Short answer: The Climara label starts at 0.025 mg per day: one patch applied to the skin once a week, on the lower abdomen or upper buttock, never on or near the breasts. The dose is adjusted by clinical response, at the lowest effective dose for the shortest time, with attempts to taper or stop every 3 to 6 months for menopause symptoms. A forgotten patch is applied as soon as possible.
This is what the FDA label says. Follow your prescriber. Your prescriber may use a different dose or pace than the label's standard schedule.
What Climara is approved for: Climara is an estrogen patch approved to treat moderate to severe hot flashes (vasomotor symptoms) and moderate to severe vulvar and vaginal atrophy due to menopause, to treat low estrogen from hypogonadism, castration or primary ovarian failure, and to prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis (section 1). For vaginal symptoms alone, topical vaginal products are considered first; for osteoporosis prevention alone, non-estrogen medicines are considered first.
Source
CLIMARA (estradiol transdermal system), prescribing information and Patient Information. Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals. DailyMed, version published March 30, 2026. DailyMed setid 1e9702c4-f2d7-4ea8-b6e8-7dca31671864
Climara is a patch worn on the skin and changed once a week, every 7 days. Only one patch is worn at a time (section 2.5).
It goes on clean, dry skin of the lower abdomen or the upper quadrant of the buttock, not on or near the breasts and not at the waistline. Sites are rotated, with at least 1 week before the same site is used again. The patch is pressed firmly for at least 10 seconds (section 2.5).
It comes in six strengths: 0.025, 0.0375, 0.05, 0.06, 0.075 and 0.1 mg per day (section 3).
The table below is the label's schedule, from the Dosage and Administration section. Numbers are copied exactly; the section is in brackets.
| Use | Starting dose | What follows |
|---|---|---|
| Moderate to severe hot flashes due to menopause | 0.025 mg per day, one patch once weekly | Adjust by clinical response; attempt to taper or discontinue at 3 to 6 month intervals |
| Moderate to severe vulvar and vaginal atrophy due to menopause | 0.025 mg per day, one patch once weekly | Adjust by clinical response; attempt to taper or discontinue at 3 to 6 month intervals |
| Low estrogen from hypogonadism, castration or primary ovarian failure | 0.025 mg per day, one patch once weekly | Adjust by clinical response |
| Prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis | 0.025 mg per day, one patch once weekly | None given |
For a postmenopausal woman with a uterus, adding a progestogen is generally considered to reduce endometrial cancer risk. Women without a uterus generally do not need one, though some with a history of endometriosis may.
Estrogen, alone or with a progestogen, is used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration consistent with treatment goals, and the need for it is reviewed periodically.
If a patch falls off, it is reapplied to a different spot; if it cannot be, a new patch is applied for the rest of the 7-day interval. Swimming, bathing and sauna use were not studied and may loosen the patch.
Used patches still contain some hormone, so each is folded in half onto itself before being thrown away. Leftover adhesive can be removed after 15 minutes with an oil-based cream or lotion.
If feasible, estrogen is stopped at least 4 to 6 weeks before surgery linked to a higher risk of blood clots, or during long immobilization.
For low estrogen from hypogonadism, castration or ovarian failure, lab tests may help guide the dose. FSH and estradiol levels have not been shown useful for menopause symptoms.
The Patient Information says: if you forget to apply a new Climara patch, apply a new patch as soon as possible. The prescribing information adds that if a patch falls off and cannot be reapplied, a new patch is applied for the rest of the 7-day interval (section 2.5).
In Dose Track you set up Climara as a protocol with the dose and schedule your prescriber gave you. A protocol can hold dose steps, each with its own dose and length in days or weeks, so a step-up plan like the one on the label can be entered once and the app moves to the next step on its own. Reminders follow the schedule, and every dose is logged with the date and time, so you can see which step you are on and when your last dose was. The app follows what you enter; it does not choose or change a dose.
This page is what the FDA label says, in plain words. It is not medical advice. Follow your prescriber, and ask them or your pharmacist about anything here.