skip to content
Dovepress - Open Access to Scientific and Medical Research
View our mobile site

8852

Transdermal hormone therapy in postmenopausal women: A review of metabolic effects and drug delivery technologies

Review

(3422) Views  (770) Full article downloads

Authors: Nathan W Kopper, Jennifer Gudeman

Published Date October 2008 Volume 2008:2 Pages 193 - 202
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S4146

Nathan W Kopper, Jennifer Gudeman, Daniel J Thompson

KV Pharmaceutical, St. Louis, MO, USA

Abstract: Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) associated with menopause can cause significant discomfort and decrease the quality of life for women in the peri-menopausal and post-menopausal stages of life. Hormone therapy (HT) is the mainstay of treatment for menopausal symptoms and is currently the only therapy proven effective for VMS. Numerous HT options are available to treat VMS, including estrogen-only and estrogen-progestogen combination products to meet the needs of both hysterectomized and nonhysterectomized women. In addition to selecting an appropriate estrogen or estrogen-progestogen combination, consideration should be given to the route of administration to best suit the needs of the patient. Delivery systems for hormone therapy include oral tablets, transdermal patches, transdermal topical (nonpatch) products, and intravaginal preparations. Oral is currently the most commonly utilized route of administration in the United States. However, evidence suggests that oral delivery may lead to some undesirable physiologic effects caused by significant gut and hepatic metabolism. Transdermal drug delivery may mitigate some of these effects by avoiding gut and hepatic first-pass metabolism. Advantages of transdermal delivery include the ability to administer unmetabolized estradiol directly to the blood stream, administration of lower doses compared to oral products, and minimal stimulation of hepatic protein production. Several estradiol transdermal delivery technologies are available, including various types of patches, topical gels, and a transdermal spray.

Keywords: estradiol, hormone therapy, menopause, transdermal drug delivery, vasomotor symptoms








Readers of this article also read:

Severe toxicity of skin rash, fever and diarrhea associated with imatinib: case report and review of skin toxicities associated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors
Development and targeted use of nilotinib in chronic myeloid leukemia
Once-daily transdermal rivastigmine in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
Radiolucency below the crown of mandibular horizontal incompletely impacted third molars and acute inflammation in men with diabetes
Role of aliskiren in cardio-renal protection and use in hypertensives with multiple risk factors
Selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women: focus on lasofoxifene
The role of transdermal estrogen sprays and estradiol topical emulsion in the management of menopause-associated vasomotor symptoms
Weight gain since menopause and its associations with weight loss maintenance in obese postmenopausal women
Emerging options in growth hormone therapy: an update
Treatment for primary hypothyroidism: current approaches and future possibilities
  • Testimonials

    "... I was impressed at the rapidity of publication from submission to final acceptance." Dr Edwin Thrower, PhD, Yale University