Compare Minivelle vs. Climara
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Relieves menopause symptoms.
The Minivelle (estradiol patch) is the mini-me of estrogen patches. It's used twice a week, available in five strengths, and has the least amount of skin irritation.
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4.2/ 5 average rating with 17 reviewsforMinivelle
Treats low estrogen, relieves menopause symptoms, and lowers your risk of osteoporosis.
Climara (estradiol patch) is a treatment for low estrogen that is used only once weekly, and it may have fewer side effects than oral estrogen pills.
Upsides
- Minivelle (estradiol patch) is the smallest estrogen patch available. It's the size a dime and comes in 5 different strengths.
- Causes little or no skin irritation and doesn't leave much adhesive on your skin.
- Minivelle (estradiol patch) replaces estrogen to your whole body and relieves many symptoms due to low estrogen, like hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
- By using a patch instead of a pill, there's a lower risk of side effects such as blood clots and stroke since lower amounts of estrogen are used in patches.
- Lowers your risk of fractures by keeping your bones healthy.
- Climara (estradiol patch) replaces estrogen to your whole body and relieves many symptoms due to low estrogen, like hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
- The patch is good for people who don't want to or can't take daily pills.
- Climara (estradiol patch) is available as a generic product, which lowers the cost.
- By using a patch instead of a pill, there's a lower risk of side effects such as blood clots and stroke since lower amounts of estrogen are used in patches.
- Lowers your risk of fractures by keeping your bones healthy.
Downsides
- You need to replace Minivelle (estradiol patch) twice a week, compared to other patches that are once a week.
- Patches can fall off.
- Increases your risk of uterine and breast cancer.
- Increases your risk of developing blood clots and stroke.
- Can worsen other health conditions, like high cholesterol, asthma, diabetes, fluid retention, and migraines.
- Can't be used in people with liver problems.
- The patch can fall off, especially if you like to regularly swim, take baths or use saunas or steamrooms.
- Increases your risk of uterine and breast cancer.
- If you have your uterus, you have to use the Climara (estradiol patch) with another hormone called progestin to lower your risk of uterine cancer.
- Can worsen other health conditions, like high cholesterol, asthma, diabetes, fluid retention, underactive thyroid and migraines.
- If you're only having vaginal dryness or inflammation and not hot flashes, it's better to use creams that you can apply to the affected area instead of Climara (estradiol patch).
Used for
- Hot flashes
- Prevention of bone thinning in postmenopausal women
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Vaginal dryness and inflammation
- Low estrogen
- Ovarian failure
- Prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis
Dosage forms
- Patch
- Patch
Price
Lowest price
$31.25
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$31.25
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Reviews
17 reviews so far
82%
saidit'sworth it
76%
saiditworked well
18%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Minivelle (estradiol patch)?
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Side effects
20possible side effects
- Headache26%
- Breast pain13%
- Back pain11%
- Menstrual bleeding11%
- Influenza8%
- Common cold8%
- Nausea5%
- Pain5%
- Sinus infection5%
- Lung infection5%
- Neck pain5%
- Limb pain5%
- Sinus congestion5%
- Joint pain4%
- Depression3%
- Constipation2%
- Flu-like symptoms2%
- Sinus headache2%
- Anxiety2%
- Trouble sleeping2%
16possible side effects
- Breast pain28%
- Lung infection17%
- Stomach pain16%
- Headache13%
- Pain11%
- Swelling of arms and legs10%
- Back pain9%
- Depression8%
- Gas7%
- White or yellow vaginal discharge7%
- Sore throat7%
- Nausea6%
- Stuffy nose6%
- Joint pain5%
- Sinus infection5%
- Itchiness3%
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)
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Smoking
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar
- High cholesterol
- Age 50 or older
- Dementia
- Age 65 or older
- Pancreas swelling (pancreatitis)
- High levels of triglycerides
- 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)
- Increased risk of heart disease
- Smoking
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar
- High cholesterol
- Age 50 or older
- Dementia
- Age 65 or older
- Pancreas swelling (pancreatitis)
- High levels of triglycerides