Estrogen patch shortage disputed as prescription difficulties spread

9 articles · Updated · NBC News · May 10

FDA chief Marty Makary said demand jumped after November's warning removal, yet the agency still excludes patches from its shortage list while ASHP flags 14 brands or dosages.
Doctors, pharmacists and telehealth providers say shortages have worsened this year, with patients struggling to fill insured patch prescriptions as manufacturers adjust distribution and increase U.S. supply.
Use of estrogen therapies among women aged 45 to 54 rose 184% from 2018 to 2026, and experts say alternatives exist, though some patch shortages could last months or longer.

As patients struggle to find estrogen patches, why does the FDA officially deny a drug shortage exists?

Is the estrogen patch shortage a warning sign of a much larger crisis in America's generic drug supply chain?