What is Dotti?
Estradiol, also known as estrogen or female sex hormone, is produced by the ovaries. Estrogen plays a role in many bodily processes. Dotties can be used to treat menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and vaginal aridity. They also help with burning and irritation. Dotti can also be used to treat ovarian problems or prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis. Dotti can be used in other ways not mentioned in this guide.
Side effects of Dotti
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention: difficulty breathing, hives, swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat.
If you suffer from:
- Heart attack symptoms: chest pain or pressure; pain spreading into your jaw or shoulder; nausea and sweating.
- Increased blood pressure: severe headache, blurred or distorted vision, pounding of the neck and ears, anxiety, and nosebleeds;
- Signs of stroke: sudden numbness, weakness, or headache (especially one side), slurred or shaky speech, or problems with vision, balance, or coordination;
- Signs of a blood clot: sudden vision loss, stabbing pain in the chest, feeling short-of-breath, coughing blood, or pain or warmth on one or both legs.
- You may experience swelling or tenderness in your stomach.
- Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and eyes.
- Unusual vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain
- Breast lumps;
- Memory problems, confusion, and unusual behavior
- High levels of calcium in the blood can cause nausea, vomiting, constipation, or increased thirst and urination. Other symptoms include muscle weakness, bone pains, and a lack of energy.
Dotti can cause the following side effects:
- Back pain and headaches
- Sore throat, stuffy nose, and sinus pain
- Breakthrough bleeding, vaginal itching, discharge, or changes in your period
- Bloating, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting;
- Breast pain
- Redness or irritation at the site of wearing the patch;
- Hair loss on the scalp
- Fluid retention (swelling, rapid weight gain).
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Warnings
Estradiol should not be used if: you have undiagnosed vaginal blood; you have liver disease; or you have coronary artery disease. You also shouldn't use it if your surgery will require major surgery or if you have had a stroke, heart attack, blood clot, or cancer in the breast, uterus, cervix, or vagina. Do not use it if you are pregnant. Estradiol can increase your risk of developing a condition that may lead to cancer of the uterus. Do not ignore any abnormal vaginal bleeding. Dotti should not be taken to prevent stroke, dementia, or heart disease.
Before you take this drug
Estradiol should not be used if:
- Unusual vaginal bleeding not checked by a physician;
- Liver disease
- Coronary artery disease
- A bleeding disorder;
- A history of a heart attack, stroke, or blood clot
- A history of cancers of the breast, uterus, cervix, or vagina
Do not use estradiol while pregnant. Inform your doctor immediately if a pregnancy occurs during treatment. Estradiol use can increase the risk of stroke or heart attack. If you smoke, are overweight, or have high cholesterol, you're at an even greater risk. Estradiol shouldn't be used to treat heart disease, stroke, or dementia because it can actually increase the risk.
Tell your doctor about any of the following:
- Heart disease
- If you are pregnant or taking hormones, it can cause liver damage or jaundice.
- A thyroid disorder
- Gallbladder Disease
- Kidney disease
- Asthma;
- Epilepsy or another seizure disorder
- Migraine headaches
- Lupus;
- Porphyria is a genetic disorder of the enzymes that can cause symptoms in the skin and nervous system.
- Endometriosis or uterine fibroid tumors;
- High levels of calcium in the blood
- Hereditary Angioedema
Estradiol can increase the risk of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer. Speak to your doctor about the risk. Estradiol may slow down the production of breast milk. Inform your doctor that you are breastfeeding.
How to take Dotti?
Read all instructions or guides that come with your medication and follow all directions. Follow the directions on the label. The skin patch should be applied to dry, clean skin on the stomach or buttocks. The patch should be pressed firmly for 10 seconds. Each time you apply the patch, choose a different area within these areas. Use the same area of skin no more than twice in a week. Avoid skin that has been irritated or is damaged. Apply a patch of skin to your chest, but not on your breasts. Apply a patch only where it will not be rubbed away by clothing. For example, under elastic waistbands Do not cut skin patches. Try sticking the patch back in place if it falls off. If the patch does not adhere well, apply a new one to a separate area of skin and wear it for the remainder of your wear time. Keep your normal patch removal schedule. To maintain your weekly or biweekly schedule, remove the patch each week and apply a fresh one. Estradiol can increase your risk of developing a condition that may lead to uterine carcinoma. A progestin may be prescribed by your doctor to lower this risk. Any unusual vaginal bleeding should be reported immediately.
You may have to temporarily stop using Dotti if you are going to be undergoing major surgery or on long-term rest. You should let any doctor or surgeon that treats you know you use estradiol. You should have your doctor check on you regularly to see if this treatment is still appropriate. You should self-examine for lumps in your breasts every month and get regular mammograms when using Dotti. Store patches away from moisture or heat at room temperature. Store each patch in the pouch until ready to use. Fold the skin patch in half after removing it. This will help it stick together. The folded patch should be thrown away in an area that children and pets can't reach.
What happens if I miss the dose?
You can change the patch as soon as possible if you forgot, or you can wait until your next scheduled patch replacement. Apply only one patch at a time.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.
What should be avoided?
Smoking is harmful. Estradiol can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, or blood clots. Avoid grapefruit products, as they may cause unwanted side effects. Avoid grapefruit products. If you use creams, powders, or lotions to apply the patch to your skin, it might not adhere.
Interaction with other drug
It is sometimes not safe to take certain medications together. Some drugs may affect the blood levels of drugs that you are taking, causing side effects or making them less effective. Estradiol can be affected by other drugs, such as prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Inform your doctor of all the medicines you are currently taking and those that you have started or stopped using.
