Estradiol Patch Brands Compared: Dotti, Lyllana, Vivelle-Dot

Facts here come from the FDA drug database and the DailyMed labels, read on 12 November 2026. We do not repeat the strength and size table from our estradiol patch guide. This page answers a narrower question: which patch can stand in for which.

Who makes each patch

The FDA's database lists the company that holds each approval. Here is what it showed on 12 November 2026.

Patch	Company on the label	Type of approval	FDA record
Vivelle-Dot	Sandoz	Brand (NDA020538)	openFDA
Minivelle	Noven Therapeutics	Brand (NDA203752)	openFDA
Climara	Bayer	Brand (NDA020375)	openFDA
Dotti	Amneal	Generic (ANDA211293)	openFDA
Lyllana	Amneal	Generic (ANDA211396)	openFDA
"Estradiol" twice-weekly, Sandoz	Sandoz	Brand's own approval, sold without the brand name	openFDA
"Estradiol transdermal system" weekly, Sandoz	Sandoz	Climara's approval (NDA020375), sold without the brand name	openFDA

An NDA is a company's full application to sell a new drug. An ANDA is the shorter application a maker files for a copy of a drug already approved. A transdermal system is the FDA's name for a patch.

Dotti and Lyllana: generics with names

Dotti and Lyllana both come from Amneal. Each is approved as a generic under an ANDA, not as a new brand. That is why they cost less than a brand in many pharmacies, though pharmacies set their own prices.

The FDA's database records Dotti's Amneal approval (ANDA211293) as first approved on 5 February 2019 (openFDA Drugs@FDA). Lyllana's (ANDA211396) was first approved on 28 September 2020 (openFDA Drugs@FDA).

Which patch can swap for which

This is the part most readers need. The FDA gives each approved generic a "therapeutic equivalence" code. The code tells a pharmacist which products the FDA treats as interchangeable. The FDA's Orange Book guide says "If a study is submitted that demonstrates bioequivalence to an RLD, the generic drug product will be given the same three-character code as the RLD it was compared against" (FDA Orange Book preface). An RLD is the brand a generic is compared with.

Patches carry more than one code because the designs differ. Here is what the database showed on 12 November 2026.

Code	Brand in the group	Generics in the same group
AB1	Vivelle-Dot	Dotti (Amneal), Mylan twice-weekly patch, Zydus patch
AB2	Climara	The weekly generic patches in that group
AB3	Minivelle	Lyllana (Amneal)

Sources: Dotti, Lyllana, Minivelle and Climara, all from the FDA database.

In plain words: Dotti can stand in for Vivelle-Dot, and Lyllana can stand in for Minivelle. A pharmacist decides, and your prescriber has the final say. Two patches in different groups are not rated as swappable, so a new prescription may be needed.

Generic estradiol patches from Sandoz, Mylan and others

"Generic estradiol patch" can mean two different things. Sandoz sells estradiol patches without a brand name under the same approvals as Vivelle-Dot and Climara. Those are the brand's own product with a plain label.

Mylan's twice-weekly patch is a true generic. The FDA lists it under ANDA201675 with the AB1 code, the same group as Vivelle-Dot (openFDA Drugs@FDA). Zydus and Amneal also hold generic patch approvals in the same database.

Which one your pharmacy stocks depends on supply, and that can change month to month. Our estrogen patch shortage guide tracks what the FDA says about supply.

Combination patches: Climara Pro and CombiPatch

Some patches add a second hormone for women who still have a uterus. Climara Pro contains estradiol and levonorgestrel and is changed once a week. Its label says it "is an estrogen plus progestin indicated in a woman with a uterus" (DailyMed, Climara Pro label).

CombiPatch, from Noven, pairs estradiol with norethindrone acetate. Its label says it is "indicated in a woman with a uterus for" treating moderate to severe hot flashes and night sweats from menopause (openFDA label data for CombiPatch).

A progestin is a form of progesterone. Estrogen alone thickens the lining of the uterus, and a progestin offsets that. The two patches use different progestins and different schedules, so they are not swappable with each other. Your prescriber chooses.

What the brands do not settle

The code says two patches are bioequivalent, meaning they deliver the same drug in about the same way. It does not say how a patch sticks to your skin, how it feels or whether it irritates you. People do switch brands for those reasons, and a clinician can pick an equivalent product.

No source we read ranks one patch above another for relief from hot flashes. Our estrogen patch side effects guide covers skin reactions and what to watch for.

Getting a patch online

Most online programs we track send the prescription to a pharmacy or ship the patch themselves. The brand on the box often depends on stock, so ask the program which patch it dispenses before you pay. See the best online HRT programs for plan facts and ratings, our HRT cost guide for adding up fees, and the live price table for the current figures.

FAQ

Estradiol patch brands compared: Dotti, Lyllana, Vivelle-Dot and Minivelle?

Vivelle-Dot and Minivelle are brands. Dotti and Lyllana are generics sold under their own names by Amneal. The FDA's database rates Dotti as swappable with Vivelle-Dot and Lyllana as swappable with Minivelle. Your pharmacist can usually substitute within a group, and your prescriber has the last word on which patch you use.

Is Dotti the same as Vivelle-Dot?

Dotti is a generic of Vivelle-Dot, approved by the FDA under an abbreviated application. The FDA's database gives both the same AB1 equivalence code, which means the FDA treats them as interchangeable. The patches are made by different companies, so their size and look can differ. Ask your pharmacist if you want to confirm a swap.

Is Lyllana a generic?

Yes. Lyllana is made by Amneal and approved under an ANDA, the application type for generics. The FDA's database gives it the AB3 code, the same group as Minivelle. Lyllana is not rated as swappable with Dotti or Vivelle-Dot, which sit in a different group.

Is there a generic estradiol patch?

Yes, several. Mylan, Zydus and Amneal hold generic approvals, and Sandoz sells estradiol patches without a brand name. Which one a pharmacy stocks changes with supply. A pharmacist can tell you what is on the shelf and whether it matches your current patch.

Can I switch from Climara to Vivelle-Dot?

Not as a simple swap. Climara is changed weekly and Vivelle-Dot twice a week, and the FDA places them in different equivalence groups. A new prescription is usually needed. Do not change patches without talking to your prescriber, even if a pharmacy offers another one.

How much do estradiol patches cost online?

Online plans we track start at $54 a month for estrogen, and patch prices by program are on our estradiol patch price page. The brand name matters less to the bill than the program's fees, the supply length and whether a progestin is added.

Compare every program's monthly total on our price table, or see the best menopause programs.