Generic name | Dosage | Relative cost per year, before pharmacy dispensing fees*† |
---|---|---|
Conjugated estrogens | 0.3–0.625 mg once daily | + |
17-β-estradiol (micronized) | 0.5–1 mg once daily | + |
Transdermal patch | ||
Twice weekly 17-β-estradiol patches | 25–50 μg twice weekly | ++ |
Transdermal gel | ||
17-β-estradiol gel | For 0.06% gel, 0.75 mg estradiol per 1.25 g metered dose (1 actuation). 1–2 metered doses/actuation daily | ++ |
Progestins | ||
Oral | ||
Medroxyprogesterone | 2.5 mg daily for continuous regimen or 5 mg daily for 12–14 d/mo | + |
Progesterone (micronized) | 100 mg daily for continuous regimen or 200 mg daily for 12–14 d/mo for cyclic regimen | + |
Intrauterine | ||
Levonorgestrel intrauterine system‡ | 52 mg per intrauterine system for 5 years | + |
Combination hormone therapy preparations | ||
Oral | ||
17-β-estradiol and NETA | 1 mg 17-β-estradiol and 0.5 mg NETA once daily | +++ |
0.5 mg 17-β-estradiol and 0.1 mg NETA once daily | +++ | |
17-β-estradiol and DRSP | 1 mg 17-β-estradiol and 1 mg DRSP once daily | ++ |
Transdermal patch | ||
17-β-estradiol and NETA | 50 μg 17-β-estradiol and 140 mg NETA patch twice weekly | ++ |
50 μg 17-β-estradiol and 250 mg NETA patch twice weekly | ++ | |
TSEC | ||
Conjugated estrogen and bazedoxifene | 0.45 mg conjugated estrogen and 20 mg bazedoxifene once daily | +++ |
Synthetic steroid | ||
Tibolone | 2.5 mg once daily | +++ |
Note: DRSP = drospirenone, NETA = norethindrone acetate, TSEC = tissue selective estrogen complex.
↵* Available from www.rxfiles.ca.
↵† Range of costs: + = < $300, ++ = $301–1000, +++ = > $1001.
↵‡ Not approved for menopausal hormone therapy by Health Canada.