Alora has been discontinued and estradiol patches face shortages in 2026. Get the latest update on supply, what's behind the shortage, and how to get your medication.
If you're a patient trying to fill a prescription for Alora, here's what you need to know right now: Alora has been permanently discontinued by its manufacturer, AbbVie. This isn't a temporary shortage — all four strengths of Alora (0.025 mg/day, 0.05 mg/day, 0.075 mg/day, and 0.1 mg/day) are no longer being produced.
But the problems go deeper than just one brand. The entire estradiol transdermal patch market is experiencing significant supply constraints in 2026. Here's a complete breakdown of where things stand and what you can do.
Alora was an estradiol transdermal patch originally manufactured by Watson Pharma, which was later acquired by Allergan and then AbbVie. As part of portfolio decisions, AbbVie discontinued all Alora formulations. The brand is not expected to return.
This is different from a shortage. In a shortage, the manufacturer intends to resume production. With a discontinuation, the product is gone for good.
Even if Alora hadn't been discontinued, you'd likely be struggling to find estradiol patches in 2026. Here's the current situation:
As of early 2026, estradiol patches are not formally listed on the FDA Drug Shortages database. This is misleading for patients, because the practical reality at pharmacies across the country tells a different story. The FDA's criteria for listing a shortage don't always capture the day-to-day experience of patients who can't find their medication.
Reports from across the United States paint a consistent picture:
NPR reported in March 2026 on the "mad scramble" women face trying to fill hormone therapy prescriptions, highlighting how widespread the problem has become.
The estradiol patch shortage stems from a perfect storm of factors:
The shortage impacts estradiol patches broadly, but not all products are equally affected:
Unfortunately, there's no clear end date. Industry analysts expect supply constraints to continue through 2026 as manufacturers work to expand production capacity. The demand side isn't likely to decrease — if anything, more women are discovering the benefits of hormone therapy each month.
The most realistic expectation: gradual improvement over 2026-2027 as manufacturing catches up, but ongoing spot shortages at individual pharmacies.
This is critical: if you run out of estradiol patches, do not just stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor. Abruptly stopping hormone therapy can cause:
Your doctor can prescribe a temporary alternative — even a short course of oral estradiol — to bridge you until patches become available again.
We'll continue updating this page as the estradiol patch supply situation evolves. For the most current information:
Related reading:
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