The long-term tolerability and efficacy of OESCLIM: results of a 1-year study

A 1-year, open-label, non-comparative study evaluated the long-term tolerability and acceptability of a new generation matrix patch in post menopausal women with estrogen deficiency.

Menopausal women (224) from 37 centres in five European countries received OESCLIM 50 microg/d (17-beta estradiol) for 3 months, titrated if necessary to either 25 or 100 microg/d for a further 9 months. Patients received either a continuous or discontinuous estradiol regimen with concomitant sequential progestogen (except hysterectomised patients). Skin tolerability was assessed by patient diaries and questionnaires. Global tolerability, efficacy, laboratory parameters and global acceptability were also monitored.

Almost two-thirds of women did not experience any kind of skin reaction and only 4.3% of all applications (752/17,702) caused site reactions. Of these, the majority caused only slight or no discomfort (63.2%). Only 0.37% of total applications required patch removal; none required therapy. A low percentage of patients withdrew due to tolerability issues: 2.7% due to skin reactions; 7.5% due to hyperestrogenism. The mean number of hot flushes experienced by symptomatic women reduced by 91% from 4.0 at baseline to 0.4 after 2 months. Total cholesterol reduced by 3.9% and LDL cholesterol by 5.1%, with no increase in triglyceride levels. Investigators assessed treatment as effective in 96.8% of cases; well tolerated locally in 93.1% and well tolerated generally in 89.5%. At the end of this 1 year study, 79% of patients wished to continue therapy.

OESCLIM is well tolerated locally and systemically in long-term therapy with a high proportion of patients wishing to continue therapy after 1 year.