Compare Combipatch vs. Prefest
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Treats low estrogen and relieves menopause symptoms.
Combipatch (estradiol / norethindrone patch) is a twice weekly patch that effectively treats menopause and causes less blood clots or stroke than combination pills.
Relieves menopause symptoms and lowers your risk of osteoporosis.
Prefest (Estradiol / Norgestimate) is effective at treating symptoms related to menopause and bone loss. It has a difficult dosing schedule to follow, but doesn't affect your cholesterol and triglyceride levels as much as other estrogen products.
Upsides
- Twice weekly patch. Good for people who don't want to take daily pills.
- Replenishes estrogen to your whole body and relieves multiple symptoms due to low estrogen (hot flashes, vaginal dryness).
- Less likely to cause blood clots or stroke than pills since patches contain a lower amount of hormones.
- Good for women with an intact uterus.
- You can bathe, shower, and swim while wearing the patch, as long as you don't rub the patch.
- Prefest (Estradiol / Norgestimate) replenishes estrogen to your whole body and relieves multiple symptoms due to low estrogen (hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness).
- Lowers your risk of fractures by keeping your bones healthy. Make sure you also get enough calcium and Vitamin D.
- Improves mood, energy, and mental alertness for some people.
- Good for women with an intact uterus. The norgestimate (a progestin) protects against the risk of cancer in the uterus caused by estrogen treatment.
- Doesn't affect your cholesterol levels as much as other estrogen treatments.
Downsides
- More potential side effects than single ingredient medications since it exposes your whole body to two hormones.
- You may get irregular bleeding and spotting that can last a few months to a year.
- The patch can't be exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time.
- Can be expensive since it's only available as a brand name product.
- More potential side effects since it exposes your whole body to two hormones, estrogen and norgestimate (a progestin).
- Dosing schedule can be hard to follow with the 2 different kind of pills (estrogen-only and estrogen/progestin pills).
- Increases your risk of developing blood clots and stroke.
- You may get irregular bleeding and spotting that can last a few months to a year.
Used for
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness and inflammation
- Low estrogen
- Primary ovarian failure
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Vaginal dryness and inflammation
- Prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis
Dosage forms
- Patch
- Pill
Price
Lowest price
$247.56
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$192.00
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Side effects
24possible side effects
- Breast pain25%
- Menstrual cramps20%
- Headache18%
- Back pain11%
- Nausea11%
- Flu like symptoms9%
- Weakness8%
- Abnormal pap smear8%
- Stomach pain7%
- Lung problems7%
- Stuffy nose7%
- Pain6%
- Menstrual problems6%
- Vaginal inflammation6%
- Vaginal discharge5%
- Accidental injury4%
- Diarrhea4%
- Gas4%
- Sore throat4%
- Sinus infection4%
- Depression3%
- Trouble sleeping3%
- Nervousness3%
- Skin irritation2%
22possible side effects
- Headache23%
- Upper respiratory-tract infection21%
- Breast pain16%
- Back pain12%
- Abdominal pain12%
- Influenza-like symptoms11%
- Arthralgia9%
- Vaginal bleeding (all)9%
- Dysmenorrhea8%
- Sinusitis8%
- Vaginitis7%
- Pharyngitis7%
- Fatigue6%
- Pain6%
- Nausea6%
- Viral infection6%
- Flatulence5%
- Tooth disorder5%
- Myalgia5%
- Dizziness5%
- Depression5%
- Coughing5%
Risks and risk factors
- Endometrial cancer
- Using estrogen for more than one year
- Breast cancer
- Personal or family history of breast cancer
- Using estrogen for more than one year
- Increased risk of blood clots and stroke
- Personal or family history of blood clots
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Dementia
- Aged 65 or older
- Pancreas swelling (pancreatitis)
- High levels of triglycerides
- Gallbladder problems
- Endometrial cancer
- Using estrogen for more than one year
- Breast cancer
- Personal or family history of breast cancer
- Duration of use
- Increased risk of blood clots and stroke
- Personal or family history of blood clots
- Obesity
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Harm to fetus
- Women of childbearing age
- Pancreas swelling (pancreatitis)
- High levels of triglycerides
- Ovarian cancer
- Family history of ovarian cancer