, spending 40% of my life surviving hot flashes while others were surviving me, and was truly the prime example of a postmenopausal woman for the past seven years of my life. I was prescribed the Dotti patch and progesterone capsules to be taken nightly one month ago. I will say the first few days I fought a bit of nausea, have had trouble sleeping two nights, and have gotten a little emotional a time or two, but hot flashes have diminished to almost nonexistent. I have not had bad night sweats in three-plus weeks, and my moods are much more stable than before the hormone therapy. This is just my experience so far. Hope it helps! P.S. It is not pretty, I agree. I just try to conceal or put a pretty band-aid over it."

• smb...
• October 16, 2013

Estradiol for Postmenopausal Symptoms "At the age of 28, I had a hysterectomy. After years of taking different kinds of hormones, my doctor gave me Femtrace. In January 2013, I was told they quit making it. I have tried several other medications, but nothing works like Femtrace. I have put on 14 pounds, have severe hot flashes, mood swings, joint pain, and do not want to do anything at all. Just do not know what to do."

• Gai...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 30, 2021

Estradiol for Oophorectomy "Been using this patch for almost 20 years now. It has helped me tremendously! No hot flashes! No weight gain! No bad mood swings. After my surgery when I was 29, this patch has made my life through the years so much better. Thankful us ladies have this when our bodies can't make what it needs to."

• Fee...
• March 21, 2008

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "After 3 years of using the generic Estradiol patch, I cannot imagine life without it! First year of use, experienced an average of one hot flash a month, very few night sweats, and no more mood swings. The following year, put on a lower dose and haven't had a hot flash in over a year. Drastic improvement in my quality of life."

• KWa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2021

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "So thankful I finally went on this patch to manage my menopause symptoms, which were: stress incontinence, sore joints in knees, hips, and ankles, hot flushes, mood swings. I am telling you that the difference this has made for me is worth the risks... I just can't believe how much I suffered prior to the patch."

• Rea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 13, 2018

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "Severe hot flashes and mood swings every time I tried to get off Premarin. My doctor introduced me to the Estradiol Patch, and I love the way my symptoms vanished. My only negative is at rare times the patch will not stay on. If I use a new one, I fall behind in treatments and cannot replace refills within the time space."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 24, 2022

Estradiol for Oophorectomy "Had the Doti patch, which worked wonders, then my pharmacy stopped carrying it and switched me to Sandoz without notice. I wasn’t happy with the larger-sized patch but needed them, so I kept them. From the first Sandoz patch, I noticed that they weren’t adhering as well and didn’t want to stay on. Then, a couple of weeks into them, I started getting the occasional night sweat. A month into them, and I can tell my hormones aren’t staying consistent, as I’ve become emotional and started having bouts of crying. My skin is drying out as another indicator that these aren’t working properly, and my libido is all over the place."

• Swe...
• January 2, 2018

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "I was put on estradiol when I was 38 after a hysterectomy. I had no problems with it. I recently weaned myself off of it. I have felt horrible ever since: hot flashes, mood swings, depression, and anxiety. I was on it for almost 17 years."

• pmb...
• November 26, 2019

For Postmenopausal Symptoms "I've been perimenopausal since I was 24. The patch I wore in my 30s was great. Wish I remembered what it was! This estradiol patch might as well be a placebo for all the good it's done me. Meanwhile, the hot flashes, the mood swings, good grief!"